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Western Women's Canadian Football League

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The Western Women's Canadian Football League (WWCFL) is a full-contact women's Canadian football league which began play in the spring of 2011. The league plays an annual season in the spring and summer, and with seven teams it is the largest women's football league in Canada. The teams play 12-woman tackle football games using the Football Canada rules, similar to those of the Canadian Football League. The league has teams in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.

Western Women's Canadian Football League (WWCFL)
SportCanadian football
Founded2011
First season2011
PresidentJamie Lammerding
CommissionerShawn Walter
DivisionsWestern Conference; Prairie Conference
No. of teams7
CountryCanada
Most recent
champion(s)		Saskatoon Valkyries
Most titlesSaskatoon Valkyries (9)
Official websitewwcfl.ca Edit this at Wikidata

League history

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Women's tackle football began to grow in popularity across the Prairies in the early 21st century. Clubs were established in several Alberta cities and in Winnipeg before 2010, and teams would frequently travel to play each other.[1] In 2010, the Edmonton Storm, Calgary Rockies, and Lethbridge Steel came together to form the Alberta Female Football League (AFFL), while the Manitoba Fearless traveled for exhibition matches against Alberta teams, as well as the Minnesota Vixen.[2][3] When a women's football clinic in Saskatoon in 2010 consolidated interest in the sport in Saskatchewan, a Prairie women's league began to look feasible.[4][5] The following year, the WWCFL was founded with seven teams across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. The league's first commissioner was Fearless co-founder Tannis Wilson, one of the central figures pushing for an inter-provincial league.[6]

The WWCFL began play in 2011. Teams were divided into two conferences, with Alberta-based teams playing in the Western Conference and Saskatchewan- and Manitoba-based teams playing in the Prairie Conference, a structure that has remained intact. In the inaugural season, both the Edmonton Storm and Saskatoon Valkyries went undefeated in their conferences, posting 4–0 records. Both teams dispatched provincial rivals in their respective Conference finals, leading to a Championship match between the Storm and the Valkyries, played in Lethbridge. The Valkyries won the title with a 35–7 victory, becoming the first WWCFL champions.[7]

The Valkyries quickly established themselves as a WWCFL dynasty, winning the first four WWCFL championships and losing only one game along the way. They defeated the Lethbridge Steel in the championship final in three consecutive seasons from 2012 to 2014.[8]

Two new Alberta-based teams joined the league in 2013.[9] The Northern Anarchy began play out of Grande Prairie, Alberta, and the Okotoks Lady Outlawz began play out of Okotoks, Alberta.[10][11] Although the league considered expansion to British Columbia, the two new teams struggled to become firmly established. The Outlawz suspended operations in 2014; the Anarchy paused operations in 2015, returned to play in 2016, and suspended operations again in 2020.[12] This left the league with its original seven clubs.

The Regina Riot were the first team to beat the Valkyries, and the first team besides the Valkyries to win the league championship, winning the title in 2015 with a 53–6 victory over Edmonton in the championship final, played in Winnipeg.[13] Regina established its own run of dominance, advancing to the championship final four times in five seasons from 2015 to 2019 and winning three titles in the process.[14]

It was not until 2019 that either the Valkyries or the Riot lost a game to a team from outside of Saskatchewan, when the Manitoba Fearless defeated the Riot 34–9 in Regina on 5 May 2019.[15][16] The Fearless made another breakthrough in 2022 when they defeated the Riot in the first round of the playoffs with a 20–13 victory.[17] They went on to lose their first Championship final to Saskatoon.[18]

 
Mosaic Stadium has hosted two WWCFL championship games, in 2018 and 2019

The WWCFL cancelled both the 2020 and 2021 seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic, although some teams managed to organize exhibition games in 2021.[19][20] This delayed celebrations of the league's 10th anniversary, which was marked in 2022 when the league returned to full play.[21] The league did encounter struggles with stability after returning to play, and both Edmonton and Winnipeg paused operations ahead of the 2024 season.[22] Coming out of the pandemic, the Valkyries established a second dynastic run of success, winning another four straight titles—including one prior to the pandemic in 2019—without losing a single game.[23]

Rules, structure, and philosophy

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The WWCFL follows Football Canada's Canadian Amateur Rule Book for Tackle Football, drawing on the same rules as men's leagues. A 2014 study noted that this avoided the "ghettoization" of the women's league through stripping down the rules. The WWCFL has also consequently been able to draw upon support and resources from men's football.[24] Founding Commissioner Tannis Wilson said, "It's an old boys club out there. You can’t let those guys push you around, but there is a lot of support for the women’s programs once people find out about us. They want their daughters to follow in dad’s footsteps.”[6]

The league is divided into two conferences that play four-game intra-conference regular seasons before a three-round playoff that culminates in the WWCFL title game.

