New England’s other pro football dynasty is taking a break.
Molly Goodwin – owner of the Boston Renegades in the Women’s Football Alliance – informed NEFJ on Wednesday night that the team was suspending operations for the 2025 season.
The Renegades have won five WFA national championships and are the standard when it comes to women’s professional tackle football.
As cliche as it sounds, this isn’t a ‘goodbye,’ it’s just a ‘see you later.’
Here’s what Goodwin told NEFJ in a statement via email:
“Here is our official notice to our fans:
After a decade of passion and commitment to excellence in women’s tackle football, we have made the difficult decision to suspend operations for the Boston Renegades. This decision was carefully considered and reflects our dedication to the future growth of both the team and the sport,” Goodwin wrote.
“We sincerely appreciate the vital role each of you has played in our organization’s success. Thank you for being loyal supporters, remarkable thought partners, fierce competitors, and incredible advocates. Your efforts have meant a great deal to us, and we are truly grateful.”
What Boston has done for women in sports can’t be overstated and Goodwin made sure to acknowledge how much being history makers and trail blazers meant to everyone involved with the organization.
“The Renegades have set a remarkable precedent for women’s football, and we take immense pride in our accomplishments,” she said. “Starting from scratch in 2015, we built this team without a name, coaches, logo, or facilities. Our original aim was simply to sustain women’s football in Boston. Today, we proudly hold five national championships, have made seven national championship appearances, been featured in an ESPN documentary and have three jerseys enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“Beyond our on-field achievements, we have organized clinics, coached and mentored countless young girls and served as role models for future generations. Together, we have created an organization that stands as a true leader in women’s football on a global scale. A decade ago, we could never have imagined the organization we have become today.”
Unfortunately, winning comes with a price. Even with the recent boom in women’s sports, financially, a pay-to-pay model simply isn’t something a program with the standards of the Renegades can continue to sustain. That’s why this decision was ultimately made at this point, with an eye towards figuring out how to find newer, more profitable opportunities.
“As we pause operations, our focus has shifted toward advancing not only the organization, but also the opportunities for women in professional tackle football. The current pay-to-play and volunteer model is no longer sustainable,” said Goodwin.” “To promote the growth of the sport, we need to secure additional investment, forge new partnerships and capitalize on new opportunities. The upside potential for women’s professional sports is exploding, and we intend to be a part of that movement.”
It’s not ‘goodbye,’ it’s ‘see you later.’
“We are excited to emerge even stronger and to provide an outstanding experience both on and off the field,” Goodwin added.