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‘This is no lingerie football’: What it’s like to play for SC women’s football team

By Ashlen Renner

Though Gamecock football is king in Columbia, a new league is growing in its shadow.

A small group of South Carolina women formed a tackle football team in 2016 with the goal of putting South Carolina on the map for women’s football.

S.C. Smash is part of the Women’s Football Alliance, a national league of more than 50 women’s tackle football teams. Since its founding in 2009, the WFA has steadily grown, but some players say many people are unfamiliar with the league.

“They always think of lingerie (football), but this is no lingerie football. This is full-contact tackle football,” said Tatiana Swittenburg, S.C. Smash defensive line player.

Though most of the team had to learn the basics of the game when they joined, Swittenburg played on the football team at Newberry High School and other rec teams in middle school.

Head coach Lamar Ray says Swittenburg and other “veterans” of the game are crucial to growing the team for future seasons.

Women’s football is growing in South Carolina. A Rock Hill team, the Lady Raiders, will have their first tryouts in September for their inaugural season. Some of the members stemmed from S.C. Smash.

Two photojournalists from The State followed S.C. Smash through the end of their second season, documenting their fight to get into the WFA playoffs. Their next season starts in spring 2019.

S.C. Smash’s Adriana Smith, left, talks to Princess Brown about her route during practice in Columbia, SC. The team practices three times a week in the afternoon to work around the players schedules.
S.C. Smash’s Adriana Smith, left, talks to Princess Brown about her route during practice in Columbia, SC. The team practices three times a week in the afternoon to work around the players schedules. Gavin McIntyre gmcintyre@thestate.com
S.C. Smash owner and coach Lamar Ray stands in the center of a huddle as the teams prays at the end of practice in Columbia, SC. Ray has been coaching football most of his life but this is his first season with the team.
S.C. Smash owner and coach Lamar Ray stands in the center of a huddle as the teams prays at the end of practice in Columbia, SC. Ray has been coaching football most of his life but this is his first season with the team. Gavin McIntyre gmcintyre@thestate.com
SC Smash’s Christina Davis (0), Amanda Perry-Taylor and Princess Brown (10) talk at halftime during the game against the Carolina Phoenix at Melvin Park in Chapin, SC. The team has been unable to secure a field in Columbia and must play on a smaller field farther away.
SC Smash’s Christina Davis (0), Amanda Perry-Taylor and Princess Brown (10) talk at halftime during the game against the Carolina Phoenix at Melvin Park in Chapin, SC. The team has been unable to secure a field in Columbia and must play on a smaller field farther away. Gavin McIntyre gmcintyre@thestate.com
S.C. Smash’s Marie Starkey stands in the rain after losing to the Atlanta Phoenix at Columbia High School in Decatur, Ga. The loss gave the team a 4-4 record and dashed their hopes of making the playoffs.
S.C. Smash’s Marie Starkey stands in the rain after losing to the Atlanta Phoenix at Columbia High School in Decatur, Ga. The loss gave the team a 4-4 record and dashed their hopes of making the playoffs. Gavin McIntyre gmcintyre@thestate.com

This story was originally published August 13, 2018 at 8:10 AM.

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