$So-Tex Women's Athletics logo$

Empowering Women Together

Join us in enhancing women's health and wellness through athletics and community service in South Texas.

Who We Are:

So-Tex Women’s Athletics is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization focused on improving health and wellness in the Rio Grande Valley community by offering a variety of athletic opportunities to women at low cost. We have been focused on this goal for the past 5 years and have seen incredible growth and strong community reception. We are convinced, “if you build it, they will come!”

The RGV is plagued with higher-than-statistically-normal rates of Type 2 Diabetes, Obesity, and poverty. Additionally, individuals in the Rio Grande Valley report being less physically active than those in other areas. With those sobering facts, we realized that breaking barriers and finding ways to engage adult women in physical exercise is not only good for them, it is also good for the community as a whole. When people engage in physical exercise, they have already begun taking steps towards getting healthier - and we are all about it.

Over the summer, we hosted a women’s beach volleyball tournament at Clayton’s Beach Bar and Event Venue, with over 70 players competing for a spot on the podium. In October, we kicked off our first women’s Flag Football League in Brownsville, TX. We are currently preparing for a Winter Flag Football League in Harlingen, TX that begins in January, and, of course, for our 2nd season of Women’s Full Contact Football in the Rio Grande Valley. We have been so blessed and are proud to announce the addition of two more teams to our league this year: the Port Isabel Sirens and the Laredo Vaqueras. We know the season will be an exciting and memorable experience for all of the teams.

Apart from offering low-cost athletics for women, the members of So-Tex Women’s Athletics can often be found volunteering at community events such as Jailbreak at SPI, Brew at the Zoo, Beerfest, and even make appearances at local parades, like the Charro Days Parade in Brownsville and the Christmas Parade at South Padre Island. Because offering athletic opportunities at low cost is a priority for our organization, our members also regularly participate in fundraisers to help offset league costs (insurance fees, equipment and uniform costs, field fees, etc.).

So-Tex Women’s Athletics has no employees and only receives donations from community partners and service from generous volunteers who are passionate about our mission. Although some may argue that staying active can be done for free, organizing group athletic and fitness opportunities allows women to build social connections, develop new skills, and break their own internal barriers that may previously have prevented them from getting active - we have witnessed this year after year. We have been blessed with support from community businesses that value our contributions and are always looking to build new community relationships and further serve our community.

Meet our Board of Directors

Our directors are passionate volunteers focused on the mission of improving health and wellness in the Rio Grande Valley by offering low-cost athletic opportunities to women.

I am honored to lead an organization so deeply committed to providing affordable sports and cultivating a healthier lifestyle for women. The dedication and achievements of So-Tex Women's Athletics fill me with pride - just knowing that I am part of the growth in women's sports in the RGV is so rewarding.
Football and women's sports are about more than just winning - it is about the pursuit of excellence, discipline, and cultivating values that last a lifetime.
Playing women’s full-contact football has been so therapeutic for me, and for the past 5 years, I've enjoyed the sport just as much as I’ve enjoyed building a sisterhood and mentoring others.

Together, we can keep making history in the Rio Grande Valley and promote a healthier community

My women’s football journey began in 2017 when I joined the RGV Vixens in Harlingen. From the first practice when I got shoulder checked and knocked to the ground for 5 minutes, I knew I was in love with the sport. The journey has certainly evolved. My love of football has grown exponentially over the years and my involvement in the game itself has also expanded.
We started the Brownsville Sting women’s football team in 2020 and, through all of the twists and turns, have come to understand what our organization’s true purpose is - we are here to improve the health and wellness of women in our communities.
In 2025, we made the decision to expand and started the So-Tex Women’s Athletics organization. We knew that the impact we were making through Brownsville Sting was significant - by this time, we had already served over 120 women in the Brownsville area over 5 years. So, we also knew that offering different athletic opportunities in different areas in the Rio Grande Valley, like volleyball at South Padre Island and flag football in Harlingen, would attract even more women and allow them more opportunities to get active and make healthier choices for themselves.
My career is in the human services field; I am a licensed professional counselor; Giving back to my community and helping people overcome barriers and become the very best version of themselves is what I know my purpose in life is.
I am so blessed to have had this journey and met so many amazing people - LET’S PLAY BALL!

