Vote. The Republic's 2026 top high school flag football wide receivers

It’s halfway through summer, and that means the fall high school sports season is just around the corner.

Flag football has seen explosive growth since being sanctioned by the AIA in 2023. There are four conferences, with a total of 159 schools participating heading into the 2026 season.

The Arizona Republic is previewing players and teams ahead of the upcoming season. We will be asking for your vote on the top players at each position and the top teams (the poll appears after the list; print readers can find it with this story online at azcentral/sports/high-schools).

We started with the quarterbacks, the position most loaded with talent in the state. Next up are the wide receivers, which almost rivals the quarterback position in terms of talent.

The Republic’s top flag football WRs

1. Kayla Tacker, Casa Grande, Sr.

Might be the most dynamic player in all of Arizona. Picked up a handful of Division I offers in the offseason, including Eastern Michigan. She’s been one of the top wide receivers since her sophomore season and now gets to step into the limelight. Hauled in 46 touchdowns and 2,941 yards over the past two years.

2. Makenna Johnson, Peoria Liberty, Sr.

Expect a massive jump in production from her with the arrival of quarterback Marlie Phillips. She’s a two-sport athlete, but immediately made an impact in her first season of flag football, finishing with 82 receptions, 1,015 yards and 17 touchdowns.

3. Evie Maas, Phoenix Xavier Prep, So.

One of those players who immediately catches your eye. Fluid with the ball. Caught 73 passes for 1,044 yards and 17 touchdowns. Spent the summer playing with the United States Under-15 national team, winning a gold medal at the Junior International Cup.

4. Jaiyana Bogan-Jacobs, Gilbert Campo Verde, So.

Her arrival was a key part of Campo Verde winning the 5A state championship, racking up 53 receptions, 969 yards and 25 touchdowns. She’s one of the country’s top basketball recruits and is undecided yet on whether she will return this fall to play flag football, but told The Republic she is leaning toward coming back.

5. Deztany Toyota-Villalobos, Sierra Vista Buena, Jr.

Arguably the fastest player in the state. She’s a threat anytime she touches the ball, totaling 1,926 yards and 28 touchdowns through the air and on the ground last season. 

6. Ela Witcher, Gilbert Highland, So.

She had a freshman year to remember, landing on the state’s all-time top 20 list for most receiving yards in a single season with 1,352. With a full season with the uber-talented Lacie Nemchick at quarterback, those numbers should jump even higher.

7. Kinsley McCarty, Mesa Eastmark, Sr.

She showed little rust in her return from an ACL injury. Finished with 98 receptions, 1,272 yards and 20 touchdowns while helping lead Eastmark to a 4A state championship appearance.

8. Mikaela Oberstein, Mesa Eastmark, Sr. 

Put up video game numbers on the way to Eastmark’s run to the title game. She had 125 receptions for 1,525 yards and 17 touchdowns.

9. Makayla Martinez, Chandler, Sr.

An ACL injury has forced her to miss most of the last two seasons, but make no mistake, she is a special talent, evident in her selection to Mexico’s Under-17 national team. She had 858 yards and 10 touchdowns as a freshman.

10. Claire McMahon, Gilbert Campo Verde, Jr.

She only got to play eight games after transferring from Chandler Basha. Her production should return to where it was in 2024, when she set a freshman state record with 1,700 receiving yards.

Honorable mention: Markiah Riley, Chandler Hamilton, Sr.; Ella Mutters, Gilbert Highland, Jr.; Kendyll Dinh, Scottsdale Chaparral, Jr.;Katelyn Dilworth, Chandler Hamilton, Sr.; Clemmonique Cheatham, Tolleson, Sr.; Amaya Rodgers, Chandler Hamilton, Jr.; Oakley Dobratz-Blevins, Gilbert Campo Verde, Jr.; Giovanna Di Scala, Chandler Seton Catholic Prep, Jr.; Karstyn Richardson, Cottonwood Mingus Union, Sr.; Sofia Silverstein, Marana, So.

Vote: Who’s No. 1?

Logan Stanley is a sports reporter with The Arizona Republic who primarily focuses on high school, college and Olympic sports. To suggest ideas for human-interest stories and other news, reach out to Stanley at logan.stanley@usatodayco.com or 707-293-7650. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @LSscribe.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Vote. The Republic’s 2026 top high school flag football wide receivers