| National Women's Football League | |
| Last Season: | 1988 |
| Sport: | American Football |
| Founded: | 1974 |
| Folded: | 1989 |
| Teams: | 21 total |
| Country: | United States |
| Most Champs: | Toledo Troopers (4) |
The National Women's Football League (NWFL) was a women's American football league that operated from 1974 to 1988.
The first attempts to formalize women's gridiron football came about during the 1960s when Sid Friedman, an entrepreneur, created the Women's Professional Football League (WPFL). The league's approach was considered exploitative but the league resulted in the creation of a number of teams that later formed the NWFL.[1] [2]
The NWFL was formed in 1974, originally consisting of seven teams.[3] Its creation came about due to a belief that women's football was an unserved market.[4] Players were paid around $25 a game. Teams were typically located in less populous towns and more rural settings.
A NWFL game was televised for the time in August 1975 but coverage of the league remained limited. What coverage the league achieved was often dismissive and played on various gender stereotypes.[5] [6]
Linda Jefferson, a running back with Toledo Troopers, was inducted into the American Football Association Hall of Fame.[7] and was named the 1975 Athlete of the Year by womenSports.[8]
The NFWL began to fragment towards the end of the 1970s when ten teams broke off to form the Western States Women's Professional Football League.[9] The league ceased in 1988 and its failure was attributed to limited funding, a lack of media coverage and support, and poor organization.
The NWFL followed customary rules of 11-on-11 gridiron football with the exception of extra point attempts. In the NWFL, a successful kick attempt was awarded two points and a successful rush or pass attempt was awarded one point.
A few NWFL teams existed before the formation of the league in 1974, namely the Toledo Troopers (est. 1971), Dallas Bluebonnets (est. 1972), Detroit Demons (est. 1972), and Los Angeles Dandelions (est. 1973).
| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Toledo Troopers | – | no game † | |
| 1975 | Toledo Troopers | – | no game † | |
| 1976 | Toledo Troopers, Oklahoma City Dolls | – | 13-12 †† | |
| 1977 | Toledo Troopers | Oklahoma City Dolls | 25-14 | |
| 1978 | Oklahoma City Dolls | Toledo Troopers | 8-0 | |
| 1979 | Oklahoma City Dolls | Columbus Pacesetters | no game ††† | |
| 1980 | Columbus Pacesetters | |||
| 1981 | Columbus Pacesetters | |||
| 1982 | Cleveland Brewers | Columbus Pacesetters | 12-18 †††† | |
| 1983 | Cleveland Brewers | Columbus Pacesetters | 43-6 | |
| 1984 | Toledo Furies | Cleveland Brewers | 34-6 | |
| 1985 | Grand Rapids Carpenters | Toledo Furies | ||
| 1986 | Grand Rapids Carpenters | Toledo Furies | ||
| 1987 | Grand Rapids Carpenters | Toledo Furies | ||
| 1988 |
†† Toledo initially claimed a 13–12 victory over Oklahoma City after a 2-point kick attempt by the Dolls was ruled no good. However, after further review of game film by league officials, the game was declared a 13–13 tie, and the two teams had to share the league title.[11] [12] [13]
††† The championship game was not played, and Oklahoma City was awarded the league title administratively.[14] [15] [16]
†††† While Columbus initially claimed a 18–12 victory in double overtime, Cleveland later successfully protested the officiating of the game. A league oversight committee found that three of the four officials hired by the Pacesetters were not sanctioned according to NWFL bylaws. The committee awarded the Brewers a 20-0 forfeit victory and the league title.[17]