The Alabama State Women's Flag Football team wrapped up a historic second season by competing in the Women's Collegiate Football Finals at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Entering the tournament as the No. 4 seed, the Lady Hornets put together an impressive postseason run, defeating No. 5 seed Hendrix 42-6 and upsetting No. 1 seed Ferrum 38-5 before advancing to the championship game. Alabama State ultimately fell 24-16 to No. 2 seed Webber International, closing the season as national runner-up.
Throughout the year, the Hornets continued building their presence on the national stage. Alabama State competed in the inaugural Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic at Arizona State as the only Division I varsity program in the field and later traveled to Oakland, California, during Super Bowl week for the inaugural HBCU Flag Football Classic.
For first-year head coach Tyrone Poole, the season represented more than wins and losses. It was about establishing a culture and creating an identity for a new program.
"We had some growing pains. New program, new faces, a lot of unknowns," Poole said. "But what I saw was a group of young people who chose to trust the process and trust each other."
One of the biggest challenges during the inaugural season was building relationships and trust within a team that was learning each other for the first time.
"These players didn't know me, and I didn't know them," Poole said. "You can draw up all the plays you want, but if there's no trust in that relationship, none of it matters."
As the season progressed, that trust became visible on and off the field. Poole noted the team's communication and leadership growth as one of the biggest developments throughout the year.
"By the middle of the season, players were making adjustments for each other without being told," he said. "I also watched kids who barely spoke to each other in week one become each other's biggest supporters."
One of the defining moments of the season came midway through the year when team leaders requested a players-only meeting during a difficult stretch.
"What I saw gave me chills," Poole said. "No blame, no one pointing fingers, just players coming together and refocusing. We didn't win that weekend game, but something was won that day that meant a whole lot more. We SwarmAs-1."
Despite falling short of a championship, Poole believes the program took a major step forward in laying its foundation.
"We didn't just survive year one — we established something," Poole said. "There's a standard now, and every player that comes through this program from here on out will build on it."
The Lady Hornets closed the season with more than milestones and accomplishments — they established a foundation for the future of Alabama State Women's Flag Football.