This year we crowned three champions! The Knanaya Hurricanes won their second Men’s Summer Tournament championship. The OPD Wonder Women won their second, consecutive Women’s Summer Tournament championship. To end the year, the SMTC North Ave. Saints won the Men’s Winter Tournament championship!
We asked one of the captains from the women’s summer tournament to sum up their tournament experience:
“They’re old! But they’re good!” That line from the 2025 tournament sums up our Wonder Women perfectly. Our team spans nearly 30 years in age difference, from a 15-year-old rookie to veterans who’ve been with MFL since the very first women’s tournament.
This year tested us in every way. Recruiting was tough, but we found players in the most unexpected places. “You’ve taken Indian dance? You’ll be fine! Come try flag football!” While many of us had never touched a football before, we also had resilient players return after enduring ACL tears or post-pregnancy comebacks. Considering where we started (just hoping we’d have enough players to form a team) it was nothing short of a storybook ending. Our defense was built from scratch, and yet, by the season’s end, it was our defense that carried us through the championship game.
We embrace everyone— millennials, ammachis, moms, daughters—and this year we even had our first mother-daughter duo! With nearly half our team being Illinois transplants, MFL has become so much more than football; it’s given us a true sense of belonging. Many of us now stay after church to laugh and connect with teammates who’ve become like sisters. We celebrate each other’s milestones, show up in times of grief, and even help each other through everyday challenges. On the field and even long after the season ends, we lift each other up because our motto still rings true: “Once a Dub, always a Dub!”
We strive to foster a supportive environment where young girls feel empowered to stay active, try something new, and give flag football a chance. Our “Lil Dubs” (the under 15 club) have also played an instrumental role in helping our team grow and improve this past season. From setting up cones and scrimmaging with us at practice to cheering loudly on the sidelines, they inspire us just as much as we hope to inspire them.
In fact, one of our proudest moments wasn’t even from our own roster. When a teammate’s daughter invited a friend to practice, she was so inspired by the welcoming spirit of our team that she fell in love with the game. She went on to try out for her high school team, made JV, and even earned a starting spot! A few of us had the opportunity to cheer her on from the stands recently and were beaming with joy the entire game.
That’s what MFL is about— fellowship and unity through football.