Women's Professional Football League (WPFL) 1965-1973

The original Women's Professional Football League was begun by Cleveland talent agent Sid Friedman as a gimmick. The league consisted of the Cleveland Daredevils, the Pittsburgh All-Stars, the Canadian Belles of Toronto and the Detroit Petticoats. The Cleveland Daredevils were the first women's team of the era and featured one of the best women's players named Marcella Sanborn. The Pittsburgh team began as the All-Stars but was also known as the Hurricanes and best known as the Pittsburgh Powderkegs. This team is recognized as the second team in women's professional football in that era. Two of the best players in women's football played for the Powderkegs named Carole Duffy and Linda Rae Hodge.

In 1971, the league had both an East and West Division structure with Buffalo, Cleveland, Toronto and Pittsburgh in the east and Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles and San Francisco in the west. The league primarily played exhibition and charity games but played some halftime shows for NFL and CFL teams. There were actual games with these generally numbering four or five games a year. By 1973, all the teams had ceased play except for one team. The Toledo Troopers would survive because the teams coach, Bill Stout, went behind Friedmans back to trademark the teams name and logo. The Toledo Troopers then joined the new National Women's Football League (NWFL) becoming one of the most successful franchises in women's pro football history.

Other teams included... Bowling Green Buffalo Cincinnati Dayton New York Fillies (Founded 1972, became NY Herricanes 1974) Detroit Cowgirls