The Panamanian Woman Who Found her Way to the United States Division 1: Natalia Hernández De León
The leap from the isthmus to the elite of university sports, with an eye on the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Natalia Hernández De León’s story did not begin on a flag football field. During her childhood she practiced ballet, soccer and gymnastics. She discovered this sport upon her return to Panama, after living in Italy for three years, thanks to an invitation from some friends who motivated her to try her luck in flag football. “I had no idea the flag existed when I was little,” said Hernández, who is a psychology student. Her first contact came during some Kiwanis League trials, where she ended up joining the Brader College youth team. Since then, flag football has become her greatest passion.
Dennis Allen, the Coach Who Shaped her Career
Before starting his university career in the United States, Hernandez found a key figure in his athletic development. Since 2021 she has been part of the Honey Badgers club, with which she continues to compete in the Women’s Flag Football League (LIFFF), under the direction of coach Dennis Allen. The receiver attributes much of her growth as a player to the work done alongside Allen during these years.
Coach Dennis Allen gives instructions to player Natalia Hernández De León during a flag football game.
“Even though I’ve had different coaches in the United States who have given me great opportunities, the truth is that the coach who has always been by my side and to whom I owe a large part of my progress as a player is my coach from Panama, Dennis Allen,” she stated. Hernandez commented: “Allen believed in me even when I doubted myself. He trained me, challenged me, and pushed me to be a better athlete and a better person.” She also said she felt “deeply grateful for all the time, trust, and effort he has invested in me. Without his unconditional support, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
From Panama to the United States
After her time at Brader College and later at the International School of Panama, the Panamanian faced one of the most difficult moments of her career. A serious knee injury that forced her to stay off the courts for a year. “I thought I was never going to play again,” she recalled. However, she managed to recover and earned a full athletic scholarship to play at William Woods University.
