All-girls tackle football team in London takes the field, chasing 2nd provincial championship

An all-girls tackle football team in London is vying to secure its second provincial championship at the Ontario Women's Football League's (OWFL) semi-finals against Kingston this weekend. 

The U19 London WOLFPAAC was crowned the OWFL's first-ever winners in its inaugural year in 2023 and but lost by just one point in last year's finals. This year, with its largest roster of 30 players, the team is hoping to bring the trophy back home.

For the players, it's more than just a victory they're chasing. They're also trying to set the stage for a growing number of young women taking up sports like tackle football, said Jessica Knight, 17, one of WOLFPAAC's captains. 

"Having been the first team ever to have [the OWFL] title means a lot to me because being a trailblazer for this sport is what's guided me through, making that impact, so future girls don't have to deal with the struggles of not knowing they're capable of, or being underestimated," she said. 

The girls look up to female athletes in professional leagues such as the WNBA and PWHL as role models who are paving the way for young girls interested in sport, said Knight. 

"A lot of people are shocked that tackle football is getting really popular," she said. "Now girls are getting paid to play football which is the dream for most of us. Seeing that, it's changing my whole mindset about what my future could look like."

But with a growing sport, come the challenges of getting the word out and encouraging new players to try football, regardless of their skill level, according to Alexa Taylor, 14, who joined WOLFPAAC after moving to London from Brantford.

The hope is that will change. With tackle football set to become an Olympic sport in 2028, OWFL leagues have grown