It’s a similar set-up for the St. Louis SLAM as they enter the marquee match-up of the Women’s Football Alliance (WFA) finale in Canton, Ohio this weekend.
Photo Credit: Gerald Affeldt
A repeat of last season’s Pro Division title tilt is on the docket. They’re competing for the league’s annual trophy on the same turf against familiar opponents.
This time around, the SLAM desires a different outcome. After suffering setback twelve months ago, they hope to flip the script and claim a coveted fifth national championship.
The SLAM (8-0) faces five-time defending champ Boston Renegades (6-2) Saturday at the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Tom Benson Field at 4 PM Central.
St. Louis – more self-defined as ‘the SLAMily” – last hoisted WFA hardware in July 2019 when they claimed the league’s Division 2 title with a shutout triumph over Detroit. At the time, it was their fourth trophy overall and momentum was sky-high.
Photo Credit: Gerald Affeldt
What ensued for the “orange and black attack,” founded 21-years ago, during the next four seasons was enough to give one sour belches.
The WFA’s 2020 season was canceled by the pandemic while 2021 saw the franchise fail to field a team. 2022 saw the SLAM back into the mix, and a winning record was achieved, but calculated rankings shut them out of the post-season.
2023 saw St. Louis reach the WFA Pro championship game versus Boston, but the scrappy squad was outmuscled and humbled, leaving the team’s “drive for five” unfulfilled.
During that four-year stretch, all league members, many who possess multiple championship rings, have invested both personal finances and sweat equity in the quest for that elusive title.
If the SLAM snares the “W” Saturday, then all prior sacrifices, both on-field and off, will be well worth it.
“It will be so gratifying for our organization if we can get our fifth ‘ship,’” said SLAM co-captain Jamie Skinner. “We’ve been on our ‘Drive for Five’ for longer than we’d like.”
Photo Credit: Gerald Affeldt
“We’ve faced a ton of adversity, and to do it as a family would be beyond special.”
The game will be beamed live on ESPN2, where the SLAM/Boston 2023 finale drew an impressive audience of 174,000 viewers on the network.
“Playing on ESPN2 and getting national attention to not only the SLAM and the WFA, but women’s football as a whole, is huge,” said linebacker Alisha Straws of the coverage. “Tons of football fans don’t know we exist. Exposure is everything and we’re excited for the opportunity to showcase our sport.”
The SLAM looks to rebound after last year’s setback in Canton between the finalists. Up 7-0 eight minutes deep, St. Louis was overwhelmed as the game progressed and the Renegades scored 35 points straight, resulting in the 35-7 triumph.
No doubt, the SLAM’s loss stung for them at the moment and immediately provided the propeller for future motivation.
Photo Credit: Gerald Affeldt
“The championship last year definitely left a bad taste in our mouths,” reflected quarterback Jaime Gaal. “Not only did we lose, but we didn’t perform at the level we wanted to. Everything since then has been to ensure we would be back, and better.”
“None of us that played in that game last year have forgotten the feeling we had after the final whistle,” added Skinner. “We’ve carried that feeling with us in everything we have done since. Getting back to Canton has always been the expectation.”
“Losing that game fired up all of the vets,” pushed Straws. “We’re ready to showcase what we have been preparing for since last July.”
To reach this weekend’s WFA showcase, St. Louis claimed the WFA Pro American title after their 20-3 home victory over Minnesota Vixen at St. Mary’s High School two Saturdays’ ago (RECAP).
Leading 7-3 early, the SLAM posted a baker’s dozen points during the remainder of the first half.
Neither team scored in the second half as St. Louis was able to preserve the 17-point duke and net a second straight conference trophy.
Photo Credit: Gerald Affeldt
Gaal threw a pair of touchdown strikes in the win, pushing the All-American’s league-leading total to 27. Both snares were claimed by running back Jada Humphrey, who also had a four-yard end zone romp on the night. The main cog of the backfield has eleven all-purpose scores on the season.
Heading into the weekend, receiving is paced by Kerri McMahan (13 TDs) and Sydney Bloch (7 TDs) while Amanda Richardson, Danielle Price and Keyonna Smith have also made appearances in the end zone via grabs.
The SLAM’s offensive line – consisting of Tamikka Brents, Antonnia Washington, Pamela Green, Marion Ball, Caitlin Erickson and others – firmly secured the team’s second rank in WFA Pro (45.7 PPG).
“This year is probably the most comfortable we’ve felt as a unit, executing our game plan and knowing what we need to do,” assessed Gaal.
One primary area of focus this season for the SLAM has been their specialty teams’ overall play.
St. Louis has scored a pair of touchdown returns this season, one each from Price (kickoff) and Bloch (punt).
Photo Credit: Gerald Affeldt
On the kicking side, McMahan has performed perfectly on punts (40-yard average) while placekicker Kaylee Neutzling has connected on 25-of-27 PATs. Veteran Taylor Hay, sidelined by injury during the regular season, was back in the mix for the conference victory over Minnesota and shook off rust by hitting two out of three PAT attempts.
Strong play will be pivotal for the SLAM on fourth-down situations, either for or against punts, as well as kickoffs.
“We all knew that we got exposed on special teams last year, so it’s been a big focus for us,” said Skinner. “We have extremely dynamic players that can make a huge impact on those units and we are challenging ourselves to rely on those units to contribute and change the flow of the game.”
