2010 Team USA Members
Three D.C. Divas Selected for USA Football 2010 Women’s National Team
By Duke Hipp
The defending IWFL (Independent Women’s Football League) Eastern Conference Champion D.C. Divas announced today that three members of the club have been selected to America’s first women’s national team in the sport. The team, the USA Football 2010 Women’s National Team, will take part in the first International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Women’s World Championship this summer in Stockholm, Sweden. Representing the Divas on the USA Football 2010 Women’s National Team are running back Okiima Pickett, offensive lineman Michelle Riddle, and tight end/wide receiver Donna Wilkinson.
“With the 2010 Winter Olympics completed just weeks ago, we’re reminded of the importance of international competition and the common love of sports around the world,” said Divas General Manager Rich Daniel. “The Divas are honored to have these three outstanding women represent our team this summer. More importantly, we’re proud that they’ll be wearing the red, white, and blue at such an historic event.”
USA Football assembled 2010 Team USA from among over 1,800 female athletes. Only 45 women were ultimately selected for the squad, which will compete in the six-nation international tournament.
“Between now and this summer, there’s still the matter of a full season of D.C. Divas football,” added Daniel. “Our goal is to send Donna, Michelle, and Okiima off to Stockholm with another winning regular season of Divas football in the books and welcome them back home as World Champions to boot. After all, gold is one of our two favorite colors.”
Six nations will field teams at the IFAF Women’s World Championship and compete in group play beginning Sunday, June 27. The competition will be held at Stockholm’s Zinkensdamms IP Stadium and culminate in a “gold medal” matchup between the two group winners on Saturday, July 3. Group pairings are as follows:
Group A
USA
Austria
Finland
Group B
Canada
Germany
Sweden
The American squad, USA Football’s Women’s National Team, is scheduled to face Austria in a first round match on Sunday, June 27.
“Watching the U.S. team compete and succeed at the World Cup is inspiring and yet another reminder of the common love for sports shared around the globe,” said D.C. Divas General Manager Rich Daniel. “We’re proud of the three Divas that will represent our country in this historic international competition. And while we’re anxious to welcome them back to the Divas’ burgundy and gold for our Eastern Conference championship matchup against Boston on July 10, we’ll all be proudly supporting the red, white and blue in this unprecedented tournament.”
