🏈 Top 12 Women's Tackle Football Players in the World!

🏈 Out of the entire WFA Professional Division, 12 elite athletes have been selected as the top women’s tackle football players in the world. Each week, we will be following them closely to see which player will be selected as the “Heir of Throne” and the “MVP of the World.” 👑

The Women's Football Alliance (WFA) stands as the premier women's professional tackle football league globally, featuring teams in over 60 U.S. cities and extending its reach to leagues in eight countries worldwide. Established in 2009, the WFA has been instrumental in advancing women's participation in American football, providing a platform for athletes to compete at the highest level.

Here are the Top 12 Women's Tackle Football Players in the World!

1. “Spidey” Brianna Barrett - Cali War

2. Britt Peterson - Nebraska Pride

3. Erin Kelley - Minnesota Vixen

4. Jana Meister - Pittsburgh Passion

5. Karmen Henson - Philly Phantomz

6. Kerri McMahan - St. Louis Slam

7. Leilani Caamal - Mile High Blaze

8. Neisha Washington - Nevada Storm

9. Savannah Burkhalter - Dallas Elite Mustangs

10. Tynequia "Tee" Roberts - Tampa Bay Inferno

11. Amanda Congialdi - DC Divas

12. Amirra Parker - Houston Energy

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1. Spidey Barrett 

Brianna “Spidey” Barrett has had a few nicknames over the years, but "Spidey" was the one that truly stuck—especially after being bitten by a black widow in college. Women in football are the future, and Spidey is determined to help lead the charge.

Spidey received a full-ride scholarship to the University of Southern California for basketball, where she became a four-year starter and a 2013-2014 Pac-12 Champion.

After her basketball career, Spidey sought a new challenge. In 2021, she discovered football and immediately fell in love with the game and the Cali War. Now, as a team captain, she leads with passion and intensity, pushing herself and her teammates to new heights. Since joining the Women’s Football Alliance (WFA), she is a 4x WFA First-Team All-American and  WFA Offensive MVP – Professional Division

Off the field, she continues her passion for fitness and competition, coaching at F45 Training in San Diego, where she helps others achieve their fitness goals and transform their lives.

Her ultimate goal? To impact and uplift others—pushing them beyond their comfort zone and encouraging them to chase dreams they never thought possible.

What drives her every day? Becoming the person her four-year-old self would be proud of. 

2. Britt Peterson

Britt Peterson grew up loving athletics and competition. In elementary school, she was the only girl on her baseball, soccer, and tackle football teams. She never felt sports were spaces where girls and women didn’t belong. That continued into adulthood, where she began playing tackle football for the Iowa Crush in 2017. She played wide receiver and free safety in the All-Star game her rookie season. 

She continued her football career with the Iowa Phoenix, where she was a First Team All-American Wide Receiver then First Team All-American Free Safety in consecutive seasons. She now plays Wide Receiver and Free Safety for the Nebraska Pride where she was a First Team All-American Free Safety and the Division 2 Championship Game MVP in her first season with the team in 2024. 

Off the field, Britt is a wife, mom, project manager, and instructional designer. Her motto is simple, “Our only purpose in life is to love and be loved. So love hard and love authentically.” 

3. Erin Kelley

Erin Kelley, known as “EK,” is a standout quarterback for the Minnesota Vixen in women’s tackle football. A fierce competitor with a passion for high-level athletics, she has established herself as a leader on the field. Over her five-year career, she has earned numerous accolades, including being a three-time All-American (2022, 2023, 2024), Vixen Offensive Player of the Year (2022), and Vixen Most Valuable Player (2024).

Before transitioning to football, Erin played Division I basketball at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Growing up, she was a multi-sport athlete, excelling in both basketball and softball. Her competitive drive and sports background made her a natural fit for the Vixen when she discovered the opportunity to play women’s tackle football.

As a quarterback, Erin is known for her leadership, strategic mindset, and unwavering reliability. She thrives on teamwork, pushing her teammates to reach their full potential while maintaining a composed presence on the field.

