National Women’s Football Association (NWFA)
Homepage: http://www.womensfootballassociation.com/

History:
Conceptualized by sports and entertainment entrepreneur Catherine Masters, the National Women’s Football (NWFA) came into being in 2000 to increase opportunities for women to participate in full contact football in an organized and professionally run organization. From just two teams in 2000, which includes the Nashville Dream and the Alabama Renegades, NWFA fielded 37 teams for the 2004 season.

The year 2002 was a sterling year for NWFA, as it broke records in attendance, media coverage, and sponsorship. At this time, NWFA recorded 56,000 fans in attendance, marked history by obtaining the first ever betting line on a women’s football game, closed a deal with the Football Network, and obtained a championship sponsor in the Essere Corporation. Through its expanded media coverage, NWFA was able to reach about 3 million households in 2002; and more than 5 million homes in 2003.

The NWFA is also proud to have been featured in articles in more than 250 major publications and TV networks, including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, CBS Evening News, The NBC Today Show, The New York Times, Nickelodeon, The Boston Globe, The Washington Post, among others.