In recognition of the impact on the flag football community, coach Coach Saja Alnajjar received recognition as a Community Difference Maker along with two tickets to Super Bowl LVIII, which will be played at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, on February 11. The tickets were presented to Alnajjar at the first-ever girls flag football All-State Dinner hosted by the Chicago Bears. 

Coach Saja Alnajjar played Powder Puff football as part of the Homecoming festivities when she was a student at Stagg, and said, “It’s time. It’s 2023 and we need to move forward with society and have a girls football team.”

Alnajjar followed the process to put a team together quickly and nearly 60 girls expressed interest. Some of the girls had never held a football before but they are drawn to it, she said. The Chicago Bears organization was astounded at the number of hours spent conceptualizing and organizing the Stagg team and leading a first-year team to the State playoffs.

“We won a few. We lost a few, and the girls got better every week. Despite the outcomes of the games, they did their best and built on their skills each and every week,” Alnajjar said.

Also at the All-State Dinner, 56 girls flag football players were recognized. Three All-State Teams, along with honorable mentions were announced. Two District 230 players received recognition.

Second All-State Team: Hala Othman - Stagg
Honorable Mention: Nola Oben - Carl Sandburg (not pictured)