Her ultimate goal? Winning a national championship. And one thing is certain—before every game, you’ll find her sticking to her tradition of eating a PB&J.

4. Jana Meister

Jana Meister is a fierce competitor, leader, and advocate for the game of women’s tackle football. Jana has been playing football since she was old enough to strap skateboarding pads to her shoulders. Dreaming of being a professional athlete since she was a kid, Jana joined the Pittsburgh Passion in 2017, establishing her life and career around her devoted love for the game. 

Starting her 7th season, Jana is a team captain of the Passion, in which they’ve made the playoffs all 6 years and have won 4 division titles. She is a 4x WFA All-American and is 1 of only 9 Pittsburgh Passion wide receivers to have surpassed 1,000+ receiving yards in their career. In unique fashion, she has caught touchdown passes from 9 different Passion quarterbacks. 

In 2022, Jana also made the USA Team, selected as 1 of 45 women to represent our country in Finland at the IFAF Women’s World Championship, with the team ultimately winning gold! 

Jana is most proud of is her leadership role as a veteran on her team. A team that encapsulates family, respect, and has ultimately saved her life. She credits her successes to the love, teaching, and guidance of her coaches and teammates, being proud to be a member of the Passion family.

Did you know?

More than 30 veteran WFA players have secured coaching and scouting positions in the NFL, including trailblazers like Katie Sowers, the first female to coach in a Super Bowl, and Jennifer King, the first African American female coach in the NFL.

5. Karmen Henson

Karmen Henson, a multifaceted athlete with experience in running back, cornerback, and linebacker positions, was born and raised in Chester, Pennsylvania.

Since childhood, Henson has been an athlete including track and field, where she excelled in the 100-meter, 200-meter, 4x100-meter relay, javelin, and shot put. She also participated in Area Football in 2014. In 2017, she discovered the Philadelphia Phantomz on Facebook and made the team after attending tryouts.

“I have worn the Phantomz uniform for the past 11 years not only for myself, my teammates, but also for all the young girls out there, similar to myself, who were discouraged from pursuing sports due to concerns about potential physical harm as a female athlete. ‘This sport is not for you; it is only for boys.’”

However, when she puts on her pads, pulls on jersey No. 3, and secures her helmet, her true potential emerges: “I don’t just wear phantomz on the front of my jersey but I wear phamily on the back of my jersey I not only represent the team but also embody the essence of sisterhood, a bond that transcends time and fosters a lasting connection. While I am recognized for my impactful plays and contributions to the team, my true purpose lies in supporting my teammates and advocating for their triumphs.”

6. Leilani Caamal

Leilani Caamal ( #43) is a versatile and dynamic player for the Mile High Blaze, holding down roles at linebacker, tight end, and fullback. Since the age of nine, she has grown her presence on the football field. She brings keen awareness, relentless work ethic, and strong leadership to every snap. 

Leilani was part of the Blaze’s 2022 WFA Division 2 National Championship team and is a two-time Team MVP. She has proudly served as a team captain for three seasons and also earned MVP honors at the Holiday Showcase in 2024. In addition to football, Leilani competes in collegiate flag football and wrestling at Ottawa University. She is a 2024 NAIA Flag Football National Champion. Born in California and raised in Colorado, Leilani plays for more than just wins; she plays to fulfill her God given purpose and use her God given abilities. Football is her calling, a platform to inspire, give Glory to God, and create opportunities for those who came before her and those who will follow. Outside of football, she enjoys drawing, writing, cooking, and playing piano. One of her favorite verses that fuels her journey is Esther 4:14: “You were made for such a time as this,” and she holds tight to the promise of John 13:7.

7. Savannah Burkhalter

Savannah Burkhalter is a wide receiver for the Dallas Elite Mustangs, and football has been a part of her life for the past four years. She first got into the sport with Arlington Impact after someone suggested she try out. The simplicity of the wide receiver position—catch the ball—immediately clicked with her, though she has come to appreciate the strategy and skill it takes to truly master the role.

