Women's Professional Football League (WPFL) 1965-1973

The Women's Professional Football League (WPFL) was the first American football league for women. It was founded in 1965 by talent agent Sid Friedman for exhibition games.[1] The WPFL ceased operations in 1973

The WPFL started with four teams: the Cleveland Daredevils of Cleveland, Ohio, the Pittsburgh All-Stars of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Canadian Belles of Toronto, Ontario[2] and the Detroit Petticoats of Detroit, Michigan.[3]

The Daredevils, the first women's football team of the era, featured one of the top players, Marcella Sanborn.[4] The All Stars, the second women's team to be established, were later renamed the Hurricanes and then the Powderkegs.[5][6] Two of the best players played for the Powderkegs, Carole Duffy and Linda Rae Hodge.[7]

By 1971, the WPFL had more teams and was divided into an East Division and a West Division. Buffalo, New York, Cleveland, Toronto and Pittsburgh were in the Eastern Division. The Western Division included Vancouver, British Columbia, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Oregon, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

At some point during its existence, the WPFL also included teams from Bowling Green, Kentucky, Cincinnati, Ohio, Dayton, Ohio and Detroit, Michigan (the Detroit Cowgirls) The New York team was originally the New York Fillies[8] but then became the NY Herricanes.[9]

The WPFL primarily played exhibition and charity games. However they also played during some halftime shows for NFL and CFL teams. There were actual games with these generally numbering four or five games a year.

By 1973, all WPFL teams had disbanded except for the Toledo Troopers of Toledo, Ohio. Unbeknownst to Friedman, the Troopers coach, Bill Stout, had trademarked the Troopers name and logo.[10] The Troopers then joined the new National Women's Football League (NWFL)[11] .


References
  1. Kantor, Stuart. "The History of Women's Professional Football" (PDF). profootballresearchers.com. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  2. "Toronto Canadian Belles". angelfire.com. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  3. "newspapers.com". Ironwood Daily Globe. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  4. Segall, Grant. "Marcella Sanborn Smith was a pioneering star of women's tackle football". cleveland.com. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  5. Rozendaal, Neal. "The Greatest Players In Women's Football History: Part 1". nealrozendaal.com. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  6. Madarasz, Anne. "Sports History A Passion for Winning". pittsburghsportsreport.com. Pittsburgh Sports Report. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  7. O'Neil, Bryann. "Fame for her stint as football player -- at long last". old.post-gazette.com. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  8. "New York Fillies". angelfire.com. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  9. "All-girls teams tackles pro ball". Life Magazine. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  10. Carter, Jennifer A. ""Let's Bang": Constructing, Reinforcing, and Embodying Orthodox Masculinity in Women's Full-Contact, Tackle Football". etd.ohiolink.edu. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  11. "The Ohio Women who Dominated Professional Football". ohiohistory.com. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
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