Team Profile: Minnesota Machine

Women’s Tackle Football
GLBT + Ally
Season: April – June
www.mnmachine.com

The Minnesota Machine are a sixth-year women’s tackle football team here in the Twin Cities, a member of the national Women’s Football Alliance, and comprised of women from the age of 18 to the upper 40s. Proudly representing women of all shapes, sizes, colors, ethnicities, backgrounds, and experience, the Machine play full-pads, full-uniforms, 11-v-11. Coaches are former NFL, semi-professional, and college athletes. Many of the athletes come from Division I or II in college, and some haven’t played since high school but still have the ambition.

Bree Murphy is a very active person and participates in a variety of sports, but admits that she doesn’t know a lot about the GLBT sports scene. “I know there are GLBT sports leagues out there, but have never participated in one. From what friends have told me, they can be a great way to meet other members of the GLBT community.”

Murphy says that in order for her to join a team, there has to be a good vibe. “I look for teams that feel like family. This is why I love playing for the MN Machine,” she says. “I’ve played lots of sports on many different teams, but nothing compares to the family feeling I get from this women’s football team. The MN Machine is how all teams should be. We are supportive, encouraging, and not only help each other with being a better player, but are receptive to the advice.” She also enjoys that the Machine isn’t a strictly GLBT team, enjoying the support regardless of personal differences. “The MN Machine brings people together that would normally never hang out. This team has provided friendships to those who are not great at making friends and has given women who feel unappreciated the gratitude and support they need. We are all parts of a larger machine that only works if we are all together.”