Off the field, she works as the head of the rec department, mentoring juveniles and staying active with the youth she serves. They motivate her to keep pushing, and she learns from them just as much as they learn from her. She travels an hour and a half to practice each way, but the journey is simply part of the process—it’s all about showing up and putting in the work. Savannah is always focused on improving, both as an individual and as a teammate, and her goal is to continue growing while helping those around her do the same. Football is her passion, but it’s the lessons it teaches—leadership, dedication, and perseverance—that truly drive her.

8. Kerri McMahan

Kerri McMahan is a wide receiver with the St. Louis Slam. Following her graduation from SLU, McMahan stayed in the Atlantic 10 spending the 2019-20 season as Video Coordinator for Fordham Women's Basketball. As a Billiken, McMahan earned a spot on the A-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll in four individual seasons, while also garnering All-Academic and All-Defensive team honor.

9. Neisha Washington

Niesha Washington plays linebacker and offensive line for the Nevada Storm in the WFA. This year marks her ninth season playing football, all of which she has spent with the Storm. Her journey from that first season to now has been a roller coaster of highs and lows.

In her first season, Niesha became the starting center for the Storm. That year, she didn’t record many stats, and the team didn’t make it to the Division 3 playoffs—they may not have even won a game. But that didn’t matter. Simply being able to play a sport she had always dreamed of, surrounded by athletes she never imagined she'd have the pleasure of sharing a field with, meant more to her than any win or championship.

Fast forward 10 years and 9 seasons later, a lot has changed. Since that first season, Niesha has helped her team win back-to-back national championships—one in Division 3 and one in Division 2 the very next season. She has earned the honor of being named a First-Team All-American three times: once for offensive line and twice for defense.

Over the course of her career, Niesha has played multiple positions for the Storm. She started at center, then moved to guard and tackle on offense. Later, she transitioned to defense, finding success as a defensive end before ultimately settling into her current role as an inside linebacker.

Football has changed Niesha’s life in ways she never could have imagined. She remains committed to putting in the work for both herself and her team and looks forward to pushing forward to see what the future holds for everyone in Women’s Football.

10. Tynequia "Tee" Roberts

Tynequia "Tee" Roberts  is a running back for the Tampa Bay Inferno. A lifelong Floridian, she has played for the team for nine years. Tee Roberts mission is to empower women to reach their fullest potential and build a world where their success is celebrated. 

11. Amanda Congialdi

Amanda Congiald, a 14-year women’s football veteran and quarterback of the DC Divas, has earned All-American honors this past season for the 8th time in her career, along with earning league Offensive Player of the Year for the second time (2019).

Amanda has been a staple for the Divas offense since arriving in 2016, having led the league in passing yards and passing touchdowns in multiple seasons. Originally a Philadelphia product, Amanda’s football roots led her to DC in pursuit of athletic growth in becoming the best quarterback and leader she can possibly be. That goal has since paid off dramatically — Congialdi captured her first National Championship in her first season with the Divas 2016), while also being able to learn from one of the most prolific and decorated quarterbacks in women’s football history, former Divas QB legend Allyson Hamlin.

As 2025 fittingly marks the 25th season for the DC Divas franchise, Congialdi’s excitement, determination and confidence is greater than ever before, with one goal in mind — the pursuit of the franchise’s 4th National title.

12. Amirra Parker

Amirra started her football career at 3 years old, and it has been an incredible journey ever since. Playing from such a young age allowed her to develop her skills and gain a deep understanding of the game. Along the way, she has faced challenges and celebrated victories, with each experience shaping her not only as a player but also as a person.

Her love for football continues to fuel her motivation. Over the years, she has gained valuable lessons in teamwork, perseverance, and discipline. Passionate about the sport, she hopes to inspire others to chase their dreams on the field—just as she has.

🏈🏈🏈

These women don't just represent standouts from their teams, but in a league of 60 teams, these women stand out as the best women's professional tackle football players in the world and we at AWSN get to watch them all season long. Join us!

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