Annika Sörenstam Eyes Breakthrough at American Century Championship While Cheering NFL Girls Flag Football Growth

Golf Hall of Famer Annika Sörenstam sat down this week with Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. The conversation covered her upcoming return to one of celebrity golf’s biggest stages and her clear support for the NFL’s push to grow girls flag football — with the Kansas City Chiefs leading the way in Kansas.

Sörenstam has competed in several pro-am style events over the years. She singled out the American Century Championship as something different. The 37th edition runs July 8-12 at Edgewood Tahoe and will air on NBC and Peacock. A loaded field, national television exposure, and a $750,000 purse — with $150,000 going to the winner — keep it at the top of the celebrity golf calendar. Players routinely donate large portions of their winnings to charity. The event has now raised more than $8 million for local and national causes.

Sörenstam Keeps Coming Back to Edgewood Tahoe

“I’ve been fortunate to play in a few of these celebrity events,” Sörenstam said, “but the American Century Championship is very special for a lot of reasons. They get such a good field. I’ve been knocking on the door but haven’t been able to finish.”

She has posted strong results there before, including runner-up finishes. The stunning layout beside Lake Tahoe has tested her. This year she returns with the same fire. The event draws NFL stars, actors, comedians, and other athletes. That mix creates energy on the course and in the gallery. Sörenstam brings Hall of Fame pedigree and steady ball-striking that still competes with younger, bigger hitters.

Chiefs Deliver Results on Girls Flag Football in Kansas

Sörenstam also addressed the NFL’s broader effort to expand girls flag football. She pointed specifically to teams like the Chiefs that have turned words into action.

The Chiefs lobbied hard for official recognition of girls flag football as a high school sport in Kansas. Their “Let Her Play” campaign included a high-profile video push and grassroots work with the Kansas State High School Activities Association. On April 23, 2026, the KSHSAA Board voted 61-1 to sanction the sport. Kansas became the 18th state to take that step. High school programs can now form official teams, schedule games, and open a clearer path for girls who want to play competitively.

The move matters on multiple levels. Flag football offers a safer on-ramp than tackle for many athletes. It builds the same skills — route running, decision-making, teamwork — that translate to other sports and to life. Sanctioning also unlocks potential college opportunities down the road.

Sörenstam Sees the Same Lessons She Learned on the Golf Course

“I think it’s great. I’m not too familiar with exactly what they’re doing, but I have heard of it. You can imagine, any sport where they mention ‘female’ and girls getting involved,” Sörenstam said. “I think it’s really important, not just from my own experience, but through the Annika Foundation, we see all these young women playing golf. How well they do not just on the course but outside the course, we know that golf and life are very similar.”

— Annika Sörenstam, via Chiefs Wire interview with Ed Easton Jr.

She continued with a direct message about why athletic opportunities for girls matter long after the final whistle or last putt drops.

“Women who are athletic go on to have a lot of big roles in companies and so forth,” Sörenstam said. “We want kids to be active, especially girls who maybe don’t get a chance to do it. So I’m all for it.”

— Annika Sörenstam, via Chiefs Wire interview with Ed Easton Jr.

Her Annika Foundation has spent years creating junior golf pathways for girls. She has watched participants grow in confidence, leadership, and resilience. The same traits show up when young athletes step onto a flag football field. Sörenstam sees the NFL’s investment as another version of that work — giving girls access, structure, and role models at the highest level.

A Consistent Voice for Women in Sports

Sörenstam’s advocacy is not new. She took part in the NFL’s Women’s Summit ahead of Super Bowl 50 in 2016, joining other female leaders to discuss opportunity and leadership. That experience lines up with what she sees happening now across the league. The Chiefs’ successful Kansas campaign shows how one organization can move the needle in its home state. Other teams are watching and launching similar efforts.

The timing feels right. High school sanctioning in Kansas opens the door for the 2026-27 school year and beyond. More girls will have a chance to play organized ball, develop skills, and stay active. Sörenstam’s message lands cleanly: when girls get the chance to compete, everyone wins.