The Toledo Troopers were a professional women's American football team based in Toledo, Ohio.
 | |
| Founded | 1971 |
|---|---|
| Folded | 1980 |
| League | Women's Professional Football League (WPFL) 1971–1973 National Women's Football League (NWFL) 1974–1979 |
| Based in | Toledo, Ohio |
| Stadium | Whitmer Memorial Stadium/ Waite Stadium |
| Colors | gold, green |
| Owner | Bill Stout, S.K.W. Enterprises, Inc. |
| Championships | 7 (1971-1977) |
| Website | toledotroopers |
The Troopers began play in 1971 as a member of the Women's Professional Football League (WPFL), and later played in the National Women's Football League (NWFL). The franchise folded before the 1980 season, after it was put up for sale by the owner.[1]
The Troopers hold the record for most championship titles in women’s football history after winning seven "World Championships" (1971 through 1977).[2] In 1983, the Troopers were recognized as the "winningest team in professional football history" at the Pro Football Hall of Fame,[3] and they were also the first team to be inducted into Women's Foundation Football Hall of Fame in 2014.[4]
During the team's existence, the players were paid $25 a month.[5] The best known player on the team was Linda Jefferson who was named womenSports magazine's Athlete of the Year in 1975.[6] She would become the first Black woman inducted into the Semi-Pro Football Hall of Fame. She’s also one of only four women in the American Association Football Hall of Fame.[7]
Season-by-season
edit| Year | W | L | T | Finish | Coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 3 | 0 | 0 | WPFL Champions by record | Bill Stout |
| 1972 | 9 | 0 | 0 | WPFL Champions by record | Bill Stout |
| 1973 | 3 | 0 | 0 | Champions by record (independent)[8] | Bill Stout |
| 1974 | 5 | 0 | 0 | NWFL Champions by record | Bill Stout |
| 1975 | 8 | 0 | 0 | NWFL Champions by record | Bill Stout |
| 1976 | 10 | 1 | 1 | NWFL co-champions (Oklahoma City Dolls)[9][10][11] | Bill Stout |
| 1977 | 8 | 0 | 0 | Won NWFL Championship (Oklahoma City Dolls) | Bill Stout |
| 1978 | 8 | 1 | 0 | Lost NWFL Championship (Oklahoma City Dolls) | Mike Stout |
| 1979 | 4 | 2 | 0 | Lost NWFL Northern Division Championship (Columbus Pacesetters) | Mike Stout |
| Totals | 58 | 4 | 1 | 7 Championship Titles | |
External links
editReferences
edit- ^ "Women's Football Queens, Toledo Troopers, For Sale".
- ^ "Toledo Women's Football Teams". Angelfire. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
- ^ "Toledo Troopers featured in the Champion of Sports exhibit". 13 March 2019.
- ^ "Ohio team first to be inducted into Women's Football Hall of Fame". Reuters.
- ^ "The Ohio Women Who Dominated Professional Football". Ohio History Connection. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ "Women's pro football timeline". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
- ^ De La Creta, Britni (February 2019). "Almost Undefeated: The Forgotten Football Upset of 1976". Longreads.com. Longreads. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ Stein, Charles (11 Nov 1973). "They play for the love of it: The wild world of women's football". The Michigan Daily. Vol. LXXXIV, no. 58. University of Michigan. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ Jackson, David. "A History of Women in Tackle Football". Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ Luchter, P.S. "Women's Professional Championship Games". Lucky's Amazing Sports Lists. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ de la Cretaz, Britni (February 2019). "Almost Undefeated: The Forgotten Football Upset of 1976". Longreads. Retrieved 13 November 2021.