| Owner: | Bill Stout, S.K.W. Enterprises, Inc. |
| Founded: | 1971 |
| Folded: | 1980 |
| League: | Women's Professional Football League (WPFL) 1971–1973 National Women's Football League (NWFL) 1974–1979 |
| Stadium: | Whitmer Memorial Stadium/ Waite Stadium |
| City: | Toledo, Ohio |
| Colors: | gold, green |
| Championships: | 7 (1971-1977) |
The Toledo Troopers were a professional women's American football team based in Toledo, Ohio.
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]
| 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 | ||