Even though the women came from such different backgrounds, they were all told the same thing,

which was that they couldn't play football and they both had the same desire, which was to play football. and so as for as different as they were when they were on a team together and on the field they had the shared experience of kind of being up against the world together and it really bonded women that may not have had opportunities to meet each other

otherwise. on Lady Like.

Life.

A lady like a lady like a lady like a lady like a lady like a lady like a lady like a lady like a lady like a lady like

I've had a love.

This is un lady like I'm Kristen. And with all due respect, step aside, Taylor

Swift and Travis Kelsey. This episode on ladies, we are in for a football story that even today's guest did not see coming.

My name is Frankie Delacrata, and I am an independent journalist whose work focuses on the intersection of sports and gender.

And I'm the co-author of a book called Hail Mary, The Rise and Fall of the National Women's Football League.

The National Women's Football League was the first and only pro-

Women's Football League in US history. It kicked off in 1974 with seven original teams.

The Toledo Troopers, the Los Angeles Dandy Lions, Columbus Pace Setters, Dallas Blue Bonnets, Fort Worth Shamrocks, Detroit Demons,

formerly the Petty Coates, and finally the California Mustangs.

The league lasted until 1988,

with teams coming and going in at least 19 cities across the U. Hundreds of women padded up and hit the field during its

14 year lifespan. And yet, our guest Frankie, who is a sports reporter who grew up watching football with their mom

and was on the cheerleading squad in high school, like no stranger to football.

Frankie only discovered the league's existence. no stranger to football.

Frankie only discovered the league's existence,

kind of by happenstance.

And even then, there was so little information

...