Women's Professional Football League
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The Women's Professional Football League (WPFL) is the original and longest operating women's pro football league in the United States. With teams across the United States, the WPFL had its first game in 1999 with just three original teams: Houston Energy, Austin Rage, and the New England Storm. Currently the league has over 17 teams and several teams in the process of licensing for 2005. The current WPFL commissioner is Lisa Vessey.
The league has been recognized in national media campaigns, has been recognized in the book "Atta Girl", and even has a team (the New England Storm) that has a commercial relationship with an NFL team, the 2004 Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots. The Storm have since been expelled from the league.
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History
In the United States of America, a women’s football league was started in the early 1960’s. Such an organization was started to prove that women had the power to do what men did, with hopes that people would enjoy women's football as much as they do men's. The name became WPFL in 1965. Since there was no college women’s team in the US, most of their athletes came from basketball, rugby, and soccer. In the early 60’s, many women thought that sports in the US were sexist and needed a shift in another direction, moving beyond the stereotype that all women were passive. After a few years, the sport began to fade. The league was regenerated in 1998 and has grown stronger every year.
Effects
Sixteen teams in the WPFL are coming into the 2005 season. The league has hundreds of players and is growing, though these female professional athletes do not earn as much as male professional athletes. Other leagues that connect to women’s football include the United Football League, the Independent Football League, and the Western States Football League. Due to the efforts of these organizations, some women’s teams are allowed to play in some of the million-dollar domes and arenas originally built for men’s teams. Some of the best places in the world are now hosting women’s game like the Astrodome in Houston, Texas, and some of the high facilitated places in Detroit, Michigan.
Teams
American Conference
- Arizona Caliente
- Arizona Knighthawks
- Dayton Rebellion
- Indiana Speed
- Long Beach Aftershock
- Los Angeles Amazons
- Minnesota Vixen
- Northern Ice
- So Cal Scorpions
National Conference
- Dallas Diamonds
- Delaware Griffins (2004 expansion)
- Houston Energy
- Missouri Avengers
- New York Dazzles (2004 expansion)
- Syracuse Sting
- Toledo Reign
Former teams
- Austin Rage (withdrew from 2003 schedule)
- New England Storm (expelled)
- Pacific Blast (withdrew from 2003 schedule)
- Missouri Prowlers ?
- Florida Stingrays ?
- Wisconsin Riveters ?
Championships
| Year | Champion | Score | Runner-Up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Houston Energy | 39-7 | New England Storm |
| 2001 | Houston Energy | 47-14 | Austin Rage |
| 2002 | Houston Energy | 56-7 | Wisconsin Riveters |
| 2003 | Northern Ice | 47-12 | Florida Stingrays |
| 2004 | Dallas Diamonds | 68-13 | Northern Ice |
See also
- National Women's Football Association
- Women's American Football League (WAFL)
- American Football Women's League (AWFL)
- List of leagues of American football
External links
- Official Home of the Women's Professional Football League (http://www.womensprofootball.com)
- Lady Tackle Football League (http://www.eteamz.com/LTFL/)
- Women's Football League (http://www.wfleague.com/)
- Official Home of the National Football League (http://www.nfl.com/)