The Women's Football Alliance is a full-contact Women's American football league that began play in 2009. It is one of three full-contact, 11-on-11 football leagues for women, along with the Independent Women's Football League and the Women's Spring Football League, and the largest of the three. The league is owned and operated by Jeff and Lisa King of Exeter, California.
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 which left the WFA and are now playing elsewhere[]
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 in WFA in 2009, then left to join Independent Women's Football League; team now in eight-player division of Women's Spring Football League.
Erie Illusion - played in WFA in 2011, then returned to Independent Women's Football League.
Keystone Assault - played in WFA from 2009-2012, then left to join Independent Women's Football League; now in Women's Spring Football League.
Memphis Dynasty - played in WFA from 2010-2012, then left to join Women's Spring Football League.
New England Nightmare - played in WFA from 2010-2012, then left to join Independent Women's Football League.
New York Sharks - played in WFA from 2011-2013, then returned to Independent Women's Football League.
Pittsburgh Passion - played in WFA from 2011-2013, then returned to Independent Women's Football League.
Utah Jynx - played in WFA from 2012-2013, then left to join Independent Women's Football League.
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 eight-player division of the Women's Spring Football League.
West Virginia WildKats - originally set to play in WFA for 2009 but withdrew prior to inaugural season. Team now playing as the West Virginia Wildfire in the eight-player division of the Women's Spring Football League.
