Texas Elite Spartans Hosting Tryouts For the 2026 Season

In Texas, football isn’t just a sport, it’s a way of life. From Friday night lights to Sunday afternoons, the Lone Star State has long been synonymous with gridiron greatness. But in recent years, the growth of women’s football has added a new chapter to that story, and no program has embodied that tradition of excellence more than the Texas Elite Spartans.

Texas Roots, National Impact

The Spartans, winners of five WNFC championships, carry the mantle of elite football in a state that prides itself on producing champions. That culture of football obsession is now colliding with the meteoric rise of girls’ flag football.

Across the state, programs like the Texas Fury are setting the standard as some of the best in the country. And with the Dallas Cowboys recently launching an official girls’ flag league, the pipeline of female athletes in Texas has never been stronger. More young women are picking up football, whether flag or tackle, believing for the first time that they have a pathway to the professional level. For many of them, that dream ends with the Spartans.

National Tryout Day: The Spartan Effect

Last year, the Spartans signed 29 new players from WNFC National Tryout Day; the largest incoming class in team history. What started as a rebuilding effort quickly became the foundation of another championship run.

Led by new comers-turned-standouts like #23 Summer McNeal (WR, All-Pro), #5 Whitney Palmer (DL, All-Pro), and #9 Waynicia Thomas (DL, All-Pro), the newest Spartans’ proved they could play at the highest level. Veterans and rookies alike came together after a rocky 0-1 start to finish the season on fire, running the table and reclaiming the WNFC throne with their fifth league title.

Other key additions, Jazmine Rambo, Christine Jaqueth Mason, Kerrie Isom, Grace Wiley, and Khadijah 'KD' Ellison rounded out what became arguably the most competitive roster the Spartans have fielded in years. Their contributions on both sides of the ball transformed the team into a juggernaut.

Register for TRYOUTS HERE.

Eyes on 2026: Who’s Next?

The question now: Who will be the next wave of newcomers to shape Spartan history?

With the WNFC’s 6th annual National Tryout Day approaching, anticipation is high. Hundreds of athletes from Texas and beyond, many with backgrounds in flag, track, basketball, rugby, and soccer will test their skills for a shot at a Spartan roster spot.

Given the explosion of flag football in Texas and the growing opportunities for girls at the high school and college level, expectations are that this class could be even deeper than the last.

“Texas has always been the heart of football,” said Head Coach Odessa 'OJ' Jenkins. “Now that flag is creating opportunities for girls earlier in their athletic lives, we’re seeing more women than ever come into our program with the speed, strength, and football IQ it takes to compete at the WNFC level.”

The Standard Remains the Same

The Spartans’ culture of excellence doesn’t change with the times, it grows stronger because of them. From their championship pedigree to their role as the ultimate destination for women’s football talent, the program continues to evolve while holding firm to the standard of winning.

With the 2026 season set to kick off in March, the Spartans will once again reload, welcoming their newest class of rookies and aiming for a sixth championship banner.

And in Texas, where football legends are made, the Spartans are proving that women’s professional football belongs at the center of the conversation.