2024 Nationals - Women's D1 and D2 Preview

Women's football, just like everything else, is bigger in Texas.

It's been nine years since the USAFL's women's competition expanded to a second division, featuring combined sides to go with D1's full slate.  There's been some success and challenges, but there has also been some unforgetable results and matchups.

Here in 2024, nineteen USAFL clubs and two from AFL Canada will come together to determine who will be queens of the oval.  Both groups of champions will have their crowns challenged.

In D1, the question is whether the clock will strike twelve on a seven-year dynasty, or will it succumb to a Freeze in the atmosphere?

Austin would love to win another D2 title at home.  So would North Texas.  But a bunch of other clubs have the same idea.

So many returning stars look to make the difference for their team, and so do a host of newer players who will try to turn the tide.  We'll also see players who took the ground in Toronto for the Freedom and a couple of other teams during the TransAtlantic Cup.

How do the nine clubs shape up? 

WOMEN'S DIVISION 1

Four Team Round Robin: Minnesota Freeze (6-0), Golden Gate Iron Maidens (3-2), Seattle Grizzlies (5-4), [Denver Bulldogs/New York Magpies]

An undefeated season. Champions of the Super Regionals. Champions of the Western Regionals, which included a solid victory over the Golden Gate Iron Maidens.  Three of nine National Team representatives named to the all-AFL TransAtlantic Cup team.  The Minnesota Freeze no fewer than three victories away from completing a truly annus mirabilis.

With the exception of Lauren Bec (née Burrows-Cheng), every single player on the Freeze is American. And a whopping sixteen players have played in the National team program at one time or another. Lindsey Bec (née Eliasen) and Kaiya Sygulla have won the individual honors at each of the last three tournaments they’ve competed in, and Connor Lewis has had yet another fine season in the midfield. Jeri Allen’s strength in the forward line has really come to the fore for club and country, and the Freeze have Liz Edd, another key forward, back in the lineup following a broken arm suffered at the TAC.

The Freeze have been pretty open about how hard they’re working to finally win their first women’s D1 title and end the Maidens’ streak at seven cups in a row.  The fact that the Yetis have won two of the last three meetings between the sides should give them confidence.  At 3-2, the Maidens don’t enter the clear favorite to win their eight national premiership.

But one doubts the Golden Gate Iron Maidens at their own peril. 

In 2016, 2017, and 2018, the Maidens failed to win the Western Regional Championship, but went on to win their first three crowns. In 2018, 2019, and 2022, they saw Minnesota and Seattle almost wobble then in the round robin and semis, but they recovered and won.  Last year, the Freeze produced an impressive victory in the round robin phase and led the Grand Final in the dying minutes, only to see Jess Estrada kick her team to a new record with the last touch of the game.

Katie Klatt, whose defense keystoned the Gaters to their last four victories, changed role from player-coach to, simply, coach.  And that’s allowed her experience and knowledge gained on both sides of the Pacific to guide an outfit that has at least a couple of nats runs under their belt.  Nicole Feery was a key midfield link-up for the Freedom, and Caroline Sequiera’s addition from Sacramento has provided a consistent presence across the back-half.  Leo Galliard gave opponents fits for Canada as she usually does, and key pieces like Sara Magallón and Leilani Cordoba will be back as Golden Gate tries to add another jewel to their crown.

It’s easy to fixate on the teams that have contested the last two finals. But there are two other teams in this division who have Grand Final experience with some darn good players on them and they could yoink the trophy clean away from them.

Seattle’s been on the steady climb back following Grand Final appearances in 2018 and 2019.  A 1-2 Westerns record belied an impressive effort, and they were the better of the BCAFL sides before falling short in the Grand Final.  They had five players at the TransAtlantic Cup - four Americans and Canadian captain Anna Brancati - and all were key contributors for their sides. Add in some new talent across the oval, and there’s a strong chance the Grizzlies might be playing for a Grand Final.

Amanda Boe was second in the TAC overall scoring with nine goals and the Grizz will look to her as an offensive weapon alongside April Munn. Former University of Wisconsin rower Alicia Evans established herself as a confident option in the ruck, and Aussie youngster Brooke Jennings is a great compliment to Amy Kahr and Kelli Kaskiw defensively. Rachel Blum’s height and Alisandra Alocer’s speed bring more dimensions to the emerald-and-black in their quest of getting through.

Denver and New York, two teams who have battled back and forth in Nationals’ past, come together to round out the four team field.  The Bulldogs are flying high after a win a couple of weeks ago against Golden Gate/Austin, and New York’s core has been competitive all season long. There’s enough talent, especially through the local recruits in both cities, to ask questions of the other three teams and play for the title on Sunday.

There’s a good balance of height and speed here.  Both Hallie and Lidnsey Kastanek (DEN), Ally Dykes (DEN), Katelyn Mascher (DEN), and Cricket Temple (NY) are formidable in aerial contests.  Kylie Haun (DEN) was a game changer in the ruck for the Freedom, and Lucy McLeod (NY) can platoon for ball ups as well. Janie Green (NY), who won last year’s D2 Nationals Best and Fairest medal, will join Rita Hill (DEN), Marisa Poorboy (DEN) to bring flair to a side hoping to sneak up and win the whole dang thing.

