Women's tackle football has 2 leagues whose championship games are on ESPN2
Two leagues, operating independently, are helping the sport get more attention.
The Women's Football Alliance will be back on ESPN2 for its championship game on July 26 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, where MVP jerseys from previous title games are on display.
The Women's National Football Conference will have its title game on ESPN2 for the first time, live on Saturday from the Dallas Cowboys' Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. The Washington Prodigy will face the Texas Elite Spartans in the title game. In its sixth season, the league has 17 teams from 14 states and Washington, D.C.
The WFA was founded in 2009 and participation has increased by 300% since its debut season, according to Commissioner Lisa King. It has 12 teams from nine states and D.C. in its top level and a total of 55 squads in three divisions. The WFA also has international teams in Europe, Africa, South America and North America.
Like the WFA, the WNFC does not pay salaries.
The WNFC does plan to give a total of $20,000 to the players on the championship team and did budget to pay weekly and season award-winners thanks in part to support from sponsors such as Adidas, Dove and Riddell.
WFA sponsors, which include Wilson, along with ticket sales and licensing rights cover some of the players' costs.
___
AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
18 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Williams scores 26, McBride hits 3-pointer with 30.8 seconds left as Lynx beat Liberty 86-80
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Courtney Williams scored a season-high 26 points, Kayla McBride hit a deep 3-pointer with 30.8 seconds left and the Minnesota Lynx beat the defending WNBA champion New York Liberty 86-80 on Saturday. New York beat the Lynx 3-2 in the best-of-five 2024 WNBA Finals to win the franchise's first championship. Since then, Minnesota has won three straight against the Liberty. Minnesota (28-5) has won six in a row and 10 of 11 overall. DiJonnai Carrington won a jump ball against Natasha Cloud with 25.2 seconds left and the Liberty were forced to foul. McBride — who went into the game shooting 93.8% (75 of 80) from the line this season — hit two of four free throws before Jessica Shepard made two free throws to cap the scoring with 3.6 seconds left. McBride finished with 17 points and Jessica Shepard added 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Lynx. Alanna Smith finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and four blocks. Jonquel Jones led New York (21-13) with 17 points and Sabrina Ionescu had 13 points and 10 assists. Marine Johannès added 12 points and Kennedy Burke 11. The Lynx led 38-27 with two minutes left in the first half, but New York answered with a 16-0 run to close the second quarter and open the third. Jones capped the spurt with a three-point play about 1 1/2 minutes into the second half. Napheesa Collier (ankle) missed her fourth consecutive game for the Lynx. Collier, the frontrunner for the WNBA MVP, has missed seven games this season. Jonquel Jones missed five games in 2021, the most by any player to be named league MVP. Two-time WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart (knee) missed her 10th straight game for the Liberty. The teams play again Tuesday at the Barclays Center in New York. ___ AP WNBA:
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Hurston Waldrep throws 6 scoreless innings in combined 2-hitter, Braves blank Guardians 2-0
CLEVELAND (AP) — Hurston Waldrep pitched six scoreless innings in a combined two-hitter and Nacho Alvarez Jr. and Michael Harris II each drove in a run, giving the Atlanta Braves a 2-0 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Friday night. Waldrep (3-0) allowed two hits, both to Steven Kwan, in matching his longest outing of the season. The right-hander struck out a career-high seven and walked two before being followed by Daysbel Hernandez and Tyler Kinley. Raisel Iglesias the ninth for his 18th save in 23 opportunities, giving the Braves their third straight win. The Guardians were shut out for the 12th time and fell one game behind the Yankees for the final American League wild-card spot. Alvarez drew a bases-loaded walk in the fourth off Cleveland starter Joey Cantillo (3-3), scoring Ozzie Albies. Harris singled home pinch-runner Eli White in the ninth against Carlos Hernández. Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. returned after missing 15 games with a right calf strain, going 0 for 3 with a walk. The former NL MVP, who had been sidelined since July 30, also was called out for baserunner interference in the fourth. Key moment Cantillo threw ball four to Alvarez in the fourth just after a fan ran onto the field. It required two security guards and a member of the grounds crew to remove him. Key stat Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Waldrep made his major league debut last season with the Braves and went 0-1 with a 16.71 ERA in two games, both starts. The 2023 first round pick has a 1.02 ERA in three appearances this year, giving up two runs in 17 2/3 innings. Up next Braves LHP Joey Wentz (3-3, 5.03 ERA) takes on Guardians RHP Slade Cecconi (5-5, 4.11 ERA) in the second game of the series. ___ AP MLB:
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. returns from straight right calf
CLEVELAND (AP) — Atlanta star Ronald Acuña Jr. was activated Friday night before the Braves' series opener against the Cleveland Guardians. The 2023 NL MVP had been on the 10-day injured list since July 30 because of a strained right calf, missing 15 games. He was in the starting lineup in right field and batted third against left-hander Joey Cantillo. 'He's checked all the boxes to return,' Braves manager Brian Snitker said. 'I'm sure he's excited to be back out there.' The 27-year-old Acuña is batting .306 with 14 homers and 26 RBIs, but has only appeared in 55 of Atlanta's first 121 games. He missed the first 49 games recovering from reconstructive surgery on his left anterior cruciate ligament. Since winning the MVP award in 2023, Acuña has only appeared in 104 games and stolen 20 bases. The 6-foot, 205-pound Venezuelan had 73 steals, 41 homers and hit .337 two years ago. The Braves won eight of 15 games without Acuña, but are 15 games under .500 overall. Catcher Sandy León was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett in a corresponding move. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. ___ AP MLB:
