Women's tackle football team beats odds, builds North Jersey fan base

PATERSON — The first thing you notice at Hinchliffe Stadium is the sound. Helmets crash into pads under the late afternoon sun while players shout assignments across the field. Music echoes through the stadium as fans begin filing into the historic Paterson venue, home to the Jersey Shore Wave , one of 16 teams in the Women’s National Football Conference, or WNFC.

For the women wearing full pads and preparing for kickoff, though, the game represents far more than football. It represents visibility. “We’re building something that didn’t exist,” Jersey Shore Wave CEO Dawn Springer said.

“We’re trying to bring something to the community, have role models for youth, and create a family-friendly atmosphere where people can come watch women play real tackle football. ” Story continues below photo gallery. Now in their second season playing at Hinchliffe Stadium, the Wave are trying to establish themselves not only as a football team, but as part of Paterson’s growing sports identity alongside the New York Cosmos and the New Jersey Jackals .

For players like linebacker Marqweesha Guthrie, that connection to the city carries extra meaning. “Being from Paterson and being able to play here means everything,” Guthrie said. “People from this city are tough.