WOMEN'S DIVISION 2

Five Team Round Robin: [Austin/Portland], [Quebec/North Texas/Boston/St Louis/Chicago], [Calgary/Houston/Baton Rouge], [Sacramento/Orange County/North Star/Wasatch/Arizona/Columbus], [DC Eagles/Philadelphia]

After years of success on the men’s side, the Austin Crows women have grown from a pair of players to a potent group of national team players and a handful of talented Aussies. Add in members of a Portland side that impressed thoroughly alongside Sacramento at Westerns, and the top seed looks to bring a fourth D2 title back to the Rose City and a second straight D2 trophy for the host team.

Three Crows played at the TAC, and they all had an impact. Lindsey Turse’s [AUS] tackling created a few free kicks, including one that led to the victory over Canada. Barb Williamson [AUS] was a key cog in the ruck, and Briton Lizzy Thoms (AUS) was relentless for the GB Swans in their semifinal run. Newcomer Indigo Ao (PDX) earned an All-Regional nod for her offensive 50 patrolling, and Lauren Williams (PDX) is a smart, heads up player that will contribute all weekend long. Veteran Jaedin Sosa (AUS) and former U of Michigan swimmer Jacqui Schafer (AUS) help round out this bird/fish combo at the top seed.

The beauty of divisions like this is that they bring together players and teams from different parts of the country, or in this place the continent. The Quebec Saints women, like their men, have been busy between their local competition and the TAC. They’ll play alongside a North Texas Devils team that, one year after getting the D2 bikkies with Austin, will try to repeat but with different batch of battling footballers.

Gabby Bureau (QUE), Flissan Houssein (QUE), and Caroline Leduc (QUE) were part of the Canada Northern Lights team that beat Ireland and almost took out the USA at the TAC. Emma “Squid” Whewell (NTX), who came up just short on her Freedom bid, is an offensive threat that leads a band of Devils who are adapting well to the sport.  Leigh-Anne Mehdibegi (NTX), Tiara Hernandez (NTX) and company will be rounded out by Allison Monaghan (BOS) and Rain Duryea (STL) as a two-seed with a fighting chance.

It’s always great to welcome returning teams and new ones into the women’s fold. Calgary, de facto D1 champions in 2008 and winners of the inaugural D2 competition in 2015, returns after a five year absence. An inaugural quartet representing the Baton Rouge Tigers expands women’s football to the Bayou, and are accompanied by a contingent from Houston who has been competitive all season and are also looking for some hardware at a home Nationals.

With the exception of Wisconsin-born Alissa Schumann (CGY), this will be the first Nationals for all of the Kookas’ baker’s dozen. They average in their mid-20s and are led in part by the likes of Aussie Matilda Lupis (CGY) and Briton Lara Baker (CGY).  They’ll get more youthful vigor from Ellen McDonald (HOU), who plays in her last Nationals before heading back to Australia to start school. Adelaide native Leah Cameron (BTR) heads up the foursome from Louisiana, who will hopefully be the first of more players in that budding region on the USAFL map.

The Suns women’s team is very much on the rise again, on the search for their first D2 victory since 2018. They teamed up with Portland in Utah back in July to darn near upset Golden Gate.  Here, their group will have the assistance of players from Orange County, North Star, Wasatch, Arizona, and Columbus.

One thing this team has is experience at the national level. Christine Flok (SAC) buzzed around plentily in the forward line for the Freedom this August, and Tracy McLane (ARZ) brings her height to the side after doing the same. It will be key for them to score in support of a formidable defense, which features a ton of national team caps; Mak Adamo (SAC), Lauré Kwoka (SAC), Abbie Morrisey (SAC), Marie Lavictoire (NS) and Lizzy Sawyer (WWG) will provide stout resistance in the air and on the ground. There is some good newer blood on this side to; among them roller-derby convert Suzanne Jarmusch (SAC), Elenista-Ann Lam (OC), and Marianella Perez (NS)

Every year, D.C.’s Eagles continue to make progress. It doesn’t matter where they finish, they continue to improve and have come a long way from when their contingent would be just a handful of hardy players. Coming off a win to end the season against New York, the blue-and-yellow, complete with two of Philly’s finest, will try to shake off a tough go at Super Regionals and pick up a few dubs to go with their barbeque.

Coach Amy Wilson-Chapman (DC) has a delightful mix of Australian and local recruits on her side that battle for every ball. Alex Tollip (DC), Stephanie Hower (DC), and Catlin Tilsed (PHI) have been joined by Courtney McGorm (DC) and Kendall Bedford (PHI), who are adept at getting the ball. Morgan Daugherty (DC) returns to provide height and aerial contest prowess, and will have the slick wheels of Mariam Mehter (DC), Claire Conley (DC), and Marissa Mullins (DC) to rove.