In 2003, the So Cal Scorpions began their quest to bring women’s professional football to Southern California – specifically to Riverside County and Temecula. The Scorpions would make the history books by being the first, and so far the only, professional sports team to play in Riverside County.

Women from as far as Hawaii came to be a part of this organization. The Scorpions have been featured and covered on national news and sports networks and were the subject of Super Bowl 2004 commentary on CNN (prior to the Janet Jackson wardrobe-malfunction).

The team finished their inaugural season 4-6, with an ever-growing fan base spread across the breadth of the community – men, women, children, professionals, teachers, executives, housewives, retirees, military and the gay and lesbian community.

One year later, the Women’s Professional Football League (WPFL) noted that San Diego had a wealth of professional sports teams, but had no representation in the league. The Scorpions agreed to move their home games to San Diego, but managed to retain their existing Riverside/Temecula fan base by offering them half-price admission to all home games.

Home games are held in Edward’s Stadium (next to La Jolla High School), at 750 Nautilus St. in La Jolla. Their once small fan base immediately skyrocketed after the move to San Diego. The general public was more than ready for women’s football.

The Scorpions have participated in many community events, both in Riverside and San Diego counties, hosting football 101 clinics and kids’ athletic programs, as well as raising funds for tsunami disaster relief and other charities.

Scorpions owner Ann Bagala began her football career in 2002 as a general manager for a previous San Diego women’s football team. She has been a business owner in San Diego for over 20 years and has been involved in athletics her whole life. Bagala wanted to bring a more professional approach to women’s football, and in 2003 the Scorpions were born. She maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward any discrimination or negativity among her players and staff, she said.

Many of the Scorpion players are lesbian, but many are straight and the team gets along phenomenally well regardless of their orientation, she added.

“Fortunately, this year we’re really lucky to have had a group from varied walks of life coming together so well,” said Jody Taylor, the Scorpions’ director of marketing. “There is a real sense of camaraderie among the players. I think it may be in no small part due to the fact that Ann [Bagala] is always approachable by players and staff, and she set the tone of the organization early on.”

Going into the 2005 season, the Scorpions have set their sights on the 2005 WPFL Championship title, a goal which they are in good position to achieve as the Scorpions are currently undefeated at 4-0 in the American Conference. They are tied with the 2004 WFPL defending champions, the Dallas Diamonds, who are 5-0.

On Aug. 13, the Scorpions faced three-time WPFL champions the Houston Energy and came out on top 28-13. After San Diego mayoral candidate Donna Frye tossed the coin to start the game, the Scorpions bolted out of the gate with a touchdown from Desiree Barry, followed by an 11-yard scoring pass to Melissa Gallegos.

The Energy answered with two touchdowns, but failed one of the conversions, keeping the Scorpions up by one at halftime. The Scorpions again came out swinging in the second half and scored again with a second touchdown by Barry, followed by another scoring pass to Athena Reyes. The Scorpions defense was on fire, limiting the Houston Energy to only two first downs throughout the entire game. This was a real turning point, as in their previous meeting the Energy trounced the Scorpions.

On the heels of the Energy game, the Scorpions then beat the Los Angeles Amazons 14-0 this past weekend to remain undefeated and remain at the top of the Western Division.

Upcoming games include: Sept. 3 at the Houston Energy; Sept. 10 (home) vs. the Arizona Caliente; Sept. 17 at the Long Beach Aftershock; Oct. 1 (home) vs. the New Mexico Burn; Oct. 8 (home) vs. the Los Angeles Amazons; and Oct. 15 at the Los Angeles Amazons.

For more information about the Scorpions, including their full schedule information, visit this article online at www.gaylesbiantimes.com for a link to their Web site.