Early in its existence, the WWCFL was contrasted with the then-Lingerie Football League (LFL), which expanded into Canada in 2012, including teams in Saskatoon and Regina and plans for a team in Calgary. The LFL was frequently criticized for devaluing women's football, and the WWCFL offered an alternative focused fully on the sport.[24] In 2012 Wilson said, "I'd say if you want to see real women play real football, come out and watch the WWCFL."[25]

The league operates as a non-profit organization with a decentralized and democratic power structure, with a league board of elected members that includes representatives of each team.[24]

Athletes in the WWCFL are unpaid and the league relies on extensive volunteer labour at the club and league level, along with fundraising.[26] It has not been uncommon for league executives to play, manage, or coach clubs in the league. For example, Jaime Lammerding played for the Saskatoon Valkyries from 2011 to 2022 while also serving as league president, and WWCFL commissioner Shawn Walter took over as head coach of the Edmonton Storm in 2022.[18][21]

Teams

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Team Location Founded Home Field Conf. titles League titles
Western Conference
Edmonton Storm Edmonton, AB 2004 Clarke Stadium 3 0
Calgary Rage Calgary, AB 2009 Shouldice Athletic Park 2 0
Lethbridge Steel Lethbridge, AB 2010 University of Lethbirdge Community Stadium 3 0
Prairie Conference
Saskatoon Valkyries Saskatoon, SK 2010 Saskatoon Minor Football Field / Griffiths Stadium 10 9
Regina Riot Regina, SK 2011 Leibel Field / Mosaic Stadium 5 3
Manitoba Fearless Winnipeg, MB 2008 IG Field 0 0
Winnipeg Wolfpack Winnipeg, MB 2011 North Winnipeg Nomads Football Club 0 0
Former Years active
Northern Anarchy Grande Prairie, AB Legion Field 2013–2020
Okotoks Lady Outlawz High River, AB High River High Field 2013–2014
Map of WWCFL teams
 
