AMERICAN CONFERENCE MVP: Jamie Robinson, Cali War
Following up her American Conference Defensive Player of the Year award last season, the Long Beach native and SoCal women’s football veteran had another solid season on both sides of the ball for her War. On offense, Robinson was one of the top targets in the War’s passing game, catching 14 passes for 228 yards and five touchdowns. However, it was once again her defensive skills that shone the brightest, picking up 38 tackles, three sacks and a WFA Pro-leading eight interceptions, four of which were pick-sixes. Ranking fifth in WFA Pro with nine overall touchdowns, Robinson was an instrumental factor in leading her War to another playoff berth in the talent-packed American Conference.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE MVP: Allison Cahill, Boston Renegades
Although she’s often been referred to as the “female Tom Brady,” we prefer to say that Tom Brady is the male Allison Cahill! For two decades, Cahill has been synonymous with women’s football greatness, as has the teams she has quarterbacked; this year she stood out among her WFA Pro peers once again in virtually every quarterback statistical category. Leading the Pro division in passing attempts with 155, completions with 106, completion percentage with 68.4 percent, passing yards with 1,558, touchdown passes with 23 and highest quarterback rating at 135.2, Cahill led her Renegades to a fourth straight undefeated regular season (in a schedule played entirely against WFA Pro competition) and 5th Pro National Championship.
AMERICAN CONFERENCE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jaime Gaal, St. Louis Slam
Since first donning the black and orange in 2016, Gaal has been absolutely instrumental in the Slam’s recent dominance, leading them to three Division 2 National Championships in 2016, 2017 & 2019. For the Slam’s 2023 redemption run, Gaal has been playing some of her absolute best ball, leading the American Conference in passing yards, completion percentage, touchdowns and passer rating to lead the Slam to an undefeated regular season and to their first WFA Pro conference championship.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Kelli Smith, Alabama Fire
In their first season back in the Alliance after a four-year absence, the Alabama Fire demonstrated just how far they’ve come as a team. A standout player on the Fire since the team’s inaugural season, Smith proved herself to be far and away the best running back in WFA Pro this season. Not only did Smith lead WFA Pro in rushing yards with 888 and in touchdowns with 15, but her numbers were almost double what the second-place rusher in both categories finished with! Smith’s incredible speed led the Fire to their first undefeated regular season in team history, a #2 seed in the talent-loaded National Conference.
AMERICAN CONFERENCE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Sam Barber, Minnesota Vixen
A key factor in the Vixen’s rise to the heights of WFA Pro over the last several years, Barber proved herself especially strong throughout her fifth and final season. With 54 tackles (tied for eighth in WFA Pro), three sacks, one fumble recovery touchdown and one blocked kick to her credit, Barber once again led her Vixen to a winning season and to a third consecutive American Conference Championship Game. Though Barber is hanging up her cleats after five seasons, her contributions and her legacy on and off the field will never be forgotten by the Vixen faithful nor by the women’s football world.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Rashida Ford, Baltimore Nighthawks
As the only award honoree from outside WFA Pro, Ford more than earned her honors in her fifth season, proving herself a crucial part of the Nighthawks’ renaissance. In addition to picking up 45 tackles and recovering two fumbles (one for a touchdown), Ford was one of only three players in the Alliance to score two safeties throughout the whole season. Her leadership and strength on the line was instrumental in the Nighthawks’ third consecutive playoff berth, their first-round upset win over the top-seeded Columbus Chaos, and their incredible performance in their second straight National Conference Championship
COACH OF THE YEAR: Quincy Davis, St. Louis Slam
As head coach of the Slam since 2008, Coach Davis has been instrumental in building them up to be the perennial powers they are today. Under Coach Davis’ leadership, the Slam have won four National Championships, including the very first WFA national title in 2009 and three D2 titles in 2016, 2017 and 2019. After just barely missing the WFA Pro playoffs last season in the talent-loaded American Conference, Coach Davis got the Slam right back to practice for the entire offseason to ensure that they would not be snubbed again this year. This was a mission they would accomplish with flying colors, finishing undefeated and not allowing a single point until the final game of the regular season nor an offensive touchdown until the playoffs. In that playoff run, Coach Davis led the Slam to dominant victories over the two most recent American Conference Champions in the Cali War and Minnesota Vixen to capture their fifth conference title and first on the Pro level.
