Ashlea Klam

Last updated

Ashlea Klam
USA Football 2023 (16) (cropped).png
Klam in 2023
Personal information
Born2004 (age 2021)
Home town Austin, Texas, U.S.
Height5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Sport
Country United States
Sport Flag football
Position Center, defensive back
Medal record
Women's flag football
Representing Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
World Games
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2025 Chengdu Team
IFAF World Championship
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2024 Lahti Team
IFAF Americas Continental Championship
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2023 Charlotte Team
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2025 Panama City Team

Ashlea Klam (born October 2004) [1] is an American international flag football player. She has represented the United States national team since 2023, winning the 2024 IFAF Women's Flag Football World Championship. She plays college flag football for the Keiser Seahawks.

Contents

Early life

Born to Amber and Jason Klam and raised in Austin, Texas, she started playing flag football at age six after seeing her brother Peyton play. She began to play competitively the year after, initially playing on boys' teams. [2] [3] She also excelled at a number of sports as a youngster: soccer, volleyball, basketball, baseball, softball, and track and field. [1]

Flag football career

Klam received a scholarship to study sports management and play flag football for Keiser University in Florida. [2]

She played for the Texas Fury club based in Austin, Texas, created by her parents as a girls-only flag football team that has expanded to eight different teams for different age groups. [4] [5]

In 2023, she became the youngest player on the United States women's national flag football team, at the age of 19. [6] She was a member of the American team which won the 2024 IFAF Women's Flag Football World Championship. [7]

She settled for bronze at the 2025 IFAF Americas Continental Flag Football Championship in Panama, catching a touchdown in the loss to Mexico in the semifinals before defeating the hosts in the third place game. [8]

Personal life

Klam has also worked as an actress, appearing in The Long Road Home miniseries, as well as a television show based on the Sage Alexander young adult novel series, and films such as Jack’s Apocalypse. [1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Vargas, Ramon Antonio (January 18, 2025). "US flag football star Ashlea Klam eyes 2028 Olympic gold – and so much more". The Guardian.
  2. 1 2 Omatiga, Mary (December 22, 2023). ""Flag Football has no Ceiling": Ashlea Klam on her journey to the Women's U.S. National Team". NBC Sports. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
  3. "Ashlea Klam Player Spotlight". NFL.com. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
  4. Hendricks, Maggie (August 12, 2024). "American flag football hope Ashlea Klam: It all starts with believing". Olympics.com. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
  5. Graham, Pat (December 30, 2023). "Flag football gives female players sense of community, scholarship options and soon shot at Olympics". kunc.org. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
  6. Perlman, Charlie (August 13, 2024). "Girls flag football's Olympic dream: a reality for young athletes". LA Times. Retrieved January 18, 2025.[ dead link ]
  7. "Keiser's Foster and Klam help the U.S. Women's Flag Football National Team win Gold". kuseahawks.com. August 31, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
  8. "Team USA Football's Men's Team Declared Co-champions in Weather-Impacted IFAF Americas Continental Championship; Women's Team Claims Bronze". USA Football . Retrieved October 28, 2025.