History Made: Tessa Davis and Amelie Prosser-Shaw earn first NCAA Division 1 flag football scholarships

Two of Australia's top Flag Football athletes have made history as the first in the country to earn NCAA Division 1 flag football scholarships. 

Wide receiver Amelie Prosser-Shaw and quarterback Tessa Davis were recruited by the University of Texas Arlington (UTA) to join its newly established Flag Football program as key offensive players. 

These scholarships represent a groundbreaking achievement for women's flag football in Australia and demonstrate the rapid progress of American Football Australia's (AFA) development pathway in producing internationally competitive athletes. 

Both athletes were instrumental in helping the Australian National Flag Squad secure silver at the 2025 IFAF Asia-Oceania Flag Football Championships. Their standout performances at the tournament caught the eye of UTA Mavs head coach Melinda Nguyen, who spearheaded their recruitment. 

Davis rose through AFA's local, state, and national development programs, advancing from South Australia's state squad to a pivotal role as quarterback on the National Flag Squad. 

Reflecting on her journey, Davis said: 

"It's a long way from where I started, and there are a lot of great people in South Australia who gave me the opportunity to play. As soon as I knew that going to college to play Division 1 was a real possibility, that became my goal. There's a legitimate pathway from state programs to the top level now, especially for girls, and hopefully many more follow in the years leading up to 2028." 

Meanwhile, Prosser-Shaw, a former forward for the Greater Western Sydney Giants in Australian rules football, has become an elite wide receiver for the national flag football team. She discovered her passion for the sport after transitioning from Aussie rules, highlighting how a code switch can open doors to Olympic-level competition. 

Prosser-Shaw said: 

"My AFLW background gave me strong game awareness, agility and the ability to make quick decisions under pressure, and that's translated really well to flag football. Competing at the Olympics is a huge goal of mine, and going to an NCAA Division l college gives me the chance to train at a high level every day and put myself in the best position to represent Australia in 2028."   With Flag Football set to debut as an Olympic sport at the Los Angeles 2028 Games, interest and participation are surging, making it one of Australia's fastest-growing women's sports. 

The signing of these athletes underscores the quality of AFA's Recruitment and Development Pathway, which not only prepares athletes for international success but also strengthens the national program through their experience. 

When speaking on the milestone, Wade Kelly, AFA CEO, said: 

"When we established the strategy for our women's flag football program in 2023, securing NCAA Division I scholarship opportunities was a key objective. Seeing Amelie and Tessa become the first athletes to benefit from that vision is incredibly rewarding." 

Kelly added: 

"I would like to congratulate not only these outstanding athletes, but also their families, whose unwavering support has played such an important role in their journey. Recognition should also go to the pathway coaches in South Australia, New South Wales, and AFA, who have helped develop them into the players they are today."  

Kelly also spoke on his excitement for Davis and Prosser-Shaw's next chapter: 

"I am excited to see both Amelie and Tessa continue to grow, not only in their flag football careers but also through the educational opportunities and broader life experiences that come with studying abroad. This next chapter will undoubtedly shape them both on and off the field. They follow in the footsteps of Olivia Manfre, our inaugural USA college scholarship recipient, and in doing so are helping pave the way for what will no doubt be many more young Australian women pursuing flag football opportunities at the collegiate level in the years ahead." 

UTA, also known as the UTA Mavericks, recently added Flag Football as a varsity sport, becoming one of the first NCAA Division 1 schools in the country, and the first in the state of Texas, to do so. 

The move reflects the sport's rapid rise across the United States, where a growing number of colleges are building varsity programs to push Flag Football toward full Championship status within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 

Explaining the decision to recruit internationally, Nguyen said: 

"With Tessa and Amelie, it wasn't just about talent, it was about the complete package. Both have competed in one of the fastest-growing flag football environments in the world and represented Australia on the international stage. Visibility creates believability.   When young girls see athletes who look like them competing at a high level, it expands what they believe is possible." 

In January 2026, the NCAA formally recognised women's Flag Football as an Emerging Sport for Women, opening the door to Division 1 status. This move by the national body unlocks Division 1 varsity scholarships and the opportunity for athletes to earn a top-tier college education while continuing to develop in a high-performance environment.

Davis and Prosser-Shaw are set to head to UTA in September, joining the Mavericks ahead of the program's inaugural season.