 | |
| Sport | Australian rules football |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1996 |
| Founder | Paul O'Keeffe and Rich Mann |
| First season | 1997[1][2] |
| No. of teams | 46 (men's) and 25 (women's)[1] |
| Country | USA |
| Most recent champions | Men's:Austin Crows (10th premiership) Women's:Minnesota Freeze (2nd premiership) (2025) |
| Most titles | Men:Austin Crows (10 premierships) Women:Golden Gate Iron Maidens (7 premierships) |
| Broadcaster | YouTube.com/USAFL1997 |
| Official website | aussierulesusa |
TheUnited States Australian Football League (USAFL) is thegoverning body forAustralian rules football in the United States. It was conceived in 1996 and organized in 1997. It is based inSun Prairie, Wisconsin.
As of 2011, there were over 1,000 registered USAFL players.[3][4] There are 46 member clubs, of which 45 have men's teams (all except North Star Blue Ox) and 25 have women's teams.[1]Most of the football clubs in the United States have a traditional 18-a-side team for representative purposes and multiple 9-a-side teams running in a local league.
Each year the USAFL holds aNational club championship, a tournament open to all clubs across the nation, the largest of its type in the world for the sport. In addition to the Nationals, the USAFL holds major regional tournaments including the Central, East and West regional tournaments.[5]
The USAFL selects the national men's (USA Revolution) and women's (USA Freedom) teams for competitions such as theAustralian Football International Cup and the49th Parallel Cup.
The first match between two local US clubs was played in 1996 betweenCincinnati andLouisville.[6]In the first year theMid American Australian Football League was formed.Many of the local players had found out about the game in the 1980s on television via the then-nascent ESPN cable network. Although the local game grew, ESPN no longer broadcast AFL matches, and in response the lobby group,Australian Football Association of North America was formed.
In 1997, the first club national championships were held in Cincinnati.Nashville hosted the first Australian Grand Final Festival in the same year. The United States Australian Football League (USAFL) was formed in 1997 to govern the code in the country.
The involvement of many well-known Australians has helped boost the relations between the USAFL and AFL. In the early days,Paul Roos was a key figure.
Robert DiPierdomenico,Leigh Matthews andMichael Voss are official USAFL ambassadors.
USAFL is responsible for the co-ordination of the National Teams, theUSA Revolution men's team and the USA Freedom women's team.The team plays ininternational tournaments andexhibition matches against other countries. National team players are selected from the best US-born players from the club teams across the country.
With close proximity to Canada, the Revolution & Freedom participate in the annual49th Parallel Cup against Canada each year except for years of theAustralian Football International Cup. As of the last edition in 2023, the Revolution men have won eleven of the twelve meetings against the Canada Northwind, while the Freedom women have fallen to the Canada Northern Lights in five of seven contests.
The Revolution competed in the2002 Australian Football International Cup, finishing 5th out of 11 countries and in the2005 Australian Football International Cup finishing 3rd out of 10 countries. They competed in the2008 Australian Football International Cup, where the Revolution finished 7th out of 16 countries. At the2011 Australian Football International Cup, the Revolution finished 4th in an increased field of 18 countries. The Revolution finished 8th at the2014 Australian Football International Cup, again with 18 countries participating. They would come in 4th at the2017 Australian Football International Cup which, as of 2024, was the last edition.
After completing a tour of Australia in 2009, the Freedom were one of five teams to compete in the first International Cup Women's Division at the2011 Australian Football International Cup, finishing third. At the2014 Australian Football International Cup, the Freedom finished in third place again while a reserves team, the USA Liberty, came in last of the seven competing teams. Three years later, the Freedom finished fourth at the2017 Australian Football International Cup while the Liberty went 3-2 in five matches against teams from various leagues in and around Melbourne.
After the postponement and subsequent cancellation of the International Cup in 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024, both the Revolution and Freedom took part in the 2024AFL Transatlantic Cup, one of three regional tournaments scheduled by the AFL to sustain the international Aussie Rules game until the International Cup could be restored. Both American teams would advance to the Grand Final, and both would lose to Ireland.
