We Speak Sports

American Flag Football League Reveals Core Players

Published

6 months ago

November 25, 2023

The American Flag Football League (AFFL), has officially announced the core players for its four teams as the League prepares for its inaugural season launching on Saturday, April 27, 2024.

AFFL 2024 Rosters (Graphic: Business Wire)

Many of the core players have competed for USA Football’s U.S. Men’s National Team. The National Team has won gold at five IFAF Flag Football World Championships, The 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Ala., and the 2023 IFAF Americas Continental Flag Football Championship in Charlotte, N.C.

Notable players to highlight include:

Velton Brown Jr.; QB/Rush; Member of the 2023 U.S. Men’s Flag National Team; played Minor League Football for the Orlando Phantoms
Terrance Bunting; WR/DB/LB; Member of the 2021 U.S. Men’s Flag National Team; played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Ottawa Renegades
Laval Davis; WR/DB; Member of the 2022 and 2023 U.S. Men’s National Team
Darrell “Housh” Doucette; QB; Member of the 2021, 2022 and 2023 U.S. Men’s Flag National Team; won the AFFL Championship in 2018 and 2019; in the 2018 AFFL Championship Game Housh made one of the greatest plays in flag football history
Eric Holliday; QB; Member of the 2021 and 2022 U.S. Men’s Flag National Team
Shaquille “Shaq” James; DB; Played DB for West Chester University (ECAC Division II Rookie of the Year in 2015; first team All-ECAC and second team All-PSAC East Region in 2017)
Bruce Mapp; WR; Member of the 2021, 2022 and 2023 U.S. Men’s Flag National Team; Coastal Carolina Hall of Fame Inductee
Brandon McCray; WR/QB/S; Played DB at Southern University; played Minor League Football for the Louisiana Lightning (MVP) and Louisiana Bulldogs (MVP and League Record with 27 TDs)
Laderrick “Pablo” Smith; QB/WR; Member of the 2022 and 2023 U.S. Men’s Flag National Team
Frankie Solomon; DB; Member of the 2018, 2021, 2022 and 2023 U.S. Men’s Flag National Team; played DB for the University of New Mexico; played Arena Football League (AFL) for Texas Revolution
Corey Webb; DB/WR; Member of the 2018 and 2023 U.S. Men’s Flag National Team
Jerodis Williams; WR/LB; Played RB/KR for Furman University (2012 College Football Performance Kickoff Returner Award); signed in the NFL as a rookie free agent with Minnesota Vikings and later with the Denver Broncos

“This is an exciting day for the AFFL as we reveal the core players for our teams. Our coaches spent considerable time in their evaluation and selection process, and their efforts are reflected in the quality of players for this inaugural season,” said Brian Michael Cooper, AFFL President & COO. “Our players are the most elite in the game, as many are either past or current members of the USA Football’s world champion U.S. Men’s Flag National Team and are potential members of the 2028 U.S. Olympic Team. In addition to their athletic skill, our players also were selected for their great character, exemplified by their commitment to our fans and their communities.”

Earlier this month, the AFFL announced its team names and logos for the inaugural teams:

As previously announced, the team venues and schedule is as follows:

Date	Host Team	Location
April 27 (Inaugural Game)	Las Vegas	Cashman Field
May 4	Dallas	Gerald J. Ford Stadium
May 11	Boston	Veterans Memorial Stadium
May 18	Nashville	Vanderbilt Soccer \| Lacrosse Complex
May 25	Las Vegas	Cashman Field
June 1	Boston	Veterans Memorial Stadium
June 8	Dallas	Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas
June 15	Nashville	Vanderbilt Soccer \| Lacrosse Complex
June 22 (Championship Game)	Dallas	Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas

*Schedule subject to change.

About AFFL

The AFFL was founded in 2016 to grow the game of flag football. We offer youth and women’s competition, and in 2024, the inaugural men’s pro league will launch with teams in Boston, Dallas, Las Vegas, and Nashville. For more information, visit affl.com and follow the league on X, Facebook, and Instagram.

About USA Football

USA Football is the governing body of American football in the United States, the sole US member of the International Federation of American Football, and a recognized sports organization of the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Its non-profit mission includes designing and delivering premier educational, development, and competitive programs for American football, including tackle and flag football. USA Football is the only organization that selects and organizes men’s and women’s U.S. National Teams in federation-sanctioned international competition, including the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

View source version on businesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231121872317/en/

We Speak WNBA

Caitlin Clark attendance boon: Some WNBA teams look for bigger arenas when the Fever come to town

Published

3 weeks ago

May 2, 2024

Derek Adams

Some are booking bigger venues for when Clark and the Indiana Fever come to town.

The Las Vegas Aces and Washington Mystics have moved their games against the Fever to bigger arenas. The numbers Clark generated in college indicates it’s a smart move.

While at Iowa, when the No. 1 pick in the draft and the Hawkeyes went on the road this past season, they played in front of sellout crowds or set attendance records.

“She helps ticket sales, so I think it’s a really great time to have eyes. She’s going to be an elite player,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said. “She has been in college. She’s done stuff in college that nobody else has. She’s going to be a great player in the W. There’s no doubt about it.

“So the more people we can pack into the building to cheer against her, we’ll take it, although I don’t know if they’ll be cheering against her,” Hammon quipped. “I guess they might be cheering for her.”

The two-time reigning WNBA champion Aces relocated their game on May 25 from the 12,000-seat Michelob Ultra Arena to the 18,000-seat T-Mobile Arena.

Aces players credit Clark, but also know that their own team, which has won the past two WNBA championships, has done a great job increasing attendance at games over the past few seasons.

“We’re not rolling out any red carpet. We’re here to be a business and sell a lot of tickets. Kudos to her (Clark), but we also have done that in previous years in big games as well,” Las Vegas guard Kelsey Plum said. “There are a lot of people that play basketball. People are coming to watch A’ja Wilson. People are going to watch Chelsea Gray.

“That’s not a slight on anyone, but I’m saying that’s not for her. We played in Chicago last year. We sold it out last year.”

Clark will make her preseason debut on Friday night at Dallas — a game that is already sold out.

The Mystics game against Indiana on June 7 will be played at Capital One Arena — Washington’s old home. Their normal home, the Entertainment and Sports Arena, can seat up to 4,200 fans, but the Capital One Arena has a maximum basketball capacity of more than 20,000.

Nearly half of WNBA teams play in NBA arenas, so there’s no need to move those games.

Still, a few others that don’t are feeling a push to move games to larger arenas, including the Chicago Sky. The Sky and Angel Reese play their home games in the 10,000-seat Wintrust Arena. Fans started a petition to move their first home game against Indiana to the bigger United Center. There’s a concert scheduled at that arena on June 23 when the Fever come to town — so that’s not going to happen.

The Los Angeles Sparks are another team that could move their game against Indiana.

The Sparks are playing their first five home games at Long Beach because of arena conflicts from construction and the NBA and NHL playoffs. They are hosting the Fever on May 24, which is scheduled to be played at Long Beach. The team’s first five games will be played there in a 4,000-seat arena.

The Sparks have played games in the past at USC and there’s always a chance they could move the Indiana game there. The Sparks said they have nothing official to report when asked about moving the game.

The Atlanta Dream, who also play in a smaller venue that seats only 3,500, host Clark and the Fever on June 21. The team hasn’t said whether it’s exploring trying to move to a bigger arena yet.