The Richmond Black Widows are a women's American football team playing out of Richmond, Virginia.[1] They are a member of the Women's Football Alliance (WFA). They are the first women's football team in Richmond, and currently the only team in Virginia. They played their inaugural season in April 2016.
For the 2022 season, Richmond Black Widows' games are held at Hermitage High School.
As of 2022[update] the coaching staff include:
The Richmond Black Widows was founded in 2015 by Sarah Schkeeper with the express goal of, not only promoting women's football in the area, but providing young girls and women the opportunity to play a sport they have been denied and growing the confidence of young girls by showing them what can be achieved with drive and determination. At least once, prior to Sarah Schkeeper founding the Richmond Black Widows, a women's football team was attempted in Richmond. It fizzled before it ever started a season. Having played for 5 years for the New York Sharks and competing in 2013 on the US Women's National Team that participated in the IFAF Women's World Championship, Schkeeper moved to Richmond, Virginia and started the journey of bringing women's football to Richmond, Virginia.
As there was no foundation for football in the area, Sarah Schkeeper had to use alternative means to spread the word, creating a MeetUp group. Currently the team has a strong roster of over 40 women and a knowledgeable coaching staff.
* = current standing