Fifty Illinois high school girls flag football players heading to college programs got the sideline treatment at Halas Hall in Lake Forest on Saturday Aug. 8, meeting Bears chairman George H. McCaskey and president/CEO Kevin Warren after practice as part of the team's second annual Celebrating Women and Girls in Sports Day.

The student-athletes, many of whom will play in their college program's first or second season this spring, also grabbed autographs from running backs D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai, posed for photos with Colston Loveland and Rome Odunze, and chatted with cornerback Tyrique Stevenson.

Among them: Kayla Green and Kayla Hearn, best friends from Homewood-Flossmoor who played their first flag football season in 2025 and are both committed to Bridgewater College in Virginia for its inaugural flag football season in 2027.

"It makes us feel seen," Green told the Bears' website. "Because it's an up-and-coming sport, a lot of people are going to overlook it, so for such a big organization to want to help and extend the extra hand to get us exposure is meaningful."

Aribella Spandiary, the Bears' 2025 Player of the Year and state champion quarterback at Maine South High School, was also in attendance. She's an incoming freshman at Mercyhurst University.

Inside the Walter Payton Center, nearly 40 young women from local universities attended the second annual Women in Sports Media Career Expo. Panels and workshops covered storytelling, branding, podcasting and broadcasting. Longtime Bears play-by-play announcer Jeff Joniak led the broadcasting session, while ESPN reporter Courtney Cronin and FOX32 Chicago lead sports anchor Cassie Carlson discussed breaking into sports media.

Warren urged the expo attendees to "be fearless" and to never give up, while McCaskey kept his message to two words: "Be courageous."

The grounds at Halas Hall featured DJ Francesca Eva, the women-owned Lovely Lemon food stand, face painting and a permanent jewelry booth. Lightning forced practice inside midway through.

The Bears' women-in-sports programming continues Nov. 22 when their home matchup against the New Orleans Saints at Soldier Field carries the Celebrating Women and Girls in Sports designation, with a clear crossbody bag giveaway for fans.

As we reported July 24, the Bears sent five youth flag football teams to nationals from Halas Hall in July, part of the organization's broader push to grow the sport locally.