Women's Football Alliance
Current season, competition or edition: 2011 Women's Football Alliance season | |
 | |
| Sport | Women's American football |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2008 |
| No. of teams | 64 |
| Country |  United States |
| Most recent champion(s) | Boston Militia |
| Most titles | St. Louis Slam, Lone Star Mustangs, & Boston Militia (tied at 1) |
The Women's Football Alliance is a full-contact Women's American football league which began play in the spring of 2009. They have now completed three full seasons and grew to over 60 teams slated for the 2011 season. The women play 11 person tackle football games with rules that basically mirror those of the NFL. The league is owned and operated by Jeff and Lisa King of Exeter, California and has teams spread across the United States.
League History
The Women's Football Alliance was established in 2009 and began its inaugural season with 36 teams. Many of these teams were already established teams moving in from other leagues such as Women's Professional Football League, Independent Women's Football League and National Women's Football Association, while others will began their inaugural season of play in the WFA.
The first season of play ended with a championship game, which was played in the rebuilding (post Katrina) city of New Orleans, Louisiana and was hosted by the New Orleans Blaze. The game was between the St. Louis Slam (American Conference - St. Louis, MO) and the West Michigan Mayhem (National Conference - Kalamazoo, MI). The game came down to the last few plays and the St. Louis Slam became the first National Champions in the WFA with a final score of 21-14. Additionally, there was an International Game played between the upstart Aguilas Regias of Monterrey, Mexico and the hosting team, New Orleans Blaze. The Blaze won this game 12-0.
The WFA grew in the second year (2010) to have over 40 teams competing for the National Championship. The national championship for the 2010 season was accompanied by the first All-American game. The term All-American is used by the WFA to represent the best players at all positions from all WFA teams. The teams were chosen partly based on statistics and partly based on the vote of head coaches. The All-American game was played just before the championship game in Las Vegas, Nevada and were hosted by the Las Vegas Showgirlz. The All-American game was won by the American Conference. The second championship in the WFA would again come down to the last few plays and have a score differential of only 4 points. The Lone Star Mustangs (American Conference - Dallas/Fort Worth) defeated the Columbus Comets (National Conference - Columbus, Ohio) to become the second National Champions of the WFA by a score of 16-12.
As the Women's Football Alliance prepared for the 2011 season, they were scheduled to have over 60 teams playing across the United States. They again grew due in part to new teams starting and in part due to established teams moving in from other leagues, most notably the New York Sharks[1], D.C. Divas [2], Chicago Force [3], Dallas Diamonds, and Kansas City Tribe.[4] In the 2011 WFA championship, the Boston Militia defeated the San Diego Surge 34-19 to claim the title.
Teams
National Conference
Division 1
| Team | Location | Home Field |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Assault | Palmyra, Pennsylvania | In the Net Sports Complex |
| Maine Lynx | Portland, Maine | |
| New England Nightmare | Hartford, Connecticut | Dillon Stadium |
Division 2
Division 3
Division 4
| Team | Location | Home Field |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Fusion | Parma, Ohio | Byers Field |
| Detroit Dark Angels | Westland, Michigan | John Glenn High School |
| Pittsburgh Force | Ambridge, Pennsylvania | Ambridge Area High School |
Division 5
| Team | Location | Home Field |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Sizzle | Cincinnati, Ohio | La Salle High School |
| Derby City Dynamite | Louisville, Kentucky | |
| Toledo Reign | Toledo, Ohio | Central Catholic High School |
Division 6
Division 7
Division 8
Division 9
American Conference
Division 10
Division 11
Division 12
Division 13
| Team | Location | Home Field |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Wildcats | Little Rock, Arkansas | J. A. Fair Systems Magnet High School |
| Memphis Dynasty | Memphis, Tennessee | Hanks Park |
| Tulsa Threat | Bixby, Oklahoma | Bixby High School |
Division 14
Division 15
Division 16
Division 17
Former WFA teams
Former teams
- Atlanta Heartbreakers - played in WFA in 2011, then left to join Women's Spring Football League.
- Baltimore Burn - played in WFA from 2009–2010, then left to join Women's Spring Football League.
- Binghamton Tiger Cats - played 2009 WFA season, then left to join Independent Women's Football League. Team now part of Women's Spring Football League.
- Clinton County Chaos - originally set to play in WFA for 2011, but left to join Women's Spring Football League.
- Detroit Demolition - originally set to play in WFA for 2010, then suspended operations until 2011, spot in league marked by Detroit Dark Angels. Demolition now part of the Women's Spring Football League.
- Erie Illusion - played 2011 WFA season, then returned to Independent Women's Football League.
- H-Town Texas Cyclones - played 2009 WFA season, then left to join Independent Women's Football League. Folded before they began IWFL play.
- Indiana Speed - played in WFA from 2009–2010, then left to join Women's Spring Football League.
- Iowa Thunder - played in WFA from 2009–2010, then left to join Women's Spring Football League.
- Kansas City Storm - played 2009 WFA season, then left to join Women's Spring Football League.
- Marana She Devils - originally set to play in WFA for 2009, but withdrew prior to inaugural season. Team now set to begin play in 2011 as the Arizona She-Devils of the Women's Spring Football League.
- Memphis Belles - played 2009 WFA season, then left to join Independent Women's Football League.
- New Jersey Titans - played in WFA from 2009–2010, then took 2011 season off and joined Women's Spring Football League for 2012.
- Northeastern Nitro - played in WFA in 2011, then left to join Independent Women's Football League, moving to Schenectady, New York.
- Oklahoma City Lightning - played first game of 2010 WFA season, then left to join Women's Spring Football League. Current status uncertain.
- Phoenix Prowlers - played 2009 WFA season, then suspended operations because of the United States' economic troubles. Hoping to resume play for 2011.
- Ventura Black Widows - originally set to play in WFA for 2009, but withdrew prior to inaugural season. Team began play in 2010 as a member of the Women's Spring Football League.
- West Virginia Bruisers - originally scheduled to play in WFA for 2010, but left to join Women's Spring Football League, inaugural season pushed back to 2011.
- West Virginia WildKats - originally set to play in WFA for 2009, but withdrew prior to inaugural season. Team now set to begin play in 2011 as the West Virginia Wildfire of the Women's Spring Football League.
Failed expansion teams
Defunct teams
WFA National Championship Results
| Year | Winner | Loser | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | St. Louis Slam | West Michigan Mayhem | 21-14 |
| 2010 | Lone Star Mustangs | Columbus Comets | 16-12 |
| 2011 | Boston Militia | San Diego Surge | 34-19 |
See also
References
- ^ http://www.alternet.org/culture/149446/new_york_sharks_women_tackle_the_football_world
- ^ http://www.gazette.net/gazettecms/story.php?id=2010
- ^ http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/call-of-the-wild/2010/11/chicago-force-begin-try-outs-ladies-are-you-ready-to-play-some-football.html
- ^ http://blogs.pitch.com/plog/2010/08/kansas_city_tribe.php