Women's American football in the United States

Women's American football in the United States is the American football sport played by women, both regionally in the United States and worldwide in the IFAF Women's World Championship.

"Women's football in the United States" redirects here. For women's association football in the United States, see Women's soccer in the United States.

History

American football has been played by women, both regionally in the United States and worldwide in the IFAF Women's World Championship. Women have played in leagues accessible to both genders and in leagues designed exclusively for women.

Organization in the United States

Befitting its status as a popular sport, football is played in leagues of different size, age and quality, in all regions of the country. A team / academy may be referred to as a 'football program'[3] – not to be confused with football program.[4]

There is no single national governing body for American football in the United States or a continental governing body for North America. There is an international governing body, the International Federation of American Football, or IFAF.

Women's Professional Football League
Main articles: Women's Professional Football League (1965-1973) and Women's Professional Football League

The Women's Professional American Football League (WPFL) was a women's professional American football league in the United States, It was founded in 1965 by talent agent Sid Friedman, for exhibition games. It started with four teams:

  • The Cleveland Daredevils of Cleveland, Ohio,
  • The Pittsburgh All-Stars of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (later renamed the Hurricanes and then the Powderkegs)
  • The Canadian Belles of Toronto, Ontario
  • and the Detroit Petticoats of Detroit, Michigan.

Among the WPFL best players can be named Marcella Sanborn (from The Daredevils) and Carole Duffy and Linda Rae Hodge (from the Powderkegs). The WPFL ceased operations in 1973. WPFL operated again between1999 and 2007 as a fall league and not a spring league.had its first game in 1999. The teams in the league were:

Independent Women's Football League
Main article: Independent Women's Football League

Independent Women's Football League (IWFL) was the first Women's American football league established by women players for women players. The league was founded in 2000, began play in 2001, and played its last season in 2018. The players were amateur/semi pro and had to cover part of their expenses.[6] Among its teams can be named the Southern California Breakers,[7] and the Austin Outlaws.

Women's American Football League
Main article: Women's American Football League]

The Women's American Football League was a women's American football league that was formed in 2001. After disbanding, the teams merged with the Women's Affiliated Football Conference (WAFC), the Independent Women's Football League (IWFL), Women's Football Association (WFA), and the American Football Women's League (AFWL).[8]

American Football Women's League
Main article: American Football Women's League

The American Football Women's League (AFWL) which debuted on May 15, 2002, was one of the first women's football leagues formed, originally using the name WAFL, or Women's American Football League in 2001. The AFWL officially disbanded in March 2003, due to money and attendance problems.[9]

Women's Football Association
Main article: Women's Football Association (2002–03)

The Women's Football Association was a women's American football league formed in 2002 and which folded in 2003. Many of the league's members had been part of the Women's American Football League. It's teams were: Birmingham Steel Magnolias, Georgia Enforcers, Indianapolis Vipers, New Orleans Voodoo Dolls, Carolina Crusaders, Jacksonville Dixie Blues, Orlando Fire, and Tampa Bay Force.[10]

X League (women's football)
Main article: X League (women's football)

The Extreme Football League (X League) is an American women's semi-professional tackle football league.[11] The league was originally founded in 2009 as the Lingerie Football League (LFL), and later rebranded as the Legends Football League in 2013.[12]

X League operates with 8 teams: Arizona Red Devils, Austin Acoustic, Atlanta Empire, Chicago Blitz, Denver Rush, Kansas City Force, Los Angeles Black Storm, Los Angeles Black Storm, Seattle Thunder.[13]

United States women's national American football team
Main article: United States women's national American football team

The United States women's national American football team represents the United States in international women's American football competitions. It competes in the IFAF Women's World Championship where is currently ranked no.1.

The United States women's national American football team is controlled by USA Football and is recognized by the International Federation of American Football (IFAF).[14]

See also

References
  1. "Meet the First Woman to Play Professional Football". August 15, 2016.
  2. Hayes, Reggie (March 31, 2010). "FireHawks' new kicker rekindling her dream". The News-Sentinel. Archived from the original on March 11, 2012. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  3. Division III football programs "D3football.com: Division III football programs". Archived from the original on June 7, 2010. Retrieved May 8, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. text was copied from American football in the United States on January 29, 2023 – see those pages' histories for attribution
  5. text was copied from Women's Professional Football League(1965–1973) and Women's Professional Football League on January 29, 2023 – see those pages' histories for attribution
  6. "Inside the world of women's tackle football — where women pay to play", Yahoo Finance, Mandi Woodruff, March 30, 2016.
  7. text was copied from Independent Women's Football League on January 29, 2023 – see those pages' histories for attribution
  8. text was copied from Women's American Football League on January 29, 2023 – see those pages' histories for attribution
  9. text was copied from American Football Women's League on January 29, 2023 – see those pages' histories for attribution
  10. text was copied from Women's Football Association (2002–03) on January 29, 2023 – see those pages' histories for attribution
  11. "X League – Highest Platform of Women's American Football".
  12. Mitchell, Houston (January 11, 2013). "Lingerie Football League changes name; players to wear uniforms". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  13. text was copied from X League (women's football) on January 29, 2023 – see those pages' histories for attribution
  14. text was copied from United States women's national American football team on January 29, 2023 – see those pages' histories for attribution
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