A new season launches for the St. Louis SLAM at home this weekend as they begin their quest for a coveted fifth national championship.
Photo Credit: Mick Lite – Arch City Media
The SLAM hosts Columbus Chaos Saturday at St. Mary’s High School (4701 South Grand). Kick off is at 7 pm. General admission tickets are $15 while children 10 and under get in free.
Optimism is high for this year’s campaign within the Women’s Football Alliance (WFA) due to their most-recent post-season push. The SLAM, founded in 2003, reached last July’s WFA Pro National Championship game in Canton, Ohio and desired to be five-time champs.
They were bested by the undefeated Boston Renegades, who claimed their fifth consecutive title after the final whistle blew. But even in defeat, the SLAM (8-1 in 2023) immediately used that outcome to provide the propeller that heads into Saturday’s season opener.
“We came home and wanted a rematch the next weekend,” reflected SLAM veteran running back Taylor Hay. “We started breaking down the film, recruiting for depth, and even started workouts in November versus January.”
Photo Credit: Mick Lite – Arch City Media
The SLAM, the defending champs of the six-team WFA Pro-American conference, has a six-game, regular season docket that contains three home games.
Many that follow the WFA have already considered them potential title contenders later this summer due to the plethora of returning starters and the consistent high level of play they collectively field.
In 2023, ten SLAM players were named to the WFA Pro All-Americans team.
Photo Credit: Mick Lite – Arch City Media
Returning quarterback Jaime Gaal threw a career-high 18 touchdown passes while transfer running back Jada Humphrey had 18 all-purpose scores in her first season with the team.
Hay collected four touchdown romps last season to supplement the ground game while perpetually booting successful PAT kicks and rookie receiver Kerri McMahan had eight trips to the endzone.
At the heart of the offense, who collectively outscored opponents 319-82 in nine games last season, was the stellar linework of longtime fixtures Ariana Smith, Marion Ball, Tamikka Brents, Pamela Green and Caitlin Erickson. All five return this season.
“They are our violent protectors,” said Hay. “They’re pivotal and are the best O-line in women’s football.”
An ongoing narrative in 2023 was the SLAM’s stubborn defensive unit that never surrendered a point from scrimmage during the regular season and was ranked first overall in WFA Pro.
Jasmine Yandell, Brooklyn Devitt, Tay Johnson, Mary Altepeter, Kaylee Neutzling, Keyonna Smith, Mariah West, Alisha Straws, Katelynn Hartman-Geier, Jennifer Perkins and others set the tone.
Photo Credit: Mick Lite- Arch City Media
Having all those players back is boosted by the Saturday returns of buzzsaw linebacker Raven Williams, end Myah LeFlore and lineman Amanda Richardson, who all sat out last season due to injury.
“Oh man, having them all back on defense, it’s hard to put the emotions into words,” said Hay. “We were top of the charts as a defensive unit last year, so I can confidently say we will be the best defense in the league again.”
The defensive “goose egg” recorded in 2023 will be difficult as the SLAM hosts Boston May 18 and plays home-and-homes against long-time rival Minnesota Vixen, last season’s American conference finale runner-up.
Regardless of the ensuing scoreboard results, the overall depth at positions across the board makes the SLAM a team to be immediately feared.
Although the SLAM lost six members from last year’s team, 16 newcomers joined the 2024 squad, resulting in plus-10 for their 49-player charter. Some could potentially get reps Saturday in order to impress.
“It has been a while since we’ve had over 40 on the roster,” assessed Hay. “Maybe 2010 was the last time we had this kind of depth. We, as a unit, did a lot of work recruiting in the offseason, and it shows.”
The orange and black attack’s opponent in WFA Week 1, Columbus Chaos, finished 2023 with a 4-3 record and placement in the Division 2 post-season complexion.
Multi-specialist DeAsha Talley (8 TDs) and running back Ovian Whitlow-Moore (3 TDs) were focal points of an offense that averaged 14 points per game.
The Chaos defense, paced by linebackers Jeanean Church and Hannah Bleikamp, claimed three shutouts during the 2023 regular season and was ranked fifth overall in WFA Division 2.
Photo Credit: Mick Lite – Arch City Media
In a match-up last May between teams with different divisional complexions, Columbus were shut out by the SLAM, but Hay remembers that the Ohioans were very competitive.
“They play whistle-to-whistle, are scrappy and go to battle in the trenches,” the running back said. “They have some heavy hitters on their team and they love to compete. That doesn’t change our game plan. However, we respect them to the fullest as an opponent.”
Saturday’s weather forecast at kickoff is projected to be 70 degrees with a 100% chance of a good time to be had. The SLAM encourages you to be there in support.
“We have some established vets and energetic rookies who have been preparing for four to five months now to put on a show for the home opener,” promoted Hay. “No fan has ever come to a game and was disappointed.”
Photo Credit: Mick Lite – Arch City Media
Live online coverage of the home opener will be provided by Live Stream STL via this LINK.
For more information on the SLAM, visit their official website. Discounted season tickets for their three-game home campaign are $40 by going TO THIS LINK.
Arch City Media will have a full recap of Saturday’s game posted Sunday.
ST. LOUIS SLAM 2024 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE
SAT 4/27 vs. Columbus Chaos – HOME (St. Mary’s HS)
SAT 5/4 at Minnesota Vixen
SAT 5/11 at Derby City Dynamite
SAT 5/18 vs. Boston Renegades – HOME (St. Louis University HS)
SAT 6/1 at Dallas Elite Mustangs
SAT 6/15 vs. Minnesota Vixen – HOME (St. Mary’s HS)
By trade, he is a six-time, regional Emmy Award-winning news videographer/editor for KTVI/KPLR-TV. By hobby, he is a writer for Arch City Media, dating back to February 2014. Emphasis is on featuring and promoting local women's sports, but will cover anything that is not reported by traditional media outlets. Also a contributor to local concert reviews.
