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Women’s Tackle Football Gives Female Athletes Opportunities in a Game Dominated By Men

June 27, 2025

Women across North America are actively participating in tackle football leagues such as the American Women's Football League (AWFL), Women's National Football Conference (WNFC), and Women's Football Alliance (WFA), often paying their own expenses and risking injuries for their passion for the sport. These leagues are gaining visibility with championship games being broadcast on ESPN2 and played in professional venues like the Dallas Cowboys' Ford Center and the Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton. While players currently don't receive salaries, some leagues are securing sponsorships from brands like Adidas, Dove, and Riddell to offset costs and provide championship prizes.

Who is affected

  • Female football players (including daughters, sisters, mothers, and grandmothers)
  • The 14 teams in the AWFL playoffs and 18 teams from eight states and Canada
  • Players in the WNFC and WFA leagues
  • Former players who became coaches like Katie Sowers and Jennifer King
  • Young girls who are inspired by seeing women play football
  • Fans of women's football (like the approximately 100 home team fans and 11 visiting team fans mentioned)

What action is being taken

  • Women are actively playing in tackle football leagues across North America
  • The WNFC is broadcasting its championship game on ESPN2 for the first time
  • The WFA is continuing its ESPN coverage with its championship game on July 26
  • The WNFC is providing $20,000 to championship team players and paying weekly/season award winners
  • Corporate sponsors like Adidas, Dove, Riddell, and Wilson are providing financial support to women's football leagues
  • The NFL is investing in women's flag football development

Why it matters

  • Women are breaking gender barriers in a traditionally male-dominated sport
  • These leagues provide opportunities for women who love football to play at a competitive level
  • Former women's football players have advanced to coaching positions in the NFL
  • The growing visibility on platforms like ESPN2 raises the profile of women's football
  • Flag football's inclusion as an Olympic sport in 2028 may create a pipeline for more women to enter tackle football
  • Women's football is part of the broader rising interest in women's sports

What's next

  • The AWFL playoffs will conclude with the championship game on July 12 at West Charlotte High School in North Carolina, streaming on BAWLLR TV
  • The WNFC championship game will be held on Saturday between the Washington Prodigy and Texas Elite Spartans in Frisco, Texas
  • The WFA championship game will take place on July 26 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio
  • League leaders have discussed the potential for creating a unified "Super League" to combine resources

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint