WASHINGTON — For serious football fans, there is must-see TV this weekend: an epic matchup of D.C. versus Dallas.
On Saturday, the D.C. Divas will try to win back-to-back championships, something that’s never been done before in their league.
The Divas are a women’s professional, full-contact football team that have been playing — and often winning — since 2001.
“This is the 16th year of the franchise, and this is our fourth Superbowl,” said quarterback Allyson Hamlin.
She says fans of the NFL will find the Divas just as exciting.
“I get being skeptical, and that’s fair, but I just challenge you to come look for yourself,” Hamlin said. “I’ve never met anyone that’s come out and not been blown away.”
Unlike NFL players who make a lot of money, Divas players pay a training fee to play.
“I think at the end of the day, since we’re not getting paid to do this, we put so much more effort into this than the guys do. The guys, it’s a job for them. This is our lives,” said Trigger McNair, a middle linebacker.
The players have day jobs that include a chef, a police detective, an IT security manager and a corrections officer.
But after work, they come to practice.
“Football for me is like a huge stress reliever, coming from working a 10, 11 hour day,” said Safi Mojidi, who plays free safety and strong safety.
“I get to hit people and not go to jail, legally,” said safety and outside linebacker Quiana Ford with a laugh.
“This is like a release,” she added.
National attention would help women’s football teams in D.C. and elsewhere grow, and a documentary about the Divas’ incredible 2015 season could be just the ticket.
The filmmaker, Robert Mac, is trying to raise money for post-production in hopes of premiering the documentary titled “Victorious” at next year’s Sundance Film Festival.
The trailer can be seen here.
The Divas were undefeated last season, and they beat the Dallas Elite to win the National Championship.
This season, both teams are back for a rematch.
The championship game is Saturday at 4:30 p.m. in Pittsburgh, and it will be streamed live on ESPN3.
Watch more of the Divas’ practice:
