U.S. National Women’s Tackle Football Team Defends Title in International Tournament
Highlights:
— 43 of 45 Team USA roster spots filled by players from the Women’s Football Alliance
— The U.S. beat Canada to win the Women’s World Championship’s last two tournaments (2010 & 2013)
— Canada is hosting the 2017 Championship
— U.S. team will warm-up for the competition by practicing in Seattle, WA
— Former WFA player, Jen Welter, is coaching the Australian National Team
— 11 WFA players were selected to Team Canada
— 3 WFA players were selected to Team Australia
The Women’s Football Alliance is proud to announce that 54 WFA players were selected to participate in the third international women’s tackle football tournament. Organized by the International Federation of American Football, the Women’s World Championship will take place near Vancouver, B.C. during the week of June 24 – June 30.
The WFA has 42 players representing the United States and 12 players representing Canada.
“We are honored to see WFA players represented in such large numbers,” said WFA Commissioner Lisa King. “It is evidence that our teams and coaches are dedicated to training WFA players to compete at the highest level and that everyone’s hard work is paying off.”
The U.S. team is the reigning world champions, having beat Canada in the final game of the last two tournaments. Those competitions were held in Sweden in 2010 and Finland in 2013. Six countries participated each year.
“Our sport has become more competitive and this team is ready to step up to the challenge,” said Central Cal War Angels Running Back Alexis Snyder about defending the title against Canada. “I’m also excited that I get to help expand the game of football and feel honored at the opportunity to help women around the world compete at a higher level.”
Tryouts for the 45-person U.S. roster were held in January in Orlando, FL. Including the 17 alternates and both the U.S. and Canadian Teams, the WFA is represented by 71 players from 21 teams. The Montreal Blitz is sending 10 players — the most in the league. The 2015 and 2016 national champion D.C. Divas is sending seven players and the Chicago Force is sending eight.
“Winning back-to-back National Championships with the D.C. Divas was the climax of my career,” said Allyson Hamlin, a coach and former quarterback for the D.C. Divas. “I am so incredibly humbled and honored to have been selected for the U.S. National Team and can’t wait to step on the field to not only help bring home Gold, but continue to help advance the sport around the world.”
WFA players selected for the 2017 U.S. National Football Team:
ATLANTA PHOENIX
OL Jenitra Shields
DB Kristen London
BALTIMORE NIGHTHAWKS
OL Jennifer Gray
BOSTON RENEGADES
TE Emily Weinberg
OL Stephanie Jeffers
LB Victoria Eddy
CAROLINA PHOENIX
RB Hannah DeGraffinreed
CENTRAL CAL WAR ANGELS
RB Alexis Snyder
CHICAGO FORCE
QB Sami Grisafe
WR Jeanette Gray
OL Dawn Pederson
DL Kimberly Marks
DL Angelique Smith
LB Sonja Drangsholt
WR Jessica Javelet
CLEVELAND FUSION
OL Elizabeth Dillow
DALLAS ELITE
RB Odessa Jenkins
DL Rachel May
LB Liz Landry
LB Angellica Grayson
DC DIVAS
QB Allyson Hamlin
WR Ashley Whisonant
OL Rachel Huhn
OL Rebecca Worsham
LB Tia Watkins
DB Callie Brownson
DETROIT DARK ANGELS
DB Emilie Hallé
INDY CRASH
DL Tawanna Sanders
KANSAS CITY TITANS
WR Liz Sowers
MINNESOTA MACHINE
RB Erica Mois
NEW YORK SHARKS
TE Brilynn Fields
DB Jewelle Grimsley
PHILADELPHIA PHANTOMZ
LB Qiana Wright
DB Satoria Bell
DB Angie Wells
PITTSBURGH PASSION
QB Lisa Horton
WR Angela Baker
OL Lauren Ferragonio
SAN DIEGO SURGE
OL Eboni Chambers
DL Edie Quest
K/P Melissa Strother
SEATTLE MAJESTICS
DB McKenzie Tolliver
WEST MICHIGAN MAYHEM
RB Heather Anderson
WFA players selected for the 2017 Canadian National Football Team:
MONTREAL BLITZ
QB Maude Lacasse
RB Laurence Thivierge
WR Annabelle Chevrier
WR Laurence Pontbriand
OL Sonia Brodeur
OL Virginie Roberge
DT Joanie Duchesneau
LB Virginia Roussel
DB Amélie Janson
LB Rose-Amélie Brunet
CHICAGO FORCE
LB Émilie Bélanger
RB Cassey Brick
WFA players selected for the 2017 Australian National Football Team:
CHICAGO FORCE
RB Kristy Moran
OL Tracy Day
OL Daniela Stosic
WFA Players chosen as USA Alternates:
U.S. National Team Alternates:
ACADIANA ZYDECO – WR Stephanie Jackson
ATLANTA PHOENIX – LB Kandice Mitchell
BOSTON RENEGADES – OL Sherese Woodfine and WR Adrienne Smith
CHICAGO FORCE — OL Catherine Converse
CLEVELAND FUSION — WR Maria Jackson
DALLAS ELITE — QB Brittany Bushman and RB Tiffany Hill
KANSAS CITY TITANS — TE Krishna Lee and DL Ashlee Foreman
NEW YORK SHARKS — QB Karen Mulligan, DL Brooklynn Fields, and LB Gabriella Farrell
PITTSBURGH PASSION — TE Laura Baden
SAN DIEGO SURGE — LB Shinobu Williams
ST. LOUIS SLAM — RB Taylor Hay
WEST MICHIGAN MAYHEM — LB Jennifer Plummer