I’m beyond honored and grateful to join So-Tex Women’s Athletics to represent something bigger than myself — the growth and future of women’s sports in South Texas.

Sports didn’t just give me a place to play — they gave me discipline, resilience, confidence, and purpose. They shaped who I am, not just as an athlete, but as a leader, teammate, and community advocate. And now, I’m here to help build that same path for other women.

I am deeply rooted in my community, and I show up — not just when it’s easy, but when it matters. My mission is simple but powerful: to drive unity, wellness, confidence, and empowerment in women’s sports — not just for one team, not just for one city, but for women across the entire Rio Grande Valley.

The work continues. The mission grows. Women’s sports matter. And I’m ready to work.

Meet our Community Liaisons

Our community liaisons have lived knowledge of the power of a strong sisterhood focused on improving health and wellness. They recognize the need for offering health and wellness-focused activities that often even end up being life-changing experiences for our members. We are so proud to have a team of such strong and passionate women who want to share what they have found!

My name is Janette V Young. Before 2020, I had virtually no experience with sports - but then I allowed myself the opportunity to play full contact Football for the 2020-2021 season of Brownsville Sting. During that season, along with my teammates, I challenged myself to develop skills I never had before. I learned how to catch a ball and it was easy because I had so much support from the sisterhood.

That experience was great - I did something I never thought I was capable of doing and it has meant alot for my personal growth and my self-confidence.

I joined the Brownsville Sting when the focus was purely on women's football but it has grown into something much greater - it is a sisterhood, a support network, a safe place, a community. It is with great pride that I say I am part of this organization; I am so proud to play a role in helping women get active and try things that they never thought they would do.

As a liaison of So-Tex Women's Athletics it is an honor to brainstorm about all of the different ways we can positively impact women in our Rio Grande Valley community.

Well, let me tell you about my diverse interests and endeavors. I’m a jack of all trades, and I’ve got my hands in various things. I own several small businesses, including a t-shirt company called Texas Made Tee’s. I’m also a Scentsy consultant.

My latest venture is Bro-Racho Beef Jerky. On top of all this, I’m juggling a full-time job, being a mom of three, and currently attending school.

In 2025, I embarked on my first football season on the Flags of Fury team, and it was an incredible experience. I’m incredibly grateful to have found So-Tex. I’ve personally struggled with mental health, and this league has taught me invaluable lessons about positivity and discipline. It’s given me a sense of belonging that I never knew I needed. I’m thrilled to be a part of something so amazing.

The incredible support I’ve received is something I recognized from the start. I’m committed to continuing to share and empower women. I want to help them find their purpose through good faith, wellness, and perseverance.

"I’m a competitive runner, dedicated jiu-jitsu athlete, and multi-sport competitor currently finishing my first season of flag football and preparing for my second season of tackle football. I thrive on discipline, growth, and pushing beyond limits—both on and off the field.

Outside of sports, I’m a registered dental assistant and entrepreneur with two thriving small businesses: LMT Creations customizing tshirts and more, and Lisa's Cleaning Service, where I help families and businesses maintain clean, welcoming spaces. I’m also building my third business in professional teeth whitening, combining my dental background with my passion for helping people feel confident.

At home, I’m a proud mom of three and the wife of a hardworking traveling wind technician. While managing family life, business ownership, athletics, and career growth, I also prioritize navigating and strengthening my own mental health journey.

I believe in resilience, discipline, faith, and showing my children and other women that you can chase your goals unapologetically—no matter how full life gets.

I proudly serve as a liaison for So-Tex Women’s Athletics, supporting and advocating for women in sports while helping create stronger athletic opportunities in our community."