Flint City AFC will play its first game Saturday, April 7. (Logo used with permission)
FLINT – Flint’s newest sports franchise will take the field for the first time Saturday night at Atwood Stadium.
Flint City AFC, a women’s soccer team, will play its first game at 7 p.m. Saturday after the franchise relocated from Detroit, where it was known as the Corktown Hawks AFC.
Flint City AFC is the sister team of the Flint City Bucks, who came to town three years ago and promptly won the USL League Two national championship during their first season after relocating.
Flint City AFC will play in the USL W League.
“This league is the highest level underneath the” National Women’s Soccer League, said Costa Papista, who is part of both teams’ ownership groups. “The vast majority of these players have ambitions to play professionally, either in the NWSL – the equivalent of the MLS for women – or Europe.
“Money in that league is really picking up so there’s some really good opportunities for women’s players to do well financially. All the big European clubs now have women’s teams so the opportunities are there.”
Just how good is the money in the NWSL?
Well consider this: Dennis Rodman’s daughter Trinity recently signed a $1.1 million multi-year deal with the Washington Spirit. That’s the richest contact in league history.
Players in the USL W League are cut from the same mold as the Flint City Bucks players – they’re college players who are looking for a high-level place to play in the summer.
Three of the players on the Flint City AFC roster are from the Flint area. Paige Webber was a member of the Michigan Dream Team while playing at Grand Blanc, Jenna Blackburn also played at Grand Blanc and Emma Hiscock played at Fenton.
Webber now plays at Michigan State, Blackburn is a member of Western Michigan’s team and Hiscock plays for Louisville.
Flint City AFC will play 12 regular-season games – six at home, six on the road – and there is the possibility of an exhibition game, too. If they qualify for the playoffs, Papista said the club will bid to host postseason games.
They did that in 2019 and ended up hosting the national championship game, when a crowd of 7,000-plus packed Atwood.
Tickets are $7 for children, $12 for adults and $17 for VIP seating.
There will be a postgame fireworks show after Saturday’s inaugural game.
Gates will open at 6 p.m.
Flint City Bucks acquire women’s franchise
Owners of women’s soccer team see it filling void
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