Live Your Game Spotlight: Women's Football Alliance Part I

March is Women’s History Month and what better way to celebrate than by featuring the world's longest running and most competitive all-women's football league. 

In 2009, the Women's Football Alliance opened their doors to athletes all over the country who love the great game of football. Their non-profit model has allowed women from all different financial backgrounds to play the game they love in the competitive nature that makes it so invigorating. 

Xenith had the pleasure of catching up with two the league’s most prominent and catalytic figures of the WFA, league Commissioner and wide receiver on the Cali War, Lisa King and Owner of the Mile High Blaze, Wyn Dominy. One thing that was apparent from the onset of the conversation is that these women are extremely passionate about the game of football and believe everyone who wants to play should be given the opportunity. 

"It's so bizarre to me that America's sport is not played by everyone in America," explained King. "There's no opportunity for half the population to play America's sport." 

King went on to tell us that while she always loved football, her family encouraged her to play soccer, which she did in college, but it never quite scratched the itch that the game of football did. "I wasn't able to start playing until my 30's, (but when I did) it was life changing," said King. 

The WFA has been around for 12 years but has gained their most traction in the last five. According to their website, the WFA has broken more barriers than any other women's league in history. 

From WFAprofootball.com:

(The WFA) was first women’s football league to play a National Championship in an NFL stadium, as well as the first women’s league to have its games broadcasted on national television.  In addition, over 15 veteran WFA players have earned coaching and scouting positions in the NFL including Katie Sowers (San Francisco 49ers), the first female to coach in a Super Bowl, and Jennifer King (Washington), the first female African American coach in the NFL.

When asked what viewers can expect out of the WFA in 2021, Wyn Dominy, owner of the Mile High Blaze out of Colorado wasted no time in answering. "Hard hitting football and a great product on the field" she explained. "We're going to make people very happy, those that are missing NFL football are going to tune in and watch the WFA." 

While the league is experiencing the most growth they’ve seen since their onset both King and Dominy agreed that the sport’s biggest issue is getting young women into the game earlier in their lives.

“I think our biggest challenge is not having (women’s) football at the youth level, and not being able to recruit and develop them,” said King. “We may lose an incredible athlete that may not join a team just because they’ve never played football before and they’re scared to try.”

Dominy echoed the sentiment of King and added that the league also faces the challenge “to be seen and heard.” She continued by saying she is proud of the energy the league has generated, especially lately, but that the WFA needs to “keep the momentum going” and get their name and product out there more and more each year.

In the vein of momentum, King, Dominy and the WFA are doing just that, announcing that this year’s WFA’s National Championships (divisions one through three) will be played in Canton at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

The 2021 WFA season begins in May with the championships concluding in Canton on July 23^rd and 24^th.

Xenith is proud to represent King, Dominy and all members of the Women’s Football Alliance as a member of the Xenith family and will be rooting for their continued growth over the years to come.