  Kansas City Cleveland Virginia Wilmington Bayou Finger Lakes |
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| Club | Colours | Nickname | City | Home Ground | Region | Years active | National Championship Titles | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | Female | |||||||||
| Total | Most recent | Total | Most recent | |||||||
| Arizona |  | Hawks | Phoenix, Arizona | Countryside Park,Mesa | West | 1999- | 3 | 2021 | 0 | - |
| Atlanta |  | Kookaburras | Atlanta, Georgia | Phoenix II Park,Summerhill | East | 1998- | 0 | - | 3 | 2007 |
| Austin | .svg) | Crows | Austin, Texas | Zilker Park,Barton Hills | Central | 2002- | 10 | 2025 | 0 | - |
| Baltimore |  | Dockers | Baltimore, Maryland | Herring Run Park, Baltimore | East | 2017- | 0 | - | 0 | - |
| Baton Rouge |  | Tigers | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Flanacher Park,Zachary | Central | 2004- | 0 | - | 0 | - |
| Bayou | | Brawlers | New Orleans, Louisiana | Pelican Park,Mandeville | Central | 2025- | 0 | - | 0 | - |
| Birmingham |  | Bushrangers | Birmingham, Alabama | Heardmont Park,Birmingham | East | 2020- | 0 | - | 0 | - |
| Boston |  | Demons | Boston, Massachusetts | Millennium Park,West Roxbury | East | 1997- | 3 | 2022 | 0 | - |
| Chicago |  | Swans | Chicago, Illinois | Waveland Softball Fields,Lake View | Central | 1998- | 1 | 2012 | 0 | - |
| Cincinnati | .png) | Dockers | Cincinnati, Ohio | Sheakley Lawn,University of Cincinnati | Central | 1996- | 2 | 2004 | 0 | - |
| Cleveland | | Cannons | Cleveland, Ohio | Edgewater Park,Detroit-Shoreway and Brookside Park, Stockyards | Central | 2014- | 0 | - | 0 | - |
| Columbus |  | Cats | Columbus, Ohio | Three Creeks Park, South Alum Creek | Central | 2008- | 1 | 2013 | 0 | - |
| DC Eagles |  | Eagles | Washington, D.C. | West Potomac Park, Washington D.C | East | 2017- | 1 | 2021 | 0 | - |
| Denver |  | Bulldogs | Denver, Colorado | Central Park, Recreation Centre,Central Park | Central | 1998- | 9 | 2022 | 6 | 2015 |
| Des Moines |  | Roosters | Des Moines, Iowa | Valley Southwoods Freshman High School,West Des Moines | Central | 2010- | 0 | - | 0 | - |
| Finger Lakes | | Blue Herons | Syracuse, New York | Burnet Park,Westside | East | 2024- | 0 | - | 0 | - |
| Fort Lauderdale |  | Fighting Squids | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | East | 2005- | 0 | - | 0 | - | |
| Golden Gate |  | Roos (men),Iron Maidens (women) | San Francisco, California | Bushrod Park,North Oakland; | West | 1998- | 1 | 2005 | 7 | 2023 |
| Houston |  | Lonestars | Houston, Texas | Cullen Intramural Field,Greater Third Ward | Central | 2005- | 2 | 2024 | 0 | - |
| Indianapolis | .svg) | Giants | Indianapolis, Indiana | Broad Ripple Park,Broad Ripple | Central | 2013-2021 | 0 | - | 0 | - |
| Jacksonville |  | Saints | Jacksonville, Florida | Alexandria Oaks Park,San Marco | East | 2018- | 0 | - | 0 | - |
| Kansas City | | Power | Kansas City, Missouri | Liberty Memorial,Kansas City | Central | 1998- | 2 | 2008 | 0 | - |
| Las Vegas |  | Gamblers | Las Vegas, Nevada | Summerlin Centre Community Park,Summerlin South | West | 2005- | 1 | 2006 | 0 | - |
| Los Angeles |  | Dragons | Los Angeles, California | Westchester Recreation Center,Westchester | West | 2010- | 1 | 2014 | 0 | - |
| Louisville |  | Kings | Louisville, Kentucky | Seneca Park,Rockcreek-Lexington Road | Central | 1996-2023 | 0 | - | 0 | - |
