The Pittsburgh Passion will kick off the Women’s Football Alliance Pro Division six-game season Saturday at Tampa against the Inferno.
Led by WFA Coach of the Year Teresa Conn, the Passion finished the 2024 regular season 6-0 and went 1-1 in the playoffs, falling to Boston in the semifinals.
Conn said the team has guided itself on a positive path from tryouts in September to fall workouts and ultimately to the ramping up of preseason preparation in January and February.
“We’ve been at it for a while, and we’re ready to play a game,” Conn said.
“Season openers are always a lot of fun. There is a lot of anticipation. You have that goal you work for. The excitement is there. We love this game, and it will be nice to go out there against someone other than your own teammates.”
The Inferno is owned by Jennifer Moody, a 1992 Kiski Area graduate who played for the Pittsburgh Passion for seven years from its start in 2002.
Lori Johnson, the Inferno general manager and also its offensive coordinator, also is a Passion alumnus.
“They have helped establish a really strong and respectful program,” Conn said.
“They have that experience. It is always a fun battle with them. It’s two teams who go really strong against each other. There is a lot of respect between the teams.”
The team will play its first three games on the road. The Passion play at Philadelphia on May 10 and the D.C. Divas on May 24. They will finish the season with three home games at Slippery Rock University against Tampa on May 31, the D.C. Divas on June 7 and Cincinnati on June 14.
The Passion will be led by dual-threat quarterback Marcelina Chavez, who passed for 531 yards, rushed for 358 yards and scored nine total touchdowns (five passing and four rushing) last season in earning National Conference MVP honors. Running back Devon Peace led the ground attack with 768 yards and nine touchdowns.
Conn said she’s pleased to have Chavez back healthy after she battled injury toward the end of last season.
“It is exciting to see her come back and work to build on last year. She is 100% ready to roll now,” Conn said.
“She is a tremendous athlete who can make things very difficult for defenses. We are blessed to have her as a leader on this team.”
Pittsburgh averaged 44.7 points per game last season and allowed 13.8.
Safety Danasha Harris (Uniontown) recorded seven interceptions and two scores. She also had 58 tackles.
The defense had 12 interceptions, eight quarterback sacks and forced three fumbles.
Kylie Roebuck (West Newton) and guard Fanica Payne anchor the offensive line. The top receivers are Jana Meister and Ellisyn Mularski.
Defensively, the team retained key contributors such as tackle Katelyn Niedermeyer (Brentwood) and Harris.
Conn said she feels with a strong roster and coming off a successful 2024 season, the team is poised to contend for the WFA Pro Division Championship in 2025. Their combination of experienced leadership and emerging talent positions them as one of the premier teams in women’s football.
“We have that nice mix of returning veteran players and a rookie class who has the potential to be very special,” Conn said.
“It feels like they have been here forever. They’ve come in with an energy and adopted the Passion philosophy and traditions. They bought in and adapted to what we want to do. I am looking forward to seeing how they will contribute.”
Bova now a Diva
Former Passion linebacker Jennifer Bova has switched teams.
She spent the last six seasons with the Passion.
Now she is playing linebacker for the D.C. Divas.
When Bova started her football career, she called herself a 42-year old rookie.
Bova, a 1994 Hempfield grad, ran track for the Spartans and attended West Virginia.
She is a retired veteran of the U.S. Marines.