 
200km
125miles
 
Wolfpack
 
Fearless
 
Riot
 
Valkyries
 
Steel
 
Rage
 
Storm
  Western Conference   Prairie Conference

WWCFL Championship results

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Year Champion Finalist Score Location Ref
2011 Saskatoon Valkyries Edmonton Storm 35–7 Lethbridge [7][27]
2012 Saskatoon Valkyries Lethbridge Steel 64–21 Saskatoon [28]
2013 Saskatoon Valkyries Lethbridge Steel 27–13 Regina [29]
2014 Saskatoon Valkyries Lethbridge Steel 53–0 Saskatoon [8]
2015 Regina Riot Edmonton Storm 53–6 Winnipeg [13]
2016 Saskatoon Valkyries Edmonton Storm 81–6 Lethbridge [30]
2017 Regina Riot Calgary Rage 53–0 Saskatoon [31]
2018 Regina Riot Saskatoon Valkyries 14–10 Regina [32]
2019 Saskatoon Valkyries Regina Riot 25–3 Regina [33]
2020 Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic [20]
2021 Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic [20]
2022 Saskatoon Valkyries Manitoba Fearless 36–6 Saskatoon [18]
2023 Saskatoon Valkyries Calgary Rage 40–0 Saskatoon [34]
2024 Saskatoon Valkyries Regina Riot 36–21 Regina [23]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Lunney, Dough (March 26, 2012). "Women eager to tackle new football challenge". Winnipeg Sun. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  2. ^ "Lethbridge Steel - About". Lethbridge Steel Football. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  3. ^ "Manitoba Fearless - About Us". Manitoba Fearless. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  4. ^ "Saskatoon Valkyries - Our History". Saskatoon Valkyries. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  5. ^ "Regina team joins women's football league". CBC News. March 12, 2011. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Tait, Ed (May 18, 2017). "Women's Football - A Growing Game". Winnipeg Blue Bombers - bluebombers.com. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Menz, Kevin (August 13, 2011). "BRIEF: Saskatoon Valkyries league champs". The Sheaf. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  8. ^ a b Piller, Thomas (July 6, 2014). "Saskatoon Valkyries capture 4th WWCFL championship". Global News. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  9. ^ Staffieri, Mark (May 6, 2013). "Sky Is the Limit as WWCFL Enters Third Season on Wings of Optimism". Bleacher Report. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  10. ^ "Grande Prairie getting gridiron gals" Daily Herald Tribune, Grande Prairie, September 27, 2012. Retrieved on December 11, 2012
  11. ^ Greer, Remy (February 29, 2012). "Foothills ladies hit the gridiron". Okotoks Western Wheel. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
  12. ^ Oatway, Jenny (May 8, 2015). "Northern Anarchy Women's Football Regrouping for 2016". My Grande Prairie Now. Archived from the original on May 28, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  13. ^ a b Harkins, Jamie (July 15, 2015). "Locals lead Riot to historic win". Sask Today. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  14. ^ Vanstone, Rob (June 23, 2019). "Regina Riot earns third consecutive trip to WWCFL final". Regina Leader-Post. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  15. ^ Vanstone, Rob (May 5, 2019). "Manitoba Fearless no longer winless against Regina Riot". Toronto Sun. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  16. ^ Provost, Kelly (May 11, 2019). "Sask. football teams welcome a more competitive Western Women's CFL". CBC News. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  17. ^ CKRM (June 12, 2022). "Riot Make Early Exit From Playoffs". CKRM Sports. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  18. ^ a b c Mitchell, Kevin (June 26, 2022). "'I couldn't be prouder': Valkyries cap off unbeaten season with championship celebration". Saskatoon StarPhoenix. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  19. ^ "SCHEDULE: WWCFL League Update". Western Women's Canadian Football League. Archived from the original on September 17, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  20. ^ a b c "About WWCFL". WWCFL. 2021. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021.
  21. ^ a b Bonnyman, Clare (May 21, 2022). "Edmonton Storm tackling stigma around women's football". CBC News.
  22. ^ Davis, Darrell (June 11, 2024). "Regina Riot ready for women's football playoffs ... finally". Regina Leader-Post. Archived from the original on June 11, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  23. ^ a b Lammerding, Jaime (June 24, 2024). "Saskatoon Valkyries claim their 9th WWCFL women's football championship". Saskatoon StarPhoenix. Archived from the original on June 24, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  24. ^ a b c Krawec, Katrina (2014). "Shaping and Being Shaped: Examining Women's Tackle Football in Canada". University of Windsor. Archived from the original on November 1, 2018.
  25. ^ "Feeling the Rush: Women's tackle football league a hit". Winnipeg Sun. May 14, 2012. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  26. ^ Bezovie, Erin (April 27, 2022). "Edmonton women's football team tackling obstacles on and off the field as play resumes". CTV News. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  27. ^ "WWCFL - 2011 Results". WWCFL. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  28. ^ "Valkyries win championship, remain perfect" Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, Saskatoon, July 16, 2012. Retrieved on July 21, 2012
  29. ^ Rice, Don (June 17, 2013). "Valkyries' third title win tougher". Saskatoon StarPhoenix. Retrieved July 13, 2023 – via pressreader.
  30. ^ "Saskatoon Valkyries take back WWCFL championship". CBC News. June 25, 2016. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  31. ^ "Regina Riot captures WWCFL championship". Leader-Post. June 11, 2017. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  32. ^ Harder, Greg (June 24, 2018). "Riot wins second straight WWCFL championship". Regina Leader-Post. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  33. ^ Bidwell, Derek; Piller, Thomas (July 1, 2019). "Saskatoon Valkyries dedicate winning season to late coach". Global News. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  34. ^ Dayal, Pratyush (June 26, 2023). "Saskatoon Valkyries win 3rd straight Western Women's Canadian Football League title". CBC News. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
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