From OKC Dolls to OKC Spark, here's a look at women's pro teams in Oklahoma
Oklahoma is home to several professional women athletes, including tackle football teams.
In celebration of International Women's Day and Women's History Month, here's a look at some professional women sports teams in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma City Dolls
The Oklahoma City Dolls was a 1970s professional women's tackle football team created by brothers Hal and Mike Reynolds.
The team was comprised of a 36-woman roster with former standout high school and college athletes, according to a 1991 article from The Oklahoman.
Fullback Frankie Neal, for example, was a high school state record-holder in the shot put. Quarterback Kathy Gerenda ran track at the University of Oklahoma, and halfback Pebble Myers played basketball at the University of Science and Arts in Chickasha.
The Dolls won 32 of 26 games and went 1-1-1 in National Women's Football League championships.
The team formed in 1976 and disbanded just three years later.
OKC Spark
The Oklahoma City Spark debuted last year as one of four teams in the Women’s Professional Fastpitch league.
The team went 21-14 in its inaugural season in the WPF before announcing that it'll leave the league and play as an independent team for the 2024 season.
The Spark features several Oklahoma greats including former OU softball legend Lauren Chamberlain who worked as commissioner of the league. Spark general manager/owner Tina Floyd hails from Tuttle, and OU alumna Amber Flores is coaching the team.
The roster also features multiple OU softball giants like Jocelyn Alo, college softball’s home-run record-holder, Keilani Ricketts, Lynnsie Elam, Alex Storako and Haley Lee.
Oklahoma City Lady Force
Oklahoma City Lady Force is a professional women's football team that describes itself as following in the footsteps of the OKC Dolls.
According to its website, it began in 2015 in the Women's Xtreme Football League where it went undefeated for five years, winning five straight WXFL championship titles.
The team joined the Women's Football Alliance in 2020, went to the playoffs in 2021, then won the WFA Division 3 National Championship in an undefeated 2022 season.
Oklahoma Rage
Oklahoma Rage is another professional women's football team in the Women's Football Alliance based in Sand Springs.
The team began in 2023, according to an article from KRMG, and the women juggle full-time jobs, families and training at least four times a week.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Women's History Month: Four notable women pro teams in Oklahoma
