Oklahoma women's tackle football team seeks support in championship chase

A women's tackle football team from Oklahoma has punched its ticket to nationals. The undefeated "Oklahoma Rage" will leave next week for the D3 Women's Football Alliance (WFA) National Championship in Canton, Ohio.

The Gridiron Grind

In just three years as a team, Oklahoma Rage is advancing to its first title game. Quarterback Courtney Eldridge said their success this season stems from the hard work they put in both on and off the field.

"It is incredibly hard, and it is not just the football part of it, it is the financial side of it, it is the time commitment," she said.

>>> The Oklahoma Rage women's tackle football team prepares for national title

The Women of Tackle Football

The thirty women who make up Oklahoma Rage are not paid to play. Each one has a career and a family outside of the sport, yet still dedicates four nights a week to practice nine months out of the year. Eldridge is an aircraft mechanic, but on the team, there are also teachers, nurses, fitness instructors, and more.

"Oklahoma Rage is a group of women that just decided we wanted to do football at the highest possible caliber," she said.

The Ways to Support

Oklahoma Rage estimates their trip to the national championship will cost about $10,000 between travel, lodging, food, and medical care. That money will have to come out of the players' pockets, unless the team can garner enough support.

They've created a GoFundMe page to collect donations. Eldridge said other ways people can help are by sponsoring a player, donating equipment, or offering up facilities for the team to work out and practice at.