Pittsburgh Passion
The Pittsburgh Passion is a women's American football team based in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. The franchise was formed in March 2002 and is currently owned by Teresa Conn, Anthony Misitano, and Franco Harris. The team is a part of the Women's Football Alliance, with home games played at West Allegheny High School in Imperial, Pennsylvania.
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| Founded | 2002 |
|---|---|
| League | NWFA (2003-2007) IWFL (2008-2010) WFA (2011-2013) IWFL (2014-2015) WFA (2016-present) |
| Team history | Pittsburgh Passion (2003-present) |
| Based in | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Stadium | West Allegheny High School Imperial, Pennsylvania |
| Colors | Black & Gold, White |
| Owner | Teresa Conn & Franco Harris |
| Head coach | Teresa Conn |
| Championships | 3 (2007 NWFA) (2014, 2015 IWFL) |
| Division titles | 2 (2007 NWFA, 2008 IWFL, 2011 WFA) |
History
In 2003, the Passion played its home games at Belle Vernon Area High School. The team finished its inaugural season with a 2-6 record. The average attendance at each of their four home games that season was between 2,500 and 3,000 fans.
In 2004 season, the Passion changed its home stadium to Ambridge High School's Moe Rubenstein Stadium. The team improved its regular season record to 6-2, just missing the playoffs as a Northern Conference wildcard team. The Passion led the league in attendance for 2004 with crowds approaching 4,000 fans per game.
In 2005, the Passion carried an active roster of 55 players along with a practice squad.
Starting in 2006, the Passion have played its home games at George K. Cupples Stadium (formerly "South Stadium") in the South Side of Pittsburgh.
In 2007, the Passion recorded an undefeated regular season going 8-0. After winning all three of their home playoff games, the team improved to 11-0 after victories over Erie, the West Michigan Mayhem, and Cleveland. The team then won the National Championship Game on July 21, 2007 against the Columbus Comets by a score of 32-0.
In 2008, the Passion recorded their second consecutive perfect regular season, finishing 8-0, winning the North Atlantic Division title, and defeating the Orlando Mayhem in the Eastern Conference Semifinal. However, they lost the Eastern Conference Championship to the Chicago Force by a score of 8-7, ending their 23-game winning streak that dated back to 2006.
In 2009, the Passion finished 7-1, good for the Eastern Conference wild card spot. However, they lost the Eastern Conference Semifinal to eventual conference champion D.C. Divas 27-17.
In 2010, the Passion finished 4-4, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2006.
For 2011, the Passion joined the Women's Football Alliance. They finished their inaugural regular season with a perfect 8-0 and won the Mid-Atlantic Division title before losing to the Chicago Force in the National Conference quarterfinal game.
In 2014 and 2015 they won the IWFL Championship in Rock Hill, SC
May 21, 2016 The Passion won the NFC Central North Division with this victory and it is their 6th Division title in team history.
Notable achievements
- First women's football franchise in history to broadcast games on a major television network (Fox Sports Net)
- First franchise to be featured in Sports Illustrated
- First franchise to be featured on ESPN
- Awarded a permanent fixture in the Heinz History Center's Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum in association with the Smithsonian Institution.
- Won the Dapper Dan Charities Sportswoman of the Year Award for 2011-12.
- Franchise was selected to host the WFA National Championship Game slated for August 4 in Pittsburgh.
- The W Bowl National Championship weekend, hosted by the Women’s Professional Sports Services, on July 21–23, 2016 in Pittsburgh, PA.
Season-By-Season
| Season | W | L | T | Finish | Playoff results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Passion (NWFA) | |||||
| 2003 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 4th Mid-Atlantic Division | -- |
| 2004 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2nd North Mid-Atlantic | -- |
| 2005 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 9th North Division | -- |
| 2006 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 3rd North Central | -- |
| 2007 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1st North Central | Won Northern Conference Quarterfinal (Erie) Won Northern Conference Semifinal (West Michigan) Won Northern Conference Championship (Cleveland) Won NWFA Championship (Columbus) |
| Pittsburgh Passion (IWFL) | |||||
| 2008 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1st East North Atlantic | Won Eastern Conference Semifinal (Orlando) Lost Eastern Conference Championship (Chicago) |
| 2009 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2nd East Mid Atlantic | Lost Eastern Conference Semifinal (D.C.) |
| 2010 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3rd East Northeast | -- |
| Pittsburgh Passion (WFA) | |||||
| 2011 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1st National Mid-Atlantic | Lost National Conference Quarterfinal (Chicago) |
| 2012 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2nd National Division 3 | Won National Conference First Round (Detroit) Lost National Conference Quarterfinal (D.C.) |
| Totals | 66 | 24 | 0 | (including playoffs) | |
* = current standing
Roster
| Pittsburgh Passion Roster 2016 | ||||||
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2009
Season Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 18 | Detroit Demolition | Home | Won 29-6 |
| April 25 | Baltimore Nighthawks | Home | Won 49-0 |
| May 2 | D.C. Divas | Away | Lost 7-27 |
| May 16 | New York Nemesis | Home | Won 41-0 |
| May 23 | Detroit Demolition | Away | Won 34-12 |
| May 30 | Connecticut Crushers | Home | Won 76-0 |
| June 6 | Philadelphia Firebirds | Away | Won 53-0 |
| June 13 | New York Sharks | Away | Won 34-33 |
| June 27 | D.C. Divas (Eastern Conference Semifinal) | Away | Lost 17-27 |
2010
Season Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 3 | Erie Illusion | Away | Won 32-0 |
| April 17 | Philadelphia Firebirds | Home | Won 49-0 |
| April 24 | Boston Militia | Away | Lost 0-27 |
| May 1 | Erie Illusion | Home | Won 40-2 |
| May 8 | New York Sharks | Away | Lost 8-12 |
| May 15 | Baltimore Nighthawks | Home | Won 34-6 |
| May 22 | Chicago Force | Away | Lost 0-7 |
| May 29 | New York Sharks | Home | Lost 10-27 |
2011
Standings
| 2011 Mid Atlantic Division | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | DIV | GB | STK | |
| y-Pittsburgh Passion | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 270 | 35 | 8-0 | --- | W8 |
| Cleveland Fusion | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0.625 | 267 | 90 | 5-3 | 3.0 | L1 |
| Columbus Comets | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0.625 | 191 | 60 | 5-3 | 3.0 | W2 |
| Pittsburgh Force | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0.000 | 8 | 364 | 2-6 | 6.0 | L1 |
| Erie Illusion | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0.250 | 68 | 255 | 0-8 | 8.0 | L8 |
Season Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 2 | Pittsburgh Force | Away | Won 30-0 |
| April 9 | Erie Illusion | Away | Won 56-14 |
| April 16 | Cleveland Fusion | Away | Won 26-8 |
| April 30 | Columbus Comets | Home | Won 17-0 |
| May 14 | Pittsburgh Force | Home | Won 45-0 |
| May 21 | Columbus Comets | Away | Won 7-6 |
| June 11 | Cleveland Fusion | Home | Won 42-0 |
| June 18 | Erie Illusion | Home | Won 47-7 |
| June 25 | Chicago Force (National Conference Quarterfinal) | Away | Lost 31-41 |
2012
Standings
| 2012 Division 3 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | DIV | GB | STK | |
| Pittsburgh Passion | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0.875 | 407 | 90 | 3-1 | --- | W3 |
| D.C. Divas | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0.625 | 289 | 157 | 4-1 | 1 | L1 |
| Columbus Comets | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0.250 | 78 | 139 | 0-2 | 4 | W1 |
Season Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 14 | D.C. Divas | Away | Won 35-34 | |
| April 28 | Columbus Comets | Away | Won 37-14 | |
| May 5 | Cleveland Fusion | Home | Won 49-0 | |
| May 12 | Toledo Reign | Home | Won 71-14 | |
| May 19 | Pittsburgh Force | Away | Won 66-0 | |
| June 2 | D.C. Divas | Home | Loss 43-28 | |
| June 9 | Columbus Comets | Home | Win 22-0 | |
| June 16 | Philadelphia Firebirds | Away | Win 50-0 | |
| June 23 | Detroit Dark Angels (1st round) | Home | Win 34-0 |
| Date | Opponent | Location | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 2 | Toledo Reign | Toledo, OH | 28-0 | WIN |
| April 9 | Columbus Comets | Columbus, OH | 48-3 | WIN |
| April 23 | Cleveland Fusion | Slippery Rock, PA | 43-0 | WIN |
| April 30 | Detroit Dark Angels | Detroit, MI | 55-6 | WIN |
| May 7 | Keystone Assault | California, PA | 56-6 | WIN |
| May 14 | Boston Renegades | Pittsburgh, PA | 32-51 | LOSS |
| May 21 | Detroit Dark Angels | Pittsburgh, PA | 63-8 | Win |
| June 4 | Chicago Force | Chicago, IL | 33-48 | LOSS |
| June 11 | Atlanta Phoenix | Imperial, PA | 35-24 | WIN |
| June 25 | D.C. Divas | Landover, MD | 29-41 | LOSS |
Passion Defeat Atlanta 35-24 In 1st Round Of Playoffs
10 Pittsburgh Passion Players Named To WFA All American Teams
