The Philadelphia Firebirds are a women's football team in the Independent Women's Football League based in Philadelphia. They are in the Eastern Conference, North Atlantic Division with the Boston Militia, New York Nemesis, and New York Sharks. The team was formerly known as the Philadelphia Phoenix and formerly played in the National Women's Football Association. Upon moving to the IWFL, they changed their name so as to avoid confusion with their fellow IWFL franchise, the Carolina Phoenix.
Philadelphia's first women's tackle football team was founded in 2001 as the Philadelphia Liberty Belles. The Belles won the inaugural NWFL Championship that year. In 2002, the Belles lost in the semi-final playoff round. Heading into the 2003 season, the team split and the Philadelphia Phoenix was formed. The two teams existed simultaneously until the Philadelphia Liberty Belles eventually folded. The Liberty Belles have since reformed for the 2009 season and have joined the new WFA.
Season-by-season
| colspan="6" align="center" | Philadelphia Phoenix (NWFA) |- |2003 || 7 || 1 || 0 || 1st North North || First-round byeWon Eastern Conference Semifinal (D.C.)Lost Eastern Conference Championship (Detroit) |- |2004 || 7 || 1 || 0 || 1st North North || Lost Northern Conference Qualifier (Southwest Michigan) |- |2005 || 4 || 4 || 0 || 13th North Division || – |- |2006 || 5 || 3 || 0 || 2nd North East || Lost NWFA First Round (Cleveland) |- |2007 || 1 || 6 || 0 || 2nd North South || – |- |2008 || 8 || 0 || 0 || 1st North East || First-round byeWon Northern Conference Semifinal (Columbus)Lost Northern Conference Championship (West Michigan) |- | colspan="6" align="center" | Philadelphia Firebirds (IWFL) |- |2009 || 1 || 7 || 0 || 4th Tier I East North Atlantic || – |- |2010 || 1 || 7 || 0 || 5th Tier I East Northeast || – |- |2011 || 2 || 4 || 1 || 3rd East mid-Atlantic || - |- !Totals || 38 || 37 || 1 |colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
Season schedules
2009 DateOpponentHome/AwayResultApril 18Baltimore NighthawksHomeLost 15–22April 25Connecticut CrushersHomeWon 31–12May 2New York SharksHomeLost 14–33May 9New York NemesisAwayLost 3–34May 16Boston MilitiaAwayLost 0–60May 30D.C. DivasHomeLost 0–42June 6Pittsburgh PassionHomeLost 0–53June 13D.C. DivasAwayLost 0–63
2010 DateOpponentHome/AwayResultApril 3Baltimore NighthawksAwayLost 0–54April 10New York SharksHomeLost 0–64April 17Pittsburgh PassionAwayLost 0–49April 24D.C. DivasHomeLost 0–1**May 1New York NemesisAwayLost 0–33May 15Binghamton Tiger CatsHomeWon 49–0May 22Boston MilitiaHomeLost 0–1**May 29D.C. DivasAwayLost 3–49
** = Forfeited because of league action to reduce schedule
References
External links Philadelphia Firebirds official website IWFL official website