Changing the Game: On and Off the Field

Mana Alison of the Carolina Phoenix

The joy in Mana Alison’s voice when talking about her journey to the Independent Women’s Football League (IWFL) is hard to ignore. Laughing as she reminisced about how she came to find women’s tackle football, to the appreciation of just being able to play the game, Mana has found her calling on and off the field.

Growing up in the small town Uppsala, Sweden she had fallen in love with the game of basketball. In 1998, she moved to California to play high school basketball with aspirations to play in college. “I always wanted to come the US” Mana says “I played basketball my whole life, so I had the dream of playing college basketball.” Playing competitively since the age of 10, Mana accomplished that dream attending St. Andrews in North Carolina and playing collegiate basketball.

After her college career came to an end, Alison felt a void no longer playing competitive team athletics. Back in California “something was missing”, she tried long distance running, and even attempted triathlons but again it would not be the same as playing on a team.

In 2011, Mana was introduced to playing flag football and played on co-ed teams in the area. As a competitive athlete, she wanted a challenge and after a year of playing flag football she decided to Google women’s football. “I wanted to see if there were any all female flag leagues out there… to my surprise I found a tackle team… I thought it was the most amazing thing ever.” The team she found was the California Quake of the IWFL.

Mana Playing with California Quake

After attending a practice Mana made the roster and found the passion she had been missing since last playing college basketball. Thrown right into action as a rookie Mana had to develop leadership skills as well on a young Quake team. “I came in as a rookie but had to take on the leadership role and that was something I wasn’t expecting.” After spending two years with the Quake Mana wanted a change of scenery. “I attended college in North Carolina… and I knew Carolina had a really good football team so that helped me make that decision to move.” Entering her third year with the Carolina Phoenix, it was a decision that has since paid off. “Coming to Carolina it was very different, their style is a little rougher and I got to know some great people. They have a lot more veterans than what I was used to and that definitely allowed me to learn… not only from the coaches but the players as well.”

One of those players is Ebony Montgomery, quarterback of the Phoenix, who we got to meet earlier this season. Alison is one of Montgomery’s favorite targets on the field and the relationship they have developed in the last three seasons has helped them lead the IWFL in total offense this season. “Ebony is a great leader, she’s a great quarterback, and she takes so much pride in being on this team. She has a wealth of experience so when she has something to say, I listen!”

The Phoenix are off to a 4-0 start in the IWFL this year, and have been dominate offensively in those first four contest. Mana now a five-year veteran in the league credits that success to the teams chemistry and leadership. “We have a lot of hungry rookies, and a group of great veterans…we have a great team and I’m excited to bring the title back to Carolina this year!” The team will face its toughest test yet this weekend with a hungry Washington Prodigy (3-1) team that has always played Carolina tough and only given up 10 points to opponents.

Alison with team Sweden in 2013 Women's World Championships

Mana also keeps herself busy during the times she is not on the field, practice or training. As a graphic designer she has found work to pursue her passion of design while also continuing to play the game she has come to love. The Co-owner of Breaking Boundaries Apparel, an apparel line focused on women in sports across the world founded the company when fundraising to play football. “I was playing with the Swedish National Team in the 2013 Women’s World Championships, and I had to cover my own cost to travel… we don’t get paid to do any of this so instead of asking people to raise funds, I knew I could design a cool shirt.” That shirt led to more and once she knew it Mana was receiving orders for her apparel not only in the states but even gained some international customers as well.

The feedback continued to be great and for the last three and a half years, Breaking Boundaries Apparel once called Miss Gridiron flourished. Last September, Mana brought in co-owner Terah James to expand the business from just women’s football gear to women in sports. “Women in sports in general is a step behind the men, so this is our attempt to help put women in sports out there and give them something thats theirs!”

Playing football has opened up a wealth of opportunities for Mana, from struggling to find a sport to play after college to becoming an advocate for women’s football and women in sports. “I would love to be part of the movement to help [women’s football] grow, help it become a recognized sport, to help women actually get paid to play…” The success off the field has been proven through the accomplishments of her business, now its time to show on the field that the Phoenix are title bound.

Through the first six weeks in the IWFL the two teams that have dominated play are the Utah Falconz and the Carolina Phoenix. Will this be the year the Phoenix bring back a title to Carolina? Only time will tell! Catch their game this weekend against the Washington Prodigy on Saturday.

Rapid Fire: Favorite Quote: “Play like you’re in first place. Train like you’re in second”

Favorite Movie: “Love and Basketball”

Favorite Word: “Evolve” Favorite Sports Moment: Playing for the Swedish National Team in Finland in 2013 World Championship. Meeting and playing against women from different countries, I will never forget that experience.

Favorite Pre-game Song: Heart of a Champion.

Follow Luis Sanchez on Twitter @Luis_MyW