Top Players to Watch in CIF Southern Section Girls Flag Football (2026)

Sierra Canyon's Makena Cook headlines the top playmakers to keep an eye on this fall in high school girls flag football.

Makena Cook prepares to take the snap in her first official game with the Sierra Canyon Trailblazers. | Credit: Thee Voice Of

Much like the boys side, the quarterback position in girls flag football is one of the most important position on the team.

Having a QB with the physical tools (mainly arm strength), an understanding of what the offense is trying to accomplish while simultaneously reading a defense (pre or post snap) is rare at this level. The teams with that rare combination of players are almost guaranteed success and has been the key for the first two winners of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship.

Orange Lutheran (led by Makena Cook) won the inaugural CIF-SS D1 title in 2025. JSerra won the 2026 D1 title (beating Orange Lutheran).

The high school football girls flag football talent in Southern California is off the charts, so we'll start there. The following top players to watch are listed in alphabetical order:

MaryJane “EmJay” Brenes, Warren, So.

EmJay popped on my radar very late last season while she was at Gahr. Watching her for the 1st time I would never have expected she was just a freshman. Extremely calm feet and poise in the pocket but she also has great escapability and isn’t afraid to use her feet as a weapon. Warren will be one of the top teams when she clears SOP. 

Career Stats: N/a

Makena Cook, Sierra Canyon, Sr.

Her "Wow!' factor breaks the scale! The premier player in the country. Her arm talent is unrivaled at the high school level and possibly all of America, at any level. She can put the ball anywhere on the field with ease. Over, under, and around defenders but over is always a spectacle as she'll launch it 50 yards, right on the money to a streaking receiver, consistently. She led Orange Lutheran to back to back D1 championship games and came out with a ring in her sophomore year. She'll have her work cut out for her after transferring to Sierra Canyon to usher in a brand new program. She’s attempting to become the only player to play in all 3 CIF top division championship games. 

Career Stats: 13,694 yards. 209 TDs. 74%

Maliyah Estrada, Western Christian, Jr.

Maybe the most prolific numbers in the state in her grad class. Coached by her father, their chemistry is strikingly evident. One of her biggest weapons is not being afraid to spread the ball around. She will willingly take what the defense gives her and march her team down the field by “moving the sticks”, while giving her receivers seemingly endless opportunities to turn 5 into 50. She'll also beat you with her feet if she sees space.

Career Stats: 11,553 yards. 180 TDs. 68%

Madeline Garcia, Downey, So.

“Maddie” Garcia is one of the best young QBs in the game. She led her Downey team to a D2 berth in her freshman year and I predicted her to lead them to a championship. Unfortunately her 1st playoff run ended early due to injury. Now back and healthy, I expect Downey to be a high level championship contender again, mainly because of their QB. 

Career Stats: 8,953 yards. 101 TDs. .650 comp. %. 

Kate Meier, JSerra, So.

Another girl with elite arm talent. She will absolutely shred you underneath with her stable of elite skill players but when she rears that arm back and lets it go, you’ll be surprised that her little stature packs so much power and she’ll most likely have a receiver making a catch perfectly in stride for 6. 

Career Stats: 3,729 yards. 58 TDs. .657 comp. %. 

Roxie Shaia, Huntington Beach, Sr.

The one “football only” name on this list, Roxie has been the cornerstone of a HB team that has been considered one of the best teams in the area since their inception. Roxie is at her best carving defense in the short to intermediate game and fitting balls into impossible windows but she will double move you and drop one over your head. 

Career Stats: 14,243 yards. 188 TDs. .702 comp. %. 

Ava Van Heerde, JSerra, Jr.

The other half of the JSerra QB duo. Ava is a standout infielder in softball and the arm action that is so inherent in the diamond shows itself on the football field. Ava has really dedicated herself to the game and has made major improvements every year. 

Career Stats: 8,109 yards. 105 TDs. .674 comp. %. 

BEST OF THE REST

Victoria Aldana, San Marcos, Jr.

Tymane Allen, Mater Dei, Jr.

Scarlett Guyser, Newport Harbor, Jr.

Claire Heisinger, Agoura, Sr.

Holly Ibarra, Long Beach Millikan, Sr.

Lexi Loya, St. Joseph, Sr.

Blair Nolan, Redondo, Jr.

Annabel O'Keefe, Westlake, So.

Madelyn “Maddie” Phung, Edison, Jr.

Paige Russell, Aliso Niguel, Jr.

Delia “DD” Stone, Woodbridge, So.