On the other side of the ball, the SLAM’s defense is tied for first in WFA Pro (13.8 PPG) and has allowed only three total touchdowns in their last four games.
Photo Credit: Gerald Affeldt
“Our defense is super-talented,” assessed Straws. ”D-Line, linebackers, safeties and corners, we returned a ton of vets all around and have managed to stay pretty healthy as a unit. We’re prepared.”
At the forefront is the SLAM’s defensive line consisting of Tay Johnson, Maddie Embree, Kinnaudy Daniels, Mary Altepeter and Myah LeFlore.
“They are the game changers,” credited Straws. “Defense starts and ends with them. Especially during playoffs, I have seen this line deep in the trenches, fighting, winning 1-on-1’s. Ultimately, that’s what wins championships.
“I’m always grateful for the D-Line. They make my job easier.”
Alongside Straws, Stephanie Moore, Brooklyn Devitt and Ciara Morgan patrol at linebacker while Smith, Neutzling, Skinner and others shore up the secondary.
“Our defensive unit is not only strong, but it’s extremely dynamic,” assessed Skinner, who snared a key interception during the Minnesota playoff win.
Since their conference win, the SLAM has been grinding through multi-evening sessions at Ladue High School in preparation.
“Practice has been intense,” said Skinner. “We’ve taken it to another level, but winners do what losers won’t, so that’s our mentality.”
Photo Credit: Gerald Affeldt
Saturday’s opponent – the five-champs from Beantown – wants to continue their ongoing legacy as the league’s most-decorated franchise.
Boston reached the WFA Pro trophy game after blanking out Pittsburgh, 41-0, two weekends ago to claim the Pro National conference title.
The result was eye-opening since the Renegades previously fell to the top-seeded Passion late last month, 26-21. Pre-game narratives penned were immediately flushed down the toilet with the five-time champs’ overwhelming road shutout.
In the game, Boston’s offense was balanced as a sextet separately reached the endzone. Running back Ruth Matta claimed an early score, the veteran’s ninth of the season, for the winning points. Katherine Falkowski added a late romp for her seventh of the year.
Photo Credit: Gerald Affeldt
Quarterback Megan McFadden had a pair of touchdown throws on the night, one each to leading receivers Stephanie Pascual and Kyshani Dummott. McFadden has 10 scoring strikes on the season while Pascual and Dummott have caught six and four, respectively.
True to past form, the Renegades’ offense is ranked first in WFA Pro (49.3 PPG).
“Boston’s offense is big and strong,” said the SLAM’s Straws of the opposition. “They play fast and strategic. I respect their offense, but know our defense is ready for whatever they throw at us.”
Most impressive on the Renegades’ conference topper was the defensive lockdown, paced by Solina Pascual, Danielle Fournier, Kara Gailiunas, Spring Gamble, Daitannah Smith and a host of others.
Photo Credit: Gerald Affeldt
Boston’s defense is currently ranked third in WFA Pro (15.8 PPG).
“They’re a solid unit, well coached,” said the SLAM’s Gaal of the opposition. “I’m sure they’ve gotten better since the middle of May. We just have to make the least amount of mistakes and let our skill players athletic ability take over.”
Even though this is a re-match of last year’s WFA Pro championship game, the intrigue is much different this go-around due to earlier SLAM success.
In mid-May, St. Louis topped Boston, 36-27, at SLU High School and snapped the Renegades’ 42-game win streak. (RECAP)
No doubt, the defending champs are hungry for retaliation and heave the loudest laugh after collecting their sixth-straight title.
Photo Credit: Gerald Affeldt
“Nobody likes losing, so I can only assume they’re seeking revenge,” said Straws.
“I have no doubt that loss hurt for them,” added Skinner.
Seeing how the SLAM is also potentially avenging last season’s trophy loss against the WFA’s most-decorated team, they plan to boast their own triumph after Saturday’s final whistle.
“We won’t be satisfied with only the regular season win against Boston,” said Straws. “As Coach (Quincy Davis) says, ‘Only one team’s season ends how they want.’ We intend to end our season as planned.”
“I also have no doubt that we’re on our revenge tour and want this rematch more than anything,” added Skinner. “We have something to prove to the world and we’ll do anything in our power to change the narrative and come out on top.”
“In the end, the winner of the championship game won’t care about any regular season wins or losses,” emphasized Gaal. “This will be the only one that matters.”
What does the SLAM’s tenured trio feel the keys are to a St. Louis victory Saturday?
Photo Credit: Gerald Affeldt
“Executing the game plan, starting off fast defensively and offensively, and winning more 1 on 1’s wins us the game,” said Straws. “I will take my ‘11’ any day.”
“It’s going to take discipline, tenacity, and a lot of heart from each one of us in order to walk away with the win,” added Skinner.
“Desire and will,” directly said Gaal.
And what will the ensuing emotions be if that “fifth ‘ship” is claimed after sixty grueling minutes?
“When I visualize us winning, the first words that come to mind are ‘joy, happiness and fulfillment,’” said Gaal.
“I expect us to feel proud of the outcome on Saturday night,” added Straws. “We’ve worked so hard for this.
“One more ‘W ‘is all we need.”
For information on the team, go to their official website.
Arch City Media will have a full recap of the game posted Saturday night.
