It was another week on the sideline, red and white pom-poms in hand, Myla “Flower” Dorsey stood watching the game instead of being part of it. After spending days practicing and preparing for cheer, she found herself focused on something else entirely: the action on the field. Watching her brothers play, she wasn’t thinking about routines or chants. She was thinking about being out there with them.

“I didn’t want to just cheer for the boys, I wanted to be out there with them,” Dorsey says.

She remembers skipping practice just to watch her brothers play, drawn to the energy and intensity of the game.

“One day, I never showed up to cheer practice, because I was too busy watching my brother practice and playing catch,” she says. “That’s when I knew I wanted to play football.”

That moment marked the beginning of a journey rooted in competition and resilience.

Dorsey is a senior at Forest Park High School in Baltimore and one of 12 siblings. She is the second youngest in a household with 11 brothers, where competition was constant and never allowed her to back down.

Her brothers pushed her in everything from video games to backyard matchups, shaping her toughness and mindset early on.

“Growing up in a house full of brothers taught me tough love and prepared me to be ready for anything because you never knew what was coming,” she says. “Although they called me sis, you couldn’t tell me I wasn’t one of the bros.” My brothers taught me not to give up, to get back up when I fall, and to always compete like I belong.

She also credits the boys she played with over the years for pushing her physically and mentally.

“Honestly, nobody else in particular,” she says. “I just believe the boys I played with over the years really motivated me because if I can play and get hit by y'all, I should be able to endure the physical pain of a sport, but also the mental.”

Growing up in that environment, Dorsey often felt she had to prove herself. Competing against boys who assumed they were naturally better only strengthened her mindset and drive.

“Boys always felt like they were better than me because of their gender,” she adds.

That experience reflects a wider trend in girls’ sports, where research shows girls drop out of competitive athletics at nearly twice the rate of boys by age 14, often due to pressure, confidence gaps, and unequal support.

“Stop comparing us to men and recognize the fact that we put in the same work, have the same passion, and deserve respect. I just want women's sports to be taken seriously and given the same opportunity to succeed at the next level.”

Flag football is where Dorsey feels most like herself. She plays quarterback and safety, allowing her to impact the game on both sides of the field.

“When I play QB, I’m not just trying to throw the ball and make a perfect pass, I’m trying to control the whole game,” she says.

She studies defense before every snap, reading how opponents line up and adjusting in real time based on what she sees, whether that means quick passes, quarterback keeps under pressure, or taking a shot downfield when she spots a mismatch.

Her brother, Rashod, has also seen how her mindset as a quarterback translates directly into her performance on the field.

“Her mindset is different,” he says, “Once she locks in, she doesn’t turn it off.”

She understands the responsibility that comes with the position.

“I focus on keeping the offense calm and confident because I set the energy,” she says. “If I’m off, the team is off.”

Her ability to stay composed shows up most clearly in high-pressure situations, where she takes control when the game is on the line instead of waiting for opportunities to come to her.

At safety, her role shifts to awareness and discipline; she studies the offenses as it develops, watches the quarterback’s eyes, and tracks routes, positioning herself to make plays at the right moment.

“At safety, I’m protecting the field and making sure nothing gets behind me,” she says. “I’m reading the quarterback’s eyes, watching routes unfold, and staying disciplined.”

As one of the more experienced players on the field, her teammates often look to her to steady the offense or lock in defensively when the team needs composure in high- pressure moments.

Girls' flag football is one of the fastest- growing high school sports in the country. As of 2026, 17 states officially approve it as a varsity sport, with more than 15 additional states running pilot programs. Participation has more than doubled in recent years, rising from about 20,875 athletes in 2022 - 23 to over 42,000 in 2023-24.

Dorsey is part of that growth, building her name in a sport that continues to expand opportunities for girls.

“Flag football is really where I feel like myself … it feels like home,” she says. “When I’m out there, everything slows down for me. I just focus.”

Other sports are part of her journey, too, and each one has added to the way she plays flag football today. She began playing basketball late in her freshman year, but while she didn’t fully lock in until her sophomore year, the sport helped her develop timing, court awareness, and confidence in reading situations under pressure.

This season, Forest Park’s girls basketball team finished 19-5 overall and 14-3 in region play, giving her another competitive space to grow. Track brought a different challenge, pushing her endurance and mental toughness in a way no opponent could, since it’s really just her versus time. Together, these sports built different parts of her game, speed, discipline, and decision making that all carry over into how she plays flag football.

Outside of athletics, she takes time to recharge mentally and emotionally.

“I really just like to chill, eat, and write poetry when I’m not playing,” she says.

She also prioritizes academics above everything else.

“I maintain my grades first, because without that, I’m no good for my team or myself,” she says.

At Forest Park, she credits her school for creating an environment where she feels supported, respected, and appreciated.

Before games, Dorsey focuses on her mindset and preparation.

“You are more than your doubts,” she says, referencing part of Forest Park’s school creed. “I really appreciate Forest Park, because they helped me in ways I don’t always explain out loud”.

For her, “Remain humble, greedy” is a mindset about staying grounded while still pushing for more success. It means not getting too caught up in achievements, staying focused on improvement, and continuing to strive for more even after success.

“I won MVP, but I still believe I needed more work and haven’t settled yet because I’m not done yet,” she says.

One of her toughest moments came in a high-pressure game where neither team could score, and every drive mattered. With the game stuck at 0-0 for most of the matchup, she didn’t wait for the opportunity; she took control and broke through with a 70- yard quarterback keep for a touchdown.

That same game also marked her first time playing defense, where she adjusted quickly despite limited experience. She had rarely played defense before because she was the only quarterback, but she adapted fast and still made an impact, finishing with eight flag pulls and helping close out the game.

“They never really let me play defense because I was the only quarterback, but I adjusted fast,” she says.

Her nickname, “Flower,” was given to her by her family at a young age, reflecting the spirit and attitude they see in her. That same mindset carries directly onto the field, showing up in how she handles pressure, mistakes, and competition in real time.

“It represents how I keep growing, no matter what's going on, despite the day I’m having, the setbacks, or anything that may drag me down mentally or physically,” she says.

She uses mistakes as motivation.

“If I throw an interception or miss one of my receivers, instead of getting frustrated, I lock in even harder and start communicating more with my team, “ she says.

As she looks ahead, Dorsey has committed to continuing her academic and athletic career at Mount St. Mary’s University.

Myla “Flower” Dorsey’s journey is rooted in competition and resilience, shaped by growing up in a house full of brothers, where she learned early to hold her own and be treated as an equal in any sport, including flag football.

“My goal is to prove that I belong in this sport and make a name for myself in women’s sports,” she says.