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<< Back to News
June 17, 2007
All for love of the game: Women's league plays a lot like NFL, except they pay to play
By Kevin Cottrell Jr.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/17/07
By day they are bartenders, flight attendants, sales reps and police officers. On Saturdays, under the bright lights at Roswell High School, they are quarterbacks, running backs, linebackers and receivers for the defending Independent Women's Football League champs, Atlanta Xplosion.
The assumption might be that women's tackle football is slow-paced, unorganized and flat-out boring, but the IWFL is far from a powder puff league.
"It's like watching a regular football game," said Rose Scott, voice of the Atlanta Xplosion. "They run the same routes, Cover 2 schemes and 3-4 defenses as the NFL. The big difference is that they're women."
The IWFL was founded in 2000 and now has 30 teams that showcase the athleticism of more than 1,000 women from Seattle to Miami, and even in Montreal. Players pay anywhere from $700 to $1,000 to participate and must carry their own insurance. The Xplosion will host the 2007 IWFL Championship game Aug. 11 at Roswell High.
The Atlanta Xplosion (3-0) is led by six-year-veteran middle linebacker Kiwanii "Kay-Kay" Ash, a unit manager by day, who managed at the age of 42 to reach her lifelong dream of playing football.
"I knew growing up that football was for me," Ash said. "Where I grew up all the boys and girls would play football, basketball and soccer together, and I was always the physical one."
And it shows on game day.
Ash quickly set the tone in a May 19 game versus the Orlando Mayhem, with back-to-back perfect form tackles to drop Orlando's running backs for a loss.
After Ash's big hits, the stands —- filled with fans both young and old —- erupted in a show of support for the Xplosion. However, one fan wearing Ash's jersey tends to jump a bit higher and cheer a bit louder.
"I enjoy watching her play and fully support her," said Daron Ash, husband of Kiwanii. "If she makes a big tackle, I jump up and cheer her on. Whenever she needs a big play, I say, 'Come on, let's get it!' "
Other than the IWFL eight-game season, the game itself has similarities to that of the NFL. The players, all 18 or older, play four 15-minute quarters under NFL rules. A slant route is still a slant, and a sack is still a sack. But there's one big difference.
"They don't get paid," said Takela Corbitt, fullback/team owner. "They play for the love of the game itself. The passion that you see out here is the reason why you should come see us play."
As the clock approached the final minutes of a 7-7 game between the Xplosion and Mayhem, fans began to rise in anticipation of an exciting finish. With 3:50 remaining, quarterback Cheryl Glover connected with bartender/tight end Natasha "Sky" Slan for a 61-yard strike that set up the game-winning touchdown. As the predominately female fan base rejoiced, Slan hoped her fans would remember more than her exciting reception.
"They can do it," Slan said. "Most females are playing with men. In fact, Stephenson High has two girls playing with them. I'm 35, and my six years is like an NFL 12. We need them to continue on our legacy."
As Slan and her teammates do their best to draw new talent, the league continues to fight misconceptions. During their pregame warm-ups, it's evident that the Xplosion is a legitimate football team. They are intense, passionate, athletic and skillful. Yet the casual fan may struggle with one glaring fact.
"They're women," said Mario D'Elia, head coach of the Xplosion. "When people see them for the first time, they see how hard these girls hit and how well they play and they get hooked."
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