​BLUFFTON, S.C. (WSAV) – Beaufort County made history Wednesday, launching the first-ever girls’ flag football league with help from the Carolina Panthers. The NFL team awarded the school district $15,000 to fund six new teams.On addition to the $15,000 grant, the Panthers also provided the teams with support for equipment kits and Nike uniform grants.Wednesday, girls from Battery Creek High School, Beaufort High School, Bluffton High School, Hilton Head High School, May River High School and Whale Branch High School celebrated the kickoff of their inaugural season.The Carolina Panthers have been serving both North and South Carolina since 2021, and Riley Fields, Director of Community Relations for the team told WSAV they have seen how much the girls truly want to play a sport.“In that time, the main thing that we’ve learned is that girls want to play,” said Fields. “And you know, our ‘why’ is really to help provide the access and the opportunity to the game that previously didn’t really exist.”Fields also said the creation of the leagues opens doors for the players beyond the game.“One of the really interesting statistics that we’re seeing about all the pilot programs across the state is anywhere from 25 to 50% of girls that are competing are playing their first-ever high school sport,” said Fields. “So, they’re engaging in school an entirely different way. They’re learning what it means to be a teammate, to be part of a team.”The teams must play for two years to qualify as a varsity sport. With flag football gaining popularity and joining the 2028 Summer Olympics, players have even more opportunities than ever to continue the sport at the college level.Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV.