Odessa "OJ" Jenkins, founder and CEO of the Women’s National Football Conference, discussed the development of the professional tackle football league [1, 2].
The league provides a professional platform for women to play tackle football, addressing a significant gap in the American sports landscape. By establishing a national structure, the WNFC aims to grow the sport and provide athletes with a viable professional path.
Jenkins is a former professional running back who transitioned from playing the game to leading the organization [1, 2]. In an interview for ESPN’s Women’s Sports Sundays, she said she detailed the process of creating the WNFC as the premier professional women’s tackle football league in the U.S. [1].
The organization focuses on the growth of the sport through a structured professional environment [1, 2]. This effort involves navigating the complexities of professional sports management, while maintaining the integrity of the tackle game. Jenkins said the goal is to provide a dedicated space where women can compete at the highest level of the sport.
The WNFC operates nationally, allowing it to draw talent from across the U.S. [1, 2]. This geographic reach is central to the league's strategy to increase visibility and participation in women's tackle football. The league serves as a cornerstone for professional women's athletics in a traditionally male-dominated sport.
“The WNFC is the premier professional women’s tackle football league in the United States.”
The establishment and growth of the WNFC represents a shift in the professional sports market, moving beyond flag football to embrace the full-contact tackle game for women. By creating a formalized national league, Jenkins is attempting to institutionalize women's tackle football, which could lead to increased sponsorship and media rights as the demand for women's professional sports continues to rise.
