Western Women's Canadian Football League
Sport | Canadian football |
---|---|
Founded | 2011 |
President | Angelique Chenard |
Commissioner | Shawn Walter |
No. of teams | 8 |
Country | Canada |
Most recent champion(s) | Saskatoon Valkyries |
Most titles | Saskatoon Valkyries (5) |
Official website | wwcfl![]() |
The Western Women's Canadian Football League (WWCFL) is a full-contact women's Canadian football league which began play in the spring of 2011. The league plays an annual season in the spring or summer, and with eight teams it is the largest women's football league in Canada. The teams play 12-woman tackle football games using the Football Canada rules, somewhat similar to those of the Canadian Football League. The league has teams in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta (the Prairie Provinces).
League history[]
The first season of play ended with a championship game which was played in the city of Lethbridge, Alberta. The game was played between the Edmonton Storm and the Saskatoon Valkyries. The Valkyries became the first WWCFL Champions, with a final score of 35–7.
The WWCFL's second year (2012) saw the same seven teams compete. The championship game was held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, with the Saskatoon Valkyries defending their title by defeating the Lethbridge Steel 64–21.[1]
Two new teams joined the league in 2013. The Northern Anarchy was based in Grande Prairie, Alberta.[2] and the Okotoks Lady Outlawz in Okotoks, Alberta.[3] Talks involved the league going as high as 11 teams for 2013, including expansion into British Columbia,[2] but it never occurred. In 2014, the Okotoks Lady Outlawz did not field a team for WWCFL play, with a plan to rebuild in future. The Northern Anarchy took a break in 2015,[4] although practice sessions continued,[4] and the Anarchy returned to the field in the 2016 season.[5]
On March 29, 2020, the league cancelled its season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[6]
Teams[]
Western Conference[]
Team | Location | Home Field |
---|---|---|
Calgary Rage | Calgary, Alberta | |
Edmonton Storm | Edmonton, Alberta | Clarke Stadium |
Lethbridge Steel | Lethbridge, Alberta | University of Lethbridge Community Stadium |
Grande Prairie, Alberta |
Prairie Conference[]
Team | Location | Home Field |
---|---|---|
Manitoba Fearless | Winnipeg, Manitoba | Investors Group Field |
Regina Riot | Regina, Saskatchewan | Mosaic Stadium |
Saskatoon Valkyries | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan | Griffiths Stadium |
Winnipeg, Manitoba | North Winnipeg Nomads Football Club |
Suspended operations[]
Team | Location | Home Field |
---|---|---|
High River, Alberta |
WWCFL Championship results[]
Year | Winner | Loser | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | Saskatoon Valkyries | Edmonton Storm | 35-7 | |
2012 | Saskatoon Valkyries | Lethbridge Steel | 64-21 | |
2013 | Saskatoon Valkyries | Lethbridge Steel | 27-13 | |
2014 | Saskatoon Valkyries | Lethbridge Steel | 53-0 | |
2015 | Regina Riot | Edmonton Storm | 53-6 | |
2016 | Saskatoon Valkyries | Edmonton Storm | 81-6 | [7] |
2017 | Regina Riot | Calgary Rage | 53-0 | [8] |
2018 | Regina Riot | Saskatoon Valkyries | 14-10 | |
2019 | Saskatoon Valkyries | Regina Riot | 25-3 |
See also[]
- List of gridiron football teams in Canada
- List of leagues of American football
References[]
- ^ "Valkyries win championship, remain perfect" Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, Saskatoon, July 16, 2012. Retrieved on July 21, 2012
- ^ a b "Grande Prairie getting gridiron gals" , Grande Prairie, September 27, 2012. Retrieved on December 11, 2012
- ^ "Foothills ladies hit the gridiron" , Okotoks, February 29, 2012. Retrieved on December 11, 2012
- ^ a b Oatway, Jenny (May 8, 2015). "NORTHERN ANARCHY WOMEN'S FOOTBALL REGROUPING FOR 2016". My Grande Prairie Now. Archived from the original on May 28, 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
- ^ Clow, Logan (May 5, 2016). "Northern Anarchy set for gridiron season opener". . Retrieved 6 October 2016.
- ^ "SCHEDULE". Western Women's Canadian Football League. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
- ^ "Saskatoon Valkyries take back WWCFL championship". CBC News. Jun 25, 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
- ^ "Regina Riot captures WWCFL championship". Leader-Post. June 11, 2017. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
- 2011 establishments in Canada
- Canadian football
- Canadian football leagues
- Professional sports leagues in Canada
- Sport in Western Canada
- Sports leagues established in 2011
- Women's American football leagues
- Women's sports in Canada