By Matthew Free

Between two bold white lines of 100-yards on tightly cut green grass fields framed by two towering yellow goal post women have come to battle full contact in the grid iron across the nation. Over forty teams are established in the Women’s Football Alliance–one of the nation’s strongest professional tackle football organizations for women–with the addition of the Portland Fighting Fillies this year. With a roster of 40 our local athletes have stampeded on the scene with a solid winning record, and scoring an average of 25 points per game. The game takes guts, muscle, sweat and sometimes blood but above all passion. A passion demonstrated by each member of the team roster.

Passion of Life: The game has provided some players a stronger sense of purpose for who they are and what they can achieve in life.

“Last year I came to football in a very dark time of my life,” shares Wendi Kali. “Depression and anxiety was eating away at my life, and desire to continue. This sport, quite literally, saved my life. It gave me a sense of belonging and strength both physically and mentally that I needed to climb out of that darkness. Being on the field is almost a meditation for me because time stops and nothing else exists. I am completely in the moment. Those feelings translate into my everyday life and knowing that I can play football helps me to know that I can do absolutely anything.”

Passion for Social Change: One of the biggest challenges to overcome is to gain the respect as a serious professional sport from not only other athletic organizations that are mostly male dominated but also the media. “The existing ‘Old Boys Network’ is pervasive and very difficult to break into. Essentially, women’s sports are considered ‘special interest”’ and not actual sports. [As a result] getting media coverage can be difficult,” explains Tracy Sand who has been playing full contact football for nine seasons in Oregon. Despite perceptions Fillies continue not only to play but also outreach to the next generation of female players with hosting young women football camps throughout the year.

Passion of the Game: Anticipation of game day has energy like no other. Holly Custis explains,

“Usually about Wednesday I start getting excited. By Friday night I have butterflies in my stomach and it can be hard to sleep. Come Saturday morning when I wake the nerves are more intense” until she hits the field and lets it all out with some of most exciting fancy footwork in the league. Tracy agrees with Holly, “no other sport has ever engaged me emotionally like being on the football field.”

Support for continuing this passion and the revolution of change it will produce is dependent on the fans. As the bleachers and the surrounding fields continue to fill up with enthusiastic supporters of all genders, ages, and sexual orientations with each game there is still plenty of room for more including you. Feel the power of joining this herd Saturday June 19th (Pride Weekend) 6pm at La Salle High School in Milwaukee, Oregon as Fighting Fillies battle Central Cal War Angles.