Western Conference (IFL)

Last updated
Western Conference
League Indoor Football League
Sport Indoor football
Founded2022
No. of teams7
Most recent
champion(s)
Arizona Rattlers (1st title)
Most titles Arizona Rattlers (1 title)
Bay Area Panthers
Northern Arizona Wranglers

The Western Conference (WC) is a conference of the Indoor Football League (IFL), the highest level of professional indoor football in the United States. The Western Conference and its counterpart, the Eastern Conference, each have seven teams and were created as part of the 2022 IFL expansion.

Contents

Teams

Active teams

TeamLocationArenaJoined
Arizona Rattlers Glendale, Arizona Desert Diamond Arena 2022
Bay Area Panthers San Jose, California SAP Center 2022
Northern Arizona Wranglers Prescott Valley, Arizona Findlay Toyota Center 2022
San Antonio Gunslingers San Antonio, Texas Freeman Coliseum 2024
San Diego Strike Force San Diego, California Pechanga Arena 2022
Tucson Sugar Skulls Tucson, Arizona Tucson Arena 2022
Vegas Knight Hawks Henderson, Nevada Lee's Family Forum 2022

Former teams

TeamLocationArenaActive
Duke City Gladiators Rio Rancho, New Mexico Rio Rancho Events Center 2022–2024 [a]

WC Championships

SeasonDateWinning teamScoreLosing teamArenaLocationRef.
2022 July 30, 2022 Northern Arizona Wranglers 52–51 Arizona Rattlers Footprint Center Phoenix, Arizona [2]
2023 July 29, 2023 Bay Area Panthers 68–46 Northern Arizona Wranglers SAP Center San Jose, California [3]
2024 August 5, 2024 Arizona Rattlers 58–23 San Diego Strike Force Desert Diamond Arena Glendale, Arizona [4]

Division champions

SeasonTeamRecordPostseason results
Western Conference
2022 Arizona Rattlers (1) 13–3Won Round One (Gladiators) 53–14
Lost WC Championship (Wranglers) 51–52
2023 Arizona Rattlers (2) 11–4Lost Round One (Wranglers) 53–62
2024 Bay Area Panthers (1) 13–3Lost Round One (Strike Force) 40–49

Wild Card qualifiers

SeasonTeamRecordPostseason results
Western Conference
2022 Northern Arizona Wranglers 12–4Won Round One (Sugar Skulls) 49–30
Won WC Championship (at Rattlers) 52–51
Won IFL National Championship (vs. Steamwheelers) 47–45
Tucson Sugar Skulls 9–7Lost Round One (at Wranglers) 30–49
Duke City Gladiators 8–8Lost Round One (at Rattlers) 14–53
2023 Bay Area Panthers 10–5Won Round One (Sugar Skulls) 46–34
Won WC Championship (Wranglers) 68–46
Won IFL National Championship (vs. Storm) 51–41
Tucson Sugar Skulls 9–6Lost Round One (at Panthers) 34–46
Northern Arizona Wranglers 7–8Won Round One (at Rattlers) 62–53
Lost WC Championship (at Panthers) 46–68
2024 Vegas Knight Hawks 11–5Lost Round One (at Rattlers) 38–39
Arizona Rattlers 11–5Won Round One (Knight Hawks) 39–38
Won WC Championship (Strike Force) 58–23
Won IFL National Championship (vs. Pirates) 53–16
San Diego Strike Force 10–6Won Round One (at Panthers) 49–40
Lost WC Championship (at Rattlers) 23–58

Season results

Denotes team that won the IFL National Championship
Denotes team that won the WC Championship, but lost the IFL National Championship
Denotes team that qualified for the IFL Playoffs
SeasonTeam (record)
1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th
2022: The Western Conference was formed with seven inaugural members, the Arizona Rattlers, Bay Area Panthers, Duke City Gladiators, Northern Arizona Wranglers, San Diego Strike Force, Tucson Sugar Skulls, and the Vegas Knight Hawks.
2022 Arizona (13–3) Northern Arizona (12–4) Tucson (9–7) Duke City (8–8) Vegas (6–10) San Diego (3–13) Bay Area (1–15)
2023 Arizona (11–4) Bay Area (10–5) Tucson (9–6) Northern Arizona (7–8) San Diego (6–9) Duke City (5–10) Vegas (5–10)
2024: An expansion team, the San Antonio Gunslingers, joined the Western Conference.
2024 Bay Area (13–3) Vegas (11–5) Arizona (11–5) San Diego (10–6) Northern Arizona (9–7) San Antonio (8–8) Duke City (3–13) Tucson (2–14)
2025: The Duke City Gladiators went dormant and left the Western Conference.
2025

Notes

  1. The Duke City Gladiators are expected to return to the Western Conference in 2026. [1]

References

  1. Critchfield, Tristen (17 October 2024). "'We're just taking a little bit of a break': Duke City Gladiators going dormant in 2025". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
  2. "RATTLERS FALL TO WRANGLERS". Indoor Football League. 31 July 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  3. "PANTHERS WIN AGAINST THE WRANGLERS TO MAKE THE IFL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP". Indoor Football League. 30 July 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  4. Zientek, Dakota; Van Beek, Eric (6 August 2024). "2024 IFL CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP RECAP". Indoor Football League. Retrieved 16 February 2025.