SASKATOON — Ella Sowden is looking forward to the next chapter of her academic and athletic career, as she prepares to attend Lindsey Wilson University in Columbia, Kentucky, where she plans to use the five-figure scholarship she received from a U.S.-based sports non-profit organization.
Sowden, who was part of Centennial Collegiate’s 2025-26 graduating class, was one of two recipients of the RCX Sports Foundation’s Women’s Flag Football International Scholarship. The recipient of the other scholarship, held in partnership with the National Football League, was from Spain.
She has been involved in sports and used to play soccer, but moved to flag football in 2022 after seeing some of her friends playing on the field. She found the sport fun and excelled at it, earning selection to Team Saskatchewan twice and winning silver at the Football Canada Elite Flag Nationals.
Sowden played as a defensive back for the Institute of Saskatchewan Football and Centennial Collegiate, and is looking to play for the Blue Raiders in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Mid-South Conference.
She said that she plans to use the money for her tuition as she pursues a degree in recreation, tourism and sports management, to establish a career in sports administration, facility management and marketing. The money will also pay for her meals and other school needs.
“I'll use it to pay it off because then I won't have any financial stress while studying. I am pretty much good to go for my college career,” said Sowden, whose other reason to go to LWU is to join their women’s flag football team aside from the academic program she will pursue.
“I'm pretty excited, and it has been special for me. I signed to play flag football at my school [Centennial Collegiate], and that's pretty much the reason why I'm going to Lindsey Wilson University, aside from academics.”
Her path toward the scholarship grant began when her mom shared a social media post about the application. She submitted an application, essay and reference letters; a few weeks later, she received an email informing her that she was a finalist.
She said the ISF sent an email telling her to attend a pancake breakfast at the SMF Field because they would be making a huge announcement. At first, she thought they wanted to do a clothing collaboration, which is why the announcement of getting the scholarship was surprising.
“We all came to the [SMF] field here, and I thought it would be like a clothing collaboration, or like, just like getting new merch or something. But then they announced that I won the scholarship in front of all my teammates. It was a really good experience,” she added.
The RCX Sports Foundation-NFL Women’s Flag Football International Scholarship aims to help women who play flag football attend U.S. colleges or universities that offer the sport as part of their athletics programs, and to play at the NAIA level while pursuing their academic degrees.
ISF executive director Brian Guebert, who is also Sowden’s coach and one of those who helped her secure the scholarship, said Sowden is an athlete with high-level physical discipline and an advanced tactical understanding of the game.
“A relentless work ethic and a student-of-the-game mentality have defined her tenure at [ISF]. Being selected and fully participating in our ISF Harvesters and Toon Squad programs and international competition proved she could compete and dominate at the highest level of talent,” said Guebert.
“Ella’s resume reflects her status as a top-tier athlete in Canada. In addition to her international experience with ISF and the Toon Squad, she was a standout member of Football Saskatchewan’s U18 Provincial Team.”
Guebert added that Sowden’s skills and potential have been recognized at the national level after participating in the Senior Women’s National Flag Football Team Identification Camps, and she is a Team Canada prospect as the sport makes its Olympic debut in the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
