Women's gridiron football, more commonly known as women's tackle football, women's American football, women's Canadian football, or simply women's football, is a form of gridiron football played by women. Most leagues play by similar rules to the men's game. Women primarily play on a semi-professional or amateur level in the United States. Very few high schools or colleges offer the sport solely for women and girls. However, on occasion, it is permissible for a female player to join the otherwise male team.
The 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. Members of the original roster of the Austin Outlaws were the league's founders. Following the establishment of the league as a separate entity from the team, former Outlaws players Laurie Frederick, Jaime Bailey, and Sandra Plato became the original IWFL executive council.
The Women's Professional American Football League (WPFL) was a women's professional American football league in the United States. With teams across the United States, the WPFL had its first game in 1999 with just two original teams: the Lake Michigan Minx and the Minnesota Vixens. Fifteen teams nationwide competed for the championship in 2006.
The Austin Outlaws are a women's football team in the Women's Football Alliance. They are based in Austin, Texas. Home games are played at historic House Park in downtown Austin.
The Detroit Demolition was a women's American football team based in the Detroit, Michigan area. During their most recent season, home games were played at Franklin High School in Livonia. They joined the National Women's Football Association (NWFA) in 2002 as the Detroit Danger, winning a national championship. Their only loss that year was in the regular season to the Cleveland Fusion by a score of 14–3.
The Erie Illusion was a women's football team playing in the United States Women's Football League and they were based in Erie, Pennsylvania. Their team colors was orange and purple; the team played at Erie Veterans Memorial Stadium. Mary Butler was the owner and general manager of the franchise. Troy Allen was the Illusion's final head coach.
The So Cal Scorpions were a semi-pro women's American football team based in San Diego, California. In 2011, they played in the Women's Football Alliance after five seasons in the defunct Women's Professional Football League, The ownership brought the team to a spring league. Independent Women's Football League. Home games were most recently played at Balboa Stadium.
The Minnesota Vixen is a professional women's football team based in the Twin Cities. The team has been known as the Minnesota Vixens and Minneapolis Vixens prior to being known as the Vixen.
The Sacramento Sirens are a women's semi-professional American football team, located in Sacramento, California. The team has compiled one of the most successful records in women's full tackle football.
The Empire State Roar was a women's tackle football team in Rochester, New York. They played at East High School. The team was a member of the Women's Professional Football League (WPFL) for three football seasons, 2005–2007.
The Chattanooga Locomotion was a team in the Independent Women's Football League based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Home games of the team were played on the campus of Red Bank High School.
Birdville High School (BHS) is a public high school located in the city of North Richland Hills, Texas and is the second newest school in the Birdville Independent School District. Established in 1999, it was the third high school built into the Birdville Independent School District. Birdville High School is home to the Birdville Hawks and hosts grades 9-12. For the 2009-2010 school year, according to the TEA, Birdville High School's population consisted of 6.3% Black/African American, 20.6% Hispanic/Latino(a), 68.3% White/Caucasian, 0.6% Native American, and 4.2% Asian/Pacific Islander.
The Boston Militia were a women's full-contact football team in the Women's Football Alliance of which they were two-time champions. Previously, the Militia played in the Independent Women's Football League from 2008 until 2010, winning the IWFL championship in 2010. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, the Militia played its home games at Dilboy Stadium in nearby Somerville.
The D.C. Divas are a women's gridiron football team that plays in the Women's Football Alliance. Based in the Washington metropolitan area, the Divas play their home games at The St. James fieldhouse in Springfield, Virginia. Formerly, the Divas played at Eastern High School in Washington, D.C.; Largo High School in Largo, Maryland; the Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex in Landover, and at John R. Lewis High School in Springfield.
The Miami Fury is a football team in the Women's Football Alliance. Based in Miami, Florida, the Fury plays its home games at Carter Park.
The Clarksville Fox is a football team in the Independent Women's Football League. Based in Clarksville, Tennessee, the Fox play their home games on the campus of Northwest High School.
The Kansas City Tribe is a football team in the Women's Football Alliance based in Kansas City, Missouri. Home games are played at Center High School.
The Atlanta Xplosion, known as the Atlanta Ravens for the year of 2011, was a football team in the Independent Women's Football League. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, the Xplosion played their home games in nearby Smyrna, Georgia at Campbell High School.
The Huntsville Tigers is a women's American football team located in Huntsville, Alabama. The Tigers played their first season of full-contact football in the spring of 2012. This was the Tigers' first season as a new team. The team consists of former Alabama Renegades and Tennessee Valley Tigers players as well as a number of new players.
The Boston Renegades are a tackle football team in the Women's Football Alliance. The Renegades play their home games at Harry Della Russo Stadium in Revere, Massachusetts.
