Texas Elite Spartans Celebrate Championship Season, Honor 2026 Team Award Winners
Maria Jackson named Team MVP as the Spartans recognize record-breaking performances, championship leadership, and the athletes and coaches who embody the BeELITE standard.
The Texas Elite Spartans celebrated another unforgettable chapter in the organization's storied history this past weekend, bringing together players, coaches, families, and supporters for the 2026 Championship Banquet & Awards Show.
Coming off another Women's National Football Conference (WNFC) national championship, the evening honored the individuals whose performances, leadership, resilience, and commitment to excellence helped define the Spartans' remarkable season.
From record-breaking offensive performances and defensive dominance to the unsung heroes who make championship football possible, the awards recognized a simple truth about Texas Elite: Championships are won by teams, but championship cultures are built by people.
Maria Jackson Headlines the Night as 2026 Most Valuable Player
Wide receiver Maria "MJ" Jackson (Miss YACson) took home the night's highest individual honor, earning the 2026 Most Valuable Player award after delivering one of the most prolific offensive seasons in Texas Elite history. Already the WNFC's all-time leader in receiving touchdowns, Jackson continued rewriting the record books in 2026.
During the regular season, she led the Spartans with 20 receptions, 189 receiving yards, and eight touchdowns, tying her own club regular-season touchdown record set in 2023. When the postseason arrived, Jackson elevated her performance, leading the entire WNFC playoffs with 17 receptions, 190 yards, and four touchdowns over 3 games.
Her 12 combined receiving touchdowns tied the WNFC single-season record, including playoffs, established by Dajour Miles in 2025. A relentless competitor with an extraordinary ability to deliver in championship moments, Jackson's performance was central to the Spartans' 2026 IX Cup victory.
Tara Thomas and Michelle Angel Share Offensive Player of the Year Honors
Two of the most dynamic offensive weapons in women's football shared the 2026 Co-Offensive Player of the Year award: running back Tara "Turbo" Thomas and quarterback Michelle Angel.
Thomas continued her dominance as one of the WNFC's premier running backs, accounting for nearly one-third of the Spartans' regular-season touchdowns with 10 scores. She added 268 rushing yards across three postseason games, finishing the season with 133 carries over nine games.
Her combination of speed, power, versatility, and relentless running made her one of the most difficult players in the league to defend.
Under center, Angel commanded the Spartans' championship offense with precision and poise. She led the WNFC with 13 regular-season passing touchdowns before adding seven more in the postseason, tying Brittany Bushman's legendary 2022 Texas Elite playoff record. Together, Thomas and Angel formed the heartbeat of an offense that once again established Texas Elite among the most explosive teams in women's football.
Jamie Lock Named Defensive Player of the Year
Defensive standout Jamie Lock earned Defensive Player of the Year honors after anchoring one of the most dominant defensive units in the WNFC. Lock led the Spartans with 23 regular-season tackles while recording a sack, forced fumble, interception, and a team-leading five pass breakups. Her versatility, physicality, and ability to make critical plays in coverage were instrumental throughout the Spartans' championship run.
The defensive recognition extended to Coach Timmothy Lord, who earned Coach of the Year honors after leading the Spartans' secondary to a remarkable 15 interceptions across the regular season and playoffs.
Under Lord's leadership, the defensive backs established themselves as one of the most formidable position groups in women's football.
Recognizing the Difference-Makers
Several Spartans were honored for extraordinary contributions.
Sarah Clark (OT) received the Billy F. Hughes Jr. Trench Player of the Year award (in honor of our beloved O-line coach who passed away in 2022), recognizing her as the highest rated trench player for the Spartans in 2026. Moving seamlessly between left and right tackle, Clark anchored the Spartans' offense while facing some of the league's most dangerous pass rushers.
Fellow offensive lineman Tammie "Tamm Bamm" Moore earned the Game Changer Award for her power, physicality, and ability to create opportunities when the offense needed them most. When Texas Elite needed critical yards, Moore was the force the team could depend on.
Crystal "DK" Daniels was named Special Teams Player of the Year after emerging as one of the most electrifying punt returners in women's football. Daniels recorded 201 yards on 11 punt returns, averaging an impressive 18.3 yards per return, with two touchdowns.
Waynicia "Redd" Thomas captured the Big Play Maker award after an extraordinary postseason performance. Thomas recorded 12 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and a sack during the playoffs, delivering disruptive plays when the stakes were highest.
Cara "CJ" Wesemann earned Most Improved Player honors after stepping into the starting X receiver position and delivering a breakout season. Wesemann finished as the team's third-leading receiver with 10 receptions, 134 yards, and two touchdowns, establishing herself as an emerging offensive weapon.
A New Generation of Spartans: Newcomers of the Year
The Spartans recognized two rising defensive stars as Newcomers of the Year: Kylelah Hodges and Anastasia Olavuo.
Hodges made an immediate impression with her physicality and fearless approach, finishing among the team's top 10 tacklers. Olavuo, who brought her talents to Texas from Finland, established herself as a disruptive defensive presence, recording nine tackles and four tackles for loss in her debut season.
Both players stepped into one of the deepest and most competitive linebacker groups in women's football and contributed to a historic defense that allowed just five points during the regular season. Their journeys may have been different, but their impact reflected the same commitment to excellence.
Beyond Football: Honoring the Women Who Define The Standard
While the Spartans' championship success was a centerpiece of the evening, some of the most meaningful awards recognized contributions extending well beyond the football field.
Mercedes Tyler received the prestigious Woman of the Year award for her leadership, service, and commitment to creating opportunities for others.
A high school sports coach and one of the few women coaching high school football, Tyler continues breaking barriers and inspiring the next generation of athletes. Her ability to lead with toughness on the field and purpose beyond it represents the very best of Texas Elite.
Alina "Ali" Markl received the BeELITE Award, recognizing her extraordinary dedication to the organization. In addition to earning a starting role through hard work and determination, Markl helped lead sponsorship and fundraising efforts while consistently supporting her teammates and the broader organization.
The Spartans also recognized three athletes with the DAWG Award: Grace Wiley, Sarah Clark, and Shaunte Bowman.
The award is given by fellow athletes, and honors resilience, grit, heart, consistency, and determination, recognizing players who overcome adversity while continuing to uphold the team's standard of excellence.
Together, these honors reflected an essential part of the Texas Elite identity: greatness is measured not only by what athletes accomplish, but by the impact they make on everyone around them.
More Than a Championship
The 2026 Championship Banquet was more than a celebration of another trophy. It was a recognition of the extraordinary people behind one of the most successful organizations in women's tackle football.
The Spartans' continued dominance is a product of elite athletes, committed coaches, selfless leaders, and an organizational culture that refuses to settle for anything less than excellence.
As Texas Elite looks toward its next chapter, the 2026 award winners represent both the legacy the organization has built and the future it continues to create.
One team. One standard. One championship culture.
BE ELITE.
