WWC17ca PREVIEW: USA
Team USA enters the third IFAF Women’s World Championship as the team to beat, looking to three-peat after capturing gold medals in 2010 and 2013.
The defending champs feel that they’ve improved from four years ago, however, the same can be said for both the defending silver and bronze medalists, Canada and Finland, who’ll look to close the gap.
USA returns 11 players from the 2013 women’s worlds including quarterback Sami Grisafe. The US hope they still have the recipe for success as the tournament’s other five teams look to hand the two-time defending champions their first tournament loss.
“This is truly a remarkable group of talented women that we have representing the U.S. National Team. Our team is a solid mix of youth and experience,” said head coach Jim Farrell. “We have young players looking to prove they belong and experienced veteran leadership that set the standard of how the game needs to be played at their positions.”
Team USA opens the 2017 tournament against first time tournament participant Mexico. The two nations have built up quite a rivalry at the IFAF U19 World Championships and Senior (Men’s) World Championships but June 24 will mark the first time that the two nations face-off at the women’s worlds.
Mexico had a talented women’s national team at the 2016 IFAF Flag Football World Championships and will look to carry momentum from their flag worlds bronze medal forward in Langley.
On day two, USA will face the losing side of the opening day’s game between Great Britain and Finland.
Players to watch
Name of player | Position | Current (club) team |
Sami Grisafe | QB | Chicago Force |
Odessa Jenkins | RB | Dallas Elite |
Callie Brownson | DB | DC Divas |
Women’s tackle football in America
The United States boasts the largest number of senior women’s tackle football players in the world with roughly 3,400 players.
The two biggest women’s tackle football leagues in the US are the Women’s Football Alliance (WFA) and the Independent Women’s Football League (IWFL).
The WFA was established in 2007 and currently boasts over 60 teams across three divisions of play. The IWFL was created in 2002 and current features 24 teams.