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ARLINGTON, TEXAS \u2013 Head Coach Melinda Nguyen<\/a> has announced the first group of signees for UT Arlington’s inaugural women’s flag football team, marking the beginning of roster construction for the program’s debut season. \u00a0ABOUT THE RECRUITS STELLA HANG A versatile playmaker, Stella Hang brings championship pedigree from Maine Girls Flag Football. She was a four-time MGFF Fall season champion and added a Winter Blitz Women’s Tournament title while earning a selection to the Select Bowl U20 team. ALANNA ESPIRITU Alanna Espiritu arrives at UTA after competing with the University of Vermont’s women’s club flag football team, where she also served as a student coach. A graduate of Independence High School, she played for the Loudoun Legends flag football travel team, helping lead the program to an FFL We Run the World Tournament 18U Silver finish while also earning a selection to the 18U Select Bowl.\u00a0 TAMIA DUDDLEY Tamia Duddley joins the Mavericks from Archer High School, where she was a standout wide receiver and safety. She earned Gwinnett County second-team all-region honors, was named Wide Receiver of the Month and recognized as a scholar-athlete. \u00a0\u00a0
\n<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0–#BuckEm–<\/p>\n JOIN THE MOVEMENT
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\nThe class features a diverse and accomplished group of young stars from across the country, bringing elite experience, versatility and high-level production to Arlington.<\/p>\n
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\n\u00a0ALEXIS ELEY
\n\u00a0QB, 5-4
\n\u00a0Mesa, Ariz.\/Highland HS
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\n\u00a0A dynamic quarterback from Mesa, Arizona, Alexis Eley joins UTA following a decorated career at Highland High School. She was named the 2024 Fiesta Bowl Player of the Year, earned AZ Cardinals All-Star honors and was a Top 10 Flag Football Player of the Year nominee. A six-time All-Conference first team selection, Eley accumulated 7,315 passing yards, 90 touchdown passes while adding 1,786 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns, all while completing 77.8% of her passes, including 3,637 passing yards during the 2025-26 season at an average of 9.9 yards per pass.
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\nIn addition to her success on the field, Eley was a standout softball player, who earned two-time Honorable Mention All-Region honors. She plans to major in nursing at UTA.<\/p>\n
\nQB\/WR\/S, 5-5
\nPortland, Maine\/Cheverus HS<\/p>\n
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\nHang collected numerous individual accolades, including Defensive MVP, All-American Ball Hawk Award, All-American MVP, Playmaker Award, Endzone Specialist and Top Gun honors. At Cheverus High School, she also excelled in track & field and served as a team captain, earning All-Academic recognition. She plans to study civil engineering at UTA.<\/p>\n
\nWR\/S, 5-1
\nAshburn, Va.\/Independence HS<\/p>\n
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\nEspiritu was also additionally selected to represent the Washington Commanders at the PSFCA Big 33 Girls Flag Football Tournament, a premier 2-day event launched to showcase top female high school athletes in the region.\u00a0
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\nShe will pursue a degree in exercise science at UTA.<\/p>\n
\nWR\/S, 5-6
\nAtlanta, Ga.\/Archer HS<\/p>\n
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\nDuddley recorded over 30 interceptions and more than 10 touchdowns during her high school career. She plans to study biochemistry at UTA.
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\nELLA RIEBEN
\nQB\/P, 5’6
\nLittleton, Colo.\/Columbine HS
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\nElla Rieben brings a dual-threat presence as a quarterback and punter from Columbine High School, where she was named Player of the Year. She averaged 43 yards per punt, totaling 945 yards during the 2025-26 season. At quarterback, Rieben recorded 2,439 passing yards while averaging 9.1 yards per pass and 163.6 yards per game.
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\nA multi-sport athlete, Rieben also excelled in soccer, earning Defensive Player of the Year honors and a selection to the U.S Soccer National Pool.<\/p>\n
\n\u00a0Fans who would love to join the movement at UT Arlington can give to the UTA Women’s Flag Football program by donating here<\/a>!
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\nFOLLOW ALONG
\n\u00a0For updates, behind-the-scenes photos, videos and more engaging and personal content, follow the women’s flag football program on X (formerly Twitter) (@UTAMavsFlagFB<\/a>), Instagram (@utamavsflagfb<\/a>) and Facebook (\/UTAMavsFlagFB<\/a>).
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