General | August 11, 2026 | 9:33

The Detroit Sports Commission (DSC) today announced that girls' flag football will return for the third consecutive year to the Amazon Prep Kickoff Classic (APKC) at Tom Adams Field on the campus of Wayne State University on Wednesday, Aug. 26.
 
The Girls' Flag Football Showcase was launched at the 2024 Prep Kickoff Classic, reinforcing DSC's commitment to supporting active play and girls' sports in the region through its Living Legacy Initiative.
 
Launched alongside the 2024 NFL Draft, the DSC Living Legacy Initiative has infused more than $1 million into the local community since 2024 to support the program's two pillars: youth literacy and active play in Detroit, with a focus on girls' sports.
 
The 2026 APKC Girls' Flag Football Showcase is made possible through the generous support of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and Amazon. This year's event will feature girls' high school flag football teams from across the region, including the 2026 Michigan High School Girls Flag Football League State Champions, St. Joseph.  Both games on Aug. 26 are open to the public and free to attend. The two-game showcase will include the following match-ups:
 
7 p.m. – L'Anse Creuse North vs. St. Joseph
8 p.m. – Redford Thurston vs. Gibraltar Carlson
 
"We know how important access to sports and play can be for girls' confidence, connection and overall development," said Kari Pardo, senior program officer at the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. "The 2024 NFL Draft created tremendous momentum around girls' flag football in our community, and we're proud to work with the Detroit Sports Commission to keep that momentum going and expand opportunities for more young people to get in the game."
 
"High school girls' flag continues its rapid growth and popularity in Michigan with the valued support from the Detroit Lions and the local community though the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation," said Marty Dobek, Detroit Sports Commission executive director. "The Detroit Sports Commission is proud to feature the Girls' Flag Football Showcase for the third consecutive year as part of the 21^st Amazon Prep Kickoff Classic and continue our focus on promoting active play for girls as part of the Living Legacy Initiative."

Amazon continues as the title sponsor for the Prep Kickoff Classic. Amazon first partnered with the DSC ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft to support the Sport Commission's Community Impact Draft, donating $300,000 in supporting grants to local community organizations through the Amazon Community Fund.
 
"Amazon is proud to continue our partnership with the Detroit Sports Commission and the Prep Kickoff Classic, said Ian Conyers, Head of Community Engagement for Amazon. "Since coming together ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft, we've seen firsthand how investing in Detroit's youth — through active play, girls' sports, and community programming — creates lasting impact. The Girls' Flag Football Showcase is a perfect example of what's possible when organizations come together to champion opportunity for the next generation."
 
Additional sponsors for the 2026 APKC include Meijer, Dicks Sporting Goods, DMC Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan, Alta Equipment and United Dairy Industry of Michigan (UDIM).
 
As part of the day of girls' flag football games, teams will participate in a Girls in Sports youth clinic at Wayne State University's Tom Adams Field. Designed exclusively for participating teams and local youth, the program will highlight the rise in girls in sports and feature participating partners like:
 

• DMC Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan 
• Detroit Lions
• Project Play Southeast Michigan
• Detroit PAL 

Launched in 2005, the APKC is the premier season-opening high school football showcase in Michigan and has from its inception, maintained an inclusive match-up selection process featuring more than 100 teams from Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio annually delivering a "bowl game-like" experience for student-athletes, marching bands, cheer squads, and fans.
The 2026 Amazon Prep Kickoff Classic will feature four marquee matchups:
 
Thursday, Aug. 27
4 p.m. – Detroit Catholic Central vs. Chippewa Valley
7 p.m. – Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills vs. DeWitt


Friday, Aug. 28
4 p.m. – Birmingham Groves vs. North Farmington
7 p.m. – Michigan City (IN) vs. Detroit Cass Tech
 
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Admission to the girls' flag games on Aug. 26 is free. Tickets to the boys' games at the APKC are $15 and can be purchased at detroitsports.org/pkctickets.  One ticket provides admission for both games that day. Fans will be required to bring their electronic device to activate their ticket at the gate. A portion of ticket proceeds will benefit participating schools.
 
ABOUT THE DETROIT SPORTS COMMISSION
The mission of the Detroit Sports Commission (DSC) is to market and sell metro Detroit as a premier destination for regional, national, and international amateur sporting events. The DSC is a not-for-profit charitable organization, IRS 501 (C) (3), and a subsidiary of the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau (DMCVB). For more information, visit www.detroitsports.org.
 
ABOUT AMAZON
Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth's Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth's Best Employer, and Earth's Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Career Choice, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, Alexa, Just Walk Out technology, Amazon Studios, and The Climate Pledge are some of the things pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.
 
ABOUT THE RALPH C. WILSON, JR. FOUNDATION
The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation is a grantmaking organization dedicated primarily to sustained investment in the quality of life of the people of Southeast Michigan and Western New York. The two areas reflect the devotion of Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. to his hometown of Detroit and greater Buffalo, home of his beloved Buffalo Bills NFL team. Prior to his passing in 2014, Mr. Wilson provided that a significant share of his estate be used to continue a life-long generosity of spirit by funding the Foundation that bears his name. Based in Detroit, the Foundation began with a grantmaking capacity of $1.2 billion over a 20-year period, which expires January 8, 2035. This structure is consistent with Mr. Wilson's desire for the Foundation's impact to be immediate, substantial, measurable, and overseen by those who knew him best. For more information visit www.rcwjrf.org.