| Maine | | Cats | Portland, Maine | Wainwright Sports Complex,South Portland | East | 2018- | 0 | - | 0 | - |
| Minnesota |  | Freeze | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Eagan Community Center,Eagan | Central | 2005- | 4 | 2018 | 1 | 2024 |
| Nashville |  | Kangaroos | Nashville, Tennessee | Elmington Park, Hillsboro West End | Central | 1997- | 0 | - | 0 | - |
| New York |  | Magpies | New York City, New York | Tibbetts Brook Park,Yonkers | East | 1998- | 3 | 2014 | 0 | - |
| North Carolina | .svg) | Tigers | Raleigh, North Carolina | Thompson Rad Park,Garner | East | 1997- | 0 | - | 0 | - |
| North Star Blue Ox |  | Blue Ox | Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota | BF Nelson Park,St Anthony West | Central | 2017- | 0 | - | 0 | - |
| North Texas |  | Devils | Plano, Texas | Breckinridge Reserve,Richardson | Central | 2020- | 0 | - | 0 | - |
| Oklahoma |  | Buffaloes | Tulsa, Oklahoma | Dream Keepers, Riverview | Central | 2010- | 0 | - | 0 | - |
| Orange County |  | Giants | Orange County, California | La Veta Elementary School,Orange | West | 1998- | 1 | 2002 | 0 | - |
| Philadelphia |  | Hawks | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Lower Perkiomen Valley Park,Oaks | East | 1998- | 3 | 2023 | 0 | - |
| Portland |  | Steelheads (men), Sockeyes (women) | Portland, Oregon | Clinton Park,South Tabor | West | 1998- | 2 | 2016 | 0 | - |
| Rome |  | Redbacks | Rome, Georgia | Grizzard Park, Berwin | East | 2018- | 0 | - | 0 | - |
| Sacramento |  | Suns | Sacramento, California | South Natomas Community Field, South Natomas | West | 2009- | 2 | 2023 | 0 | - |
| San Diego |  | Lions | San Diego, California | Nobel Recreation Center,University City | West | 1997- | 3 | 2019 | 0 | - |
| Savannah |  | Hurricane | Savannah, Georgia | Daffin Park, Parkside | East | 2017- | 0 | - | 0 | - |
| Seattle |  | Grizzlies | Seattle, Washington | Vassault Park,Tacoma | West | 1998- | 2 | 2018 | 0 | - |
| St Louis |  | Blues | St. Louis, Missouri | Forest Park Cricket Field,Forest Park | Central | 1997- | 0 | - | 0 | - |
| Tampa Bay |  | Tiger Sharks | Tampa Bay andSt. Petersburg,Florida | Flora Wylie Park, Historic Old Northeast | East | 2017- | 0 | - | 0 | - |
| Virginia | | Lions | Richmond, Virginia | Roseland Farm,Crozet | East | 2018- | 0 | - | 0 | - |
| Wasatch |  | WarGulls | Salt Lake City, Utah | Sugar House Park,Sugar House | West | 2019- | 0 | - | 0 | - |
| Wilmington | | Bombers | Wilmington, North Carolina | Wrightsville Beach Park,Wrightsville Beach | East | 2024- | 0 | - | 0 | - |
| Wisconsin |  | Wombats | Madison, Wisconsin | Door Creek Park, Sprecher East | Central | 2017- | 0 | - | 0 | - |
| Club | Colours | Nickname | City | Home Ground | Region | Est. | National Championship Titles | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | Female | |||||||||
| Total | Most recent | Total | Most recent | |||||||
| Calgary |  | Kangaroos | Calgary, Alberta | AE Cross Oval,Glenbrook | AFL Canada | 2002 | 4 | 2024 | 1 | 2008 |
| Quebec |  | Saints | Montreal, Quebec | AFL Canada | 2008-2019 | 2 | 2017 | 0 | - | |
| Club | Colours | Nickname | City | Region | Est. | Senior Club Affiliate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati | Bearcats | Cincinnati, Ohio | Central | 2024 | Cincinnati Dockers | |
| William & Mary | Tribe | Williamsburg, Virginia | East | 2025 | Virginia Lions |
