Coach Alison Fischer to Again Lead Divas in 2015

Washington, DC – The D.C. Divas announced today that Alison Fischer will return as their head coach for the 2015 season. It will be Fischer’s fourth season as the team’s head coach and her 14th season overall with the Divas as both a coach and a player.

Alison Fischer first joined the Divas in the team’s inaugural season in 2001, earning praise as a standout defensive back for ten seasons. She was recognized as a leader on the field by her teammates and was a three-time team captain. After her retirement, Fischer was hired in 2012 as the head coach of the D.C. Divas, becoming one of the few female head coaches in women’s football.

“I’m thrilled that Alison Fischer has agreed to continue as the head coach for the D.C. Divas,” said D.C. Divas owner Paul Hamlin. “As a former top player for the Divas, she brings skill, knowledge, and enthusiasm for women’s football that is unparalleled.”

Fischer has already experienced remarkable success as the head coach of the Divas from 2012-2014. She ranks second in team history in wins as a head coach, behind only legendary former Divas coach Ezra Cooper. In her first three seasons on the Divas’ sidelines, Coach Fischer has led the Divas to three division titles and three top-five finishes in the final women’s football national rankings.

“I am honored and humbled to continue to serve as head coach of the D.C. Divas,” Fischer said. “The 2015 season promises to be an exciting year, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of this storied franchise.”

D.C. DIVAS HOME OPENER APRIL 19TH

Washington, DC - The D.C. Divas women's full-contact football team will open their most challenging and exciting home schedule in team history this Saturday, April 19, when they host the reigning national champion Chicago Force.  It will be the first ever meeting between the Divas and the Force, two teams that are tied for second among active women’s football franchises with 93 victories apiece.  The matchup features two of the best quarterbacks in women’s football – Chicago’s Sami Grisafe, the reigning Women’s Football Alliance (WFA) Player of the Year, and D.C.’s Allyson Hamlin, who has the most wins of any starting quarterback in women’s football history.  The 2014 Divas also feature four players who have won gold medals with Team USA at the Women’s World Championships. As a team, the Divas have won division championships ten of the last 11 seasons, including two conference titles and an NWFA national championship in 2006.

Listen to this historic game live right here on US Sports Radio Starting at 5:15pm EST:

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D.C. Divas Vs Columbus Comets: Additional Game Notes

Additional Game Notes
Neal Rozendaal

Two additional notes of interest (well, to me, anyway!) about tomorrow’s playoff game with the Columbus Comets:

Saturday’s game will be the second playoff meeting between the DC Divas and Columbus Comets. In 2006, the Divas faced the Comets in the NWFA Eastern Conference championship game. The Divas came away with a 32-7 victory and went on to capture the 2006 national championship.

The DC Divas are making their tenth playoff appearance, which ranks second in the history of women’s pro football. And the Columbus Comets are no strangers to playoff football, either; the Comets are making their eighth playoff appearance, putting them among the top ten teams in the sport.

Most Playoff Appearances in Women’s Professional Football
1. Sacramento Sirens – 11
2. DC DIVAS – 10
2. Dallas Diamonds – 10
2. New York Sharks – 10
2. Chicago Force – 10
6. Jacksonville Dixie Blues – 9
6. Houston Energy (IWFL) – 9
8. COLUMBUS COMETS – 8
8. Seattle Majestics – 8
8. West Michigan Mayhem – 8

PLAYOFF FOOTBALL IN TOWN THIS WEEKEND

Divas To Meet Familiar Foe in Playoff Opener
Neal Rozendaal

Washington, DC – The path to the WFA Eastern Conference championship game is littered with familiar foes for the DC Divas.

The Divas (5-3) start their playoff journey at home on Saturday in a conference quarterfinal matchup. Their opponent, the Columbus Comets, is a team the Divas have already battled twice this year. The winner of Saturday’s game between the Divas and Comets will advance to play either the Boston Militia or the Pittsburgh Passion, two more teams the Divas have already faced twice this season.

The Comets (6-4) displayed two vastly different offensive attacks in their two contests with the Divas this season. In their first meeting on April 13 – which resulted in a 53-20 victory for DC – the Comets relied mainly on the passing of quarterback Crystal Davis, the 2010 WFA Offensive Player of the Year. The Divas defense made the difference in the game, picking off seven interceptions and returning three of them for touchdowns.

The last time the DC Divas took the field two weeks ago, they defeated the Comets again, this time by a 42-20 score. But in that game, Columbus featured a much more balanced offensive game plan, thanks to a deep running back corps led by 1,000-plus-yard rusher Shelley Gates.

“They really came out of their passing game and went more to the ground in our last meeting,” DC Divas head coach Alison Fischer observed. “It seems like they kept it on the ground quite a bit, and that’s been their trend the last few games.”

Columbus’ change in offensive tactics contributed to yet another sluggish first quarter for the Divas, which has been a problem for the team all season long. “We got off to another slow start on offense and defense against Columbus. That’s something we’re still trying to correct,” Coach Fischer remarked.

But once the Divas adjusted to the new-look Comets, they took control of the game. DC countered Columbus with a strong running game of its own. “It was good to see not only Kenyetta Grigsby banging out yards…but also Donna Wilkinson, Arica Walker, Elise Pittman, Stacy Bruce, and Kieva Perry. It was great that those running backs could get yardage against Columbus as well,” Fischer said.

The victory over the Comets two weeks ago clinched a division championship for the Divas, their tenth in franchise history. It also gave the Divas a bye week last weekend, and Coach Fischer appreciated being able to give her team some rest. “It was really good to get the bye week,” she declared. “I think we needed it, because it’s been a physical regular season for us. The week off really helped us heal.”

While the Divas were taking last weekend off, the Comets earned their way into the conference quarterfinals by winning on the road against the New York Sharks, 22-20. The Divas simultaneously know what to expect from the Comets but don’t know what their offensive game plan will be.

“We know Columbus; they always come in fighting, and we know they’re going to give us a battle,” Fischer noted. “But we will need to be prepared for both a passing offense and a running offense, whatever they come at us with.”

Although the Divas won the first two meetings against the Comets, Coach Fischer knows that a playoff game will be a real learning experience for her young team’s many rookies. “A playoff game is just a whole different feeling, a whole different intensity,” Fischer said.

Even if they defeat the Comets and advance, this could be the last home game of the season for the DC Divas depending on the outcome of the Pittsburgh/Boston game. That, along with being the Divas’ playoff opener, will make for a special atmosphere Saturday evening. “It’s great to have a playoff game at home. The fans enjoy it, and we enjoy playing in front of them,” Fischer observed.

“It’s win or go home,” she concluded, before adding with a smile, “or stay home, in our case.”

Around the WFA

The Pittsburgh Passion easily dispatched the Cincinnati Sizzle, 63-0. The Passion move on to play the Boston Militia in Boston Saturday. The Divas’ division of DC, Pittsburgh, and Columbus is the only one in the entire league to have three teams make it to the conference quarterfinal round.

On the other side of the Eastern (National) Conference bracket, four undefeated teams remain. The Cleveland Fusion travel to Chicago to face the Force, and the Miami Fury hit the road to play the Atlanta Phoenix. The Fury picked up their first playoff win in franchise history by forfeit Saturday over the Savannah Sabers, but they’ll try to notch their first playoff win on the field in Atlanta.

In the Western (American) Conference, two games feature division rivals squaring off for state bragging rights. The St. Louis Slam visit the Kansas City Titans in one matchup, while in Texas, the Austin Outlaws will take on the Dallas Diamonds.

The other side of the Western Conference bracket contains three California teams and the Utah Jynx, who authored the most surprising upset of the first round of the playoffs. The Jynx went into Seattle and toppled the previously undefeated Majestics, 36-26. Utah now advances to take on the Fresno-based Central Cal War Angels. Meanwhile, the defending WFA champion San Diego Surge will host the Sacramento Sirens in the other conference quarterfinal matchup.

D.C. Divas Player Profile

This is the first in a series of feature profiles on members of the DC Divas.

D.C. Divas Player Information

Becky Worsham	NAME	Becky "Small Z" Worsham
	JERSEY #	53
	POSITION	OL
	STATS	DOB 6/01/1984	Height 6'0"	Weight 235
	HOMETOWN	Springfield, VA
	FIRST YEAR ON TEAM	2008
SCHOOL		George Mason University
OCCUPATION		Student, Physical Therapist Assistant
Who was your childhood idol?		My old high school soccer coach because he helped form me into the committed / hardworking player I am today.
Who is your favorite NFL player? Why?		Peyton Manning because he is selfless and he makes sure everyone knows what they are doing at all times
Describe yourself in 3 words?		Loyal , Funny and Determined
What was your biggest adjustment to playing women's football?		Staying low and exploding without standing up.

Becky Worsham: A Leader on the Line
Neal Rozendaal

Becky Worsham can describe how she felt as a rookie with the DC Divas in one word…paranoid.

“I didn’t know anything about anything,” she laughed. “I only knew how to get into my three-point stance, and I barely knew that. I worried about the snap count and what play we were running. I was just really paranoid…paranoid about the snap count, paranoid I was going to miss my block.”

With a little bit of experience, however, that paranoia soon disappeared. Becky Worsham is now perfectly comfortable on the football field, and as the team’s starting left tackle, she stands as a leader on the Divas’ line. “She contributes greatly on and off the field and is a true team player,” head coach Alison Fischer said. “She’s the total package for an offensive lineman, bringing athleticism, size, and intelligence.”

Worsham always had the natural athletic talent for football. She attended high school at Word of Life Christian Academy in Springfield, Virginia, where her favorite sport was basketball. As a senior, she scored over 1,000 points and helped lead her small high school to the state tournament. She then played basketball for two years at Trinity Washington University, placing fifth in the nation in NCAA Division III in rebounding.

However, Becky Worsham admitted that her life had become mundane in 2007. Despite a good job as a physical therapist, she lacked a competitive outlet. “I just had nothing really going on in my life,” Worsham confessed. “I didn’t have anything to motivate me.”

One of her patients changed all that. Michelle Riddle, an offensive lineman for the Divas from 2002-2010, came into Worsham’s office for some physical therapy. The pair struck up a conversation about football, and Worsham mentioned she had played some flag football before. “It was full contact on the line with no pads,” Worsham recalled. “I thought it was great! When I told Riddle about it, she said, ‘Oh, then you’ll like playing for the Divas. You should totally come out and take a look at the team.’”

It was the camaraderie among her teammates that made Becky fall in love with football. “Honestly, I don’t think I would have stuck with the Divas unless I made friends like I did,” Worsham said. “The friends I’ve made in football are ones that I’ll never be able to make outside of football. You don’t make a connection like that with multiple people all at once the way you do on a football team. I’ve never had that experience before on any of the sports teams I’ve been on. It’s hard to explain, but it’s like you’re family.”

Playing on the line helped Worsham mature in ways she never imagined. “When I was a rookie, I didn’t know what I was getting myself into,” she admitted. “I had to change my mentality. On the offensive line, you have to be selfless. I struggled with that a little bit, because I realized I’m never going to touch the ball. But after I understood the concept of the game and the purpose of my position, I fell in love with it. I look at football a different way now.”

Slowly but surely, she learned the nuances of playing on the offensive line. It wasn’t always a smooth road. Becky has had five different position coaches in her last five years with the Divas, but she’s tried to take something from each of them that she can use to improve her game. Worsham remarked, “You just learn to be a team player and adapt. The Divas have taught me that you want to be a sponge wherever you’re at, absorbing and using as much information and whatever techniques they give me.”

She has nothing but praise for her current offensive line coach, Greg Gaskins. “I’m so happy we have Greg. He’s the best,” Becky exclaimed. “He starts with the basics and goes from there. I like how Greg makes everything in practice relevant to game situations, which will only make us better. I’m just trying to learn as much I can from him.”

While Worsham has been learning from her coach, Coach Gaskins has relied on her. “This is my first year coaching the Divas, but I am glad that I had someone as capable as Becky to help me,” Gaskins said. “She makes my job easier because she is so knowledgeable about the game, and her dedication and effort are unparalleled.”

Her coaches are unanimous in their praise of Becky’s work ethic. “She has a desire to be better and is willing to put in the work to do so,” Coach Fischer remarked. Worsham attributes that to a piece of advice one of her old coaches once gave her. “He said, ‘Whenever you go to practice, always strive to get better.’ That stuck with me. That’s how I feel whenever I get out there on the field. Let’s just focus on one thing today and get better.”

Becky Worsham has been transformed from a hesitant rookie into an experienced, intelligent team leader. “The first thing I think of is her intelligence as a player. Her ability to recognize situations and make accurate adjustments on the field helps make us a good offense,” offensive coordinator Eric Evans declared. “She is a leader for our team, consistent and reliable. I personally couldn’t imagine sending the offense out there without her.”

She has used that intelligence to assume the role of a coach on the field. “In the past, I really didn’t enjoy playing that much, but I enjoy it now,” Worsham admitted. “I feel like now I’m just seizing the moment and teaching my teammates how to get better, and that’s only going to make me better.”

Worsham was one of 45 players named to this year’s U.S. Women’s National Team. She will travel to Finland along with two other Divas to compete in the IFAF Women’s World Championship. Even that high honor has been used as fuel for Worsham’s competitive nature. “That was my whole mentality with Team USA. I wanted to go to learn from other people and to see how everyone else played, because I knew it would motivate me to get better.”

But for now, Becky Worsham’s main focus is on leading the Divas to victory. She was a member of the 2009 Divas team that lost in the national championship game, and she’s eager to help the team get back there.

“The Divas have grown and matured so much,” she observed. “We’re ready to win. In 2009, we deserved to be there, but I think we weren’t really ready to win. We’ve matured a lot since then. It’s been an up and down road, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Becky Worsham has come a long way since the paranoia of her rookie year. Now she’s helping her teammates to develop as well. “She is a great asset, not only to our offensive line but to the entire team,” Coach Gaskins said. “She makes everyone around her better, and there’s nothing more you can ask of a player than that.”

D.C. Divas taken down by Boston

Divas Fall in Wild Shootout, 56-35

Neal Rozendaal

Landover, MD – The Boston Militia just keep rolling along.

Whitney Zelee and Alicia Walker combined for six rushing touchdowns, and the Boston Militia handed the DC Divas their first defeat of the season by a 56-35 count.  The Divas (3-1) trailed by only six points entering the fourth quarter, but they ultimately had no answer for a seemingly unstoppable Militia running attack.

The Boston Militia (3-0) upped their record to 38-1 in their last 39 regular season games.

Boston won the coin toss and wasted little time cracking the scoreboard.  Zelee took control of the game early, rushing for three touchdowns on Boston’s first three possessions.  The Divas responded to Zelee’s first touchdown with a rushing touchdown of their own – a six-yard scamper by Kenyetta Grigsby.

The Divas’ next two offensive possessions, however, bogged down in Boston territory.  On their second possession of the game, DC had a third and nine from the Militia 12-yard line.  But quarterback Allyson Hamlin took an eight-yard sack on the final play of the first quarter, and her pass to the end zone to open the second period fell incomplete on fourth and 17.

The Divas got the ball back trailing 20-7, and they quickly drove down to Boston’s 27-yard line.  After an incomplete pass and a Grigsby rush for no gain, the Divas faced a third and ten.  Grigsby then ripped off a 13-yard run for an apparent first down, but a holding penalty wiped out the gain and pushed DC back ten yards.  A Hamlin pass on third and twenty fell incomplete, and the Divas had to punt again.

At the close of the first half, the Divas’ defense finally got their first stop of the game.  Callie Brownson brought Zelee to the ground for one of her nine tackles in the contest, and Zelee briefly left the field. With their star back sidelined, Boston’s offense finally cooled off and had to punt with under a minute remaining.  Although they trailed at halftime, 20-7, the Divas’ defensive stop kept them within striking distance.

Kenyetta Grigsby almost single-handedly kept the Divas in the game in the third quarter.  On three separate occasions in the period, she rushed for touchdowns that drew the Divas within seven points of the Militia.  Her third touchdown of the quarter with just four seconds remaining cut DC’s deficit to 34-28.  Grigsby finished the game with 201 yards on 35 carries and four touchdowns.

But every time Grigsby scored to pull the Divas within a touchdown, Boston responded with a rushing score of their own.  With only 36 seconds gone in the fourth quarter, Zelee crossed the goal line for the fifth time to put Boston back on top, 42-28.

The Divas then made their first big mistake of the game.  On the ensuing kickoff, a lateral pass went awry, and Boston recovered the fumble at the Divas’ 20-yard line.  The Militia took advantage of the short field, punching across a short touchdown run for a 50-28 lead.

Yet DC refused to fold.  Hamlin hit Ashley Whisonant for a 46-yard touchdown pass with 11:11 left in the contest to pull the Divas within 50-35.  Then the Divas’ defense forced Boston’s second punt of the game, getting the Divas the ball back with just under eight minutes remaining.

But Hamlin threw her only interception of the game at midfield moments later, and with 3:31 left in the contest, Cahill threw her only touchdown pass of the game.  The scoring toss was a 26-yard throw to fullback Dorothy Donaldson, and it pushed Boston’s lead out to 56-35.  The Divas drove down to the Militia 25-yard line as the game expired.

Hamlin completed 14 of 27 passes for 213 yards and one touchdown and one interception.  Her favorite targets were Juliette Baker-Brice, who made six catches for 103 yards, and Ashley Whisonant, who hauled in five passes for 74 yards and one touchdown.  Trigger McNair led the defense with ten tackles; Brownson added nine and D’Ajah Scott notched eight tackles.

The Divas get a bye next weekend after four games in four weeks.  They next take the field May 11 when they host the New York Sharks.

D.C. Divas ready for week 3 on the road

Divas Prepare for the Unknown in Baltimore

Neal Rozendaal

Washington, DC – After opening the season with two victories over longtime rivals, the DC Divas (2-0) now face a completely different challenge.  The Divas will play their third road game in three weeks Saturday when they take on the expansion Central Maryland Seahawks in Baltimore.

The Divas claimed a 53-20 victory over the Columbus Comets last week, and Divas head coach Alison Fischer was satisfied with her team’s uneven but ultimately successful performance.  “I was a little concerned we’d have a letdown,” Fischer admitted. “At times I think we did lose a little focus, but then we had some great moments throughout the game.”

“It’s still good to get the win,” she continued.  “Columbus is one of those teams that just doesn’t quit.  They keep coming at you no matter what the score is.”

Coach Fischer was particularly pleased with her team’s defense, which forced seven interceptions against Comets quarterback Crystal Davis.  “We knew she puts the ball up quite a bit, and if we were going to be aggressive, we thought we could come away with some of them,” Fischer said.  “Obviously, seven was more than we thought, so we’re very happy with that.”

With two division wins under their belt, the DC Divas step out of division play for the next four games, beginning with Saturday’s game against the Central Maryland Seahawks (1-1).  The Seahawks have only played one competitive game, losing 20-6 at the New York Sharks; Central Maryland picked up their first win last weekend via forfeit over an unannounced non-league opponent.  This Saturday’s contest at Woodlawn High School in Baltimore will be the Seahawks’ first ever home game.

Despite the fact that Central Maryland is a new franchise, many of their players are very familiar to the Divas.  Several of the Seahawks have pro football experience playing for the IWFL’s Baltimore Nighthawks or WSFL’s Baltimore Burn.  Still, with only one game of film to study, the Divas will need to expect the unexpected from Central Maryland.

Coach Fischer’s strategy for dealing with an expansion franchise is to focus less on the Seahawks’ game plan and instead concentrate on her own team.  “The players of theirs that we do know, we can adjust to as necessary,” Fischer stated.  “But we’re going to try to play our game and execute well and focus more on what we do this week.”

Around the WFA – The Pittsburgh Passion, who lost to the Divas, 42-31, in their season opener, rebounded Saturday with a 42-0 victory over the Toledo Reign…The Chicago Force and Boston Militia, who played for the National Conference title in 2012, got off to strong starts in their season openers.  Chicago defeated the Detroit Dark Angels, 62-0, while Boston throttled the New York Sharks, 70-0…Congratulations to the Miami Fury, who upset the Jacksonville Dixie Blues, 22-10.  Jacksonville, a regional powerhouse, had an 8-0 record in the regular season in 2012, while Miami went 0-8; the Fury are now 2-0 in 2013.

Divas Force Seven Interceptions and Triumph, 53-20

Divas Force Seven Interceptions and Triumph, 53-20

Neal Rozendaal

Columbus, OH – Sometimes the best offense is a good defense.

The DC defense corralled seven interceptions and returned three of them for touchdowns, and the Divas defeated the Columbus Comets, 53-20, on Saturday.

The Divas (2-0) saw their defense put to the test right from the start of the game; Columbus had three offensive possessions before DC had one.  Divas receiver Juliette Baker-Brice fumbled the opening kickoff, and Columbus recovered on the DC 40-yard line.  Comets quarterback Crystal Davis threw for a nine-yard touchdown on fourth and goal to give the home team a 6-0 lead.

The shorthanded Divas – five DC players and team owner Paul Hamlin had their flight to Columbus delayed, arriving at the stadium midway through the first quarter – continued their sluggish start.  On the ensuing kickoff, a miscommunication among the Divas on who should field the ball allowed Columbus to recover the ball in DC territory again. 

The Comets (1-1) threatened to go ahead by two touchdowns, facing a third and two at the eight-yard line, when Divas defensive back Raina Rorie made an early game-changing play.  Rorie picked off Davis’ pass at the goal line and outraced everyone 100 yards for a DC touchdown.  Just when it looked like the Comets might take a two-score lead, the game was abruptly tied on Rorie’s dramatic return.

The rest of the first half belonged to the Divas.  Kenyetta Grigsby, who was named WFA Offensive Player of the Week for her record-breaking 290-yard rushing performance last week against Pittsburgh, gave DC control of the game by scoring three straight touchdowns in the first half.  Grigsby’s three scores provided the Divas with a 27-6 cushion early in the second quarter.

Ashley Whisonant – one of the DC players who arrived late on the delayed flight – added to the lead by making a spectacular move down the sidelines on a 42-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Allyson Hamlin.  The Divas led Columbus, 34-6, at halftime.

Quarterback Crystal Davis and the Columbus offense gained some momentum in the third quarter.  Davis, the 2010 WFA Offensive Player of the Year, threw for a 40-yard touchdown and passed for a two-point conversion midway through the period, cutting the deficit to 34-14.  But Davis also threw two more interceptions in the quarter – one to Eleni Kotsis and another to linebacker Devon Goldsmith, her third interception of the game.

It took Divas defensive back Callie Brownson about thirty seconds to put the game away for DC.  The Comets were driving as the fourth quarter opened, but Brownson intercepted a pass and returned it 72 yards for a Divas touchdown.

The Divas kicked off to the Comets, and on Columbus’ first offensive play, Davis threw another interception to Brownson, who promptly returned this one for a touchdown as well.  It was Davis’ seventh interception on the night, and it gave DC a 47-14 advantage.  Rushing touchdowns by Columbus’ Shelley Gates and DC’s Kenyetta Grigsby – her fourth of the game – ended the scoring.

The Divas are now 2-0 in their division, with road victories over both of their division rivals.  The Divas’ next game is at the Central Maryland Seahawks on Saturday.

Divas/Nighthawks Tonight

The Divas (4-0) Take on the hard hitting Nighthawks (1-3) tonight at the Prince Georges Sports & Learning Complex. Tickets are available at the door or still online here:

Can't make it to the game. Live video with Us Sports Radio Audio will be availble. Click on the Widget to your right or below:
Saturday May 23, 2009 6:35pm EST D.C. Divas Football Vs. Baltimore Nighthawks Audio

Saturday May 23, 2009 6:45pm EST D.C. Divas Football Vs. Baltimore NighthawksVideo

Scary....

Well not really if you are a Diva Fan. What I am talking about is that as good as they looked Saturday Night, the thought that they can get better is breathtaking! They are showing that intangible where if they don't beat themselves, they are hard to beat.
Also Saturday was our first live video feed of the game. The archive is on the US Sports Network widget to your right. Thanks and now New York in two weeks.

Divas Ready To Rumble in the Motor City

Divas look ready, healthy, and pumped for tonights action. Post your thoughts here during the broadcast.
Click Here To Listen @ 6:35pm EST