With footy season kicking into full gear, the Women’s league is making strides to grow the sport across the US and Canada. The WUSAFL has come a long way since its inception with 7 teams in the nation and more to come.
In an historic event this Saturday, the Lady Pies will be hosting the first ever Women's Tournament in NYC. Games will be played in two 20-minute halves with 12 to 14 players a side depending on numbers. The New York Lady Pies will host a fusion team from Milwaukee, Baltimore, and Atlanta and a full-sided Toronto squad. Games will begin at noon at Tibbetts Brook Park in Yonkers NY this Saturday, May 15.
USA Freedom Coach Wayne Kraska will have his eye out for possible USA recruits this weekend. The final game of the day will be a North vs. South friendly for some extra playing time and scrutinizing eyes on the oval. On Sunday USA Freedom potential players will return to Tibbetts for a Freedom training/tryout. Players selected for the Freedom will be traveling to Canada this summer to face the Canadian Northern Lights in Toronto.
The Lady Bulldogs of Denver will also be hosting their first ever tournament this June, which will include another Freedom training/tryout.
The women’s teams around the nation have been working hard with a serious push in recruiting new players. Arizona has doubled their roster this year and has been playing 10 a side metro games since March. AZ has also hosted a recruit from Vegas with the hope of expanding the sport in the West.
Milwaukee has been just as adamant in recruiting and the Bombers are hoping to have weekly women’s metro matches this season for more game time experience. Intrasquad matches will be taking place when the men’s teams from Milwaukee and Minnesota meet to battle it out on the oval. The Lady Bombers have a game against the Central Blues from Toronto scheduled for early July.
Down South, recruitment has been a struggle for the Lady Kookaburras. However, with a trial run of co-ed games, the Kookas foresee a growth in their numbers.
The New York Lady Pies have lost 2 valuable players due to injury this year, but the great pool of rookies joining the squad is sure to fill the gap. With over 30 women on the roster, the NY women’s metro season beginning in June will certainly be a success, while providing valuable game time to a team that is starting its 3rd season.
As always on the Canadian front, the sport continues to expand. Both Calgary and Edmonton began training in March with a mix of indoor and outdoor sessions depending on the weather. Their season kicked off on May 2nd where teams played an 18 a side game. Canada has also added a development division for new players. Calgary and Edmonton will meet in a 3 Battle of Alberta games throughout the season.
Check back with USFootyNews.com for all of the results from this weekend’s tournament.