| Club | Colours | Nickname | City | Home Ground | Est. | Years in USAFL | National Championship Titles | Fate | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | Female | ||||||||||
| Total | Most recent | Total | Most recent | ||||||||
| Arizona |  | Outlaws | Phoenix, Arizona | Benedict Sports Complex,Tempe | West | 2018-2021 | 0 | - | 0 | - | Absorbed back intoArizona Hawks in 2022 |
| Baltimore Washington |  | Eagles | Baltimore, Maryland andWashington, D.C. | East | 1998-2017 | 2 | 2006 | 0 | - | Split to formBaltimore Dockers andDC Eagles in 2018 | |
| Charleston |  | Saints | Charleston, South Carolina | East | 2011-2015 | 0 | - | 0 | - | Folded after 2015 season | |
| Centennial |  | Tigers | Denver, Colorado | Washington Park,Denver | Central | 2020-2022 | 0 | - | 0 | - | Withdrew from league in 2023 |
| Dallas |  | Dingoes | Dallas, Texas | Central | 1998-2023 | 1 | 2011 | 0 | - | Inactive since 2023 | |
| Detroit |  | Overdrive | Detroit, Michigan | Central | 1999-2006 | 0 | - | 0 | - | Folded after 2006 season | |
| Florida |  | Redbacks | St. Petersburg, Florida | Crescent Lake Park,Crescent Lake | East | 1999-2013 | 0 | - | 0 | - | Folded after 2013 season |
| Grovetown |  | Pirates | Grovetown, Georgia | Patriots Park,Grovetown | East | 2021-2024 | 0 | - | 0 | - | Inactive since 2024 |
| Hawai'i | .svg) | Eagles | Honolulu, Hawaii | Kapi'olani Park, Diamond Head-Kapahulu-St. Louis | West | 2019-2019 | 0 | - | 0 | - | Inactive since 2023 |
| Illinois | Ironmen | Chicago, Illinois | 2000-2004 | 0 | - | 0 | - | Merged withChicago Swans in 2005 | |||
| Inland Empire | | Eagles | 1997-2002 | 0 | - | 0 | - | Folded after 2002 season | |||
| Lehigh Valley | Crocs | East | 1999-2003 | 0 | - | 0 | - | Absorbed byPhiladelphia Hawks in 2004 | |||
| Little Rock |  | Coyotes | Little Rock, Arkansas | Pinnacle Mountain Park, Pinnacle | Central | 2017-2021 | 0 | - | 0 | - | Folded after 2021 season |
| Los Angeles |  | Crows | Los Angeles, California | West | 1996-2003 | 0 | - | 0 | - | Folded after 2003 season | |
| Milwaukee |  | Bombers | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Kletzsch Park,Glendale | Central | 1998-2019 | 1 | 2003 | 1 | 2009 | Inactive since 2019 |
| Mojave |  | Greens | West | 2003-2006 | 0 | - | 0 | - | Folded after 2006 season | ||
| Oklahoma City |  | Flyers | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Will Rogers Park, Grand Portland | Central | 2016-2017 | 0 | - | 0 | - | Absorbed intoOklahoma Buffaloes in 2017 |
| Pittsburgh | | Wallabies | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | East | 2004-2006 | 0 | - | 0 | - | Absorbed byPhiladelphia Hawks in 2006 | |
| South Carolina |  | Hawks | South Carolina | East | 1999-2001 | 0 | - | 0 | - | Folded after 2001 season | |
| St. Petersburg |  | Swans | St. Petersburg, Florida | East | 2014-2017 | 0 | - | 0 | - | Left to create Major League Footy, both folded in 2019 | |
| Tri Cities | | Saints | 1999-2004 | 0 | - | 0 | - | Folded after 2004 season | |||
| Tucson |  | Javelinas | Tucson, Arizona | West | 1999-2004 | 0 | - | 0 | - | Folded after 2004 season | |
| Vancouver | Cougars | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | 1 | 2008 | 0 | - | Former Associate member | ||||
Top-level professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada | |||||||
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