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Cleveland Fusion

{{update|date=July 2019}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}

{{USFootball team

| logo = ClevelandFusion.PNG

| pixels = 200px

| founded = 2002

| league = Women's Football Alliance

| history = NWFA (2002–2008)
WFA (2009–Present)

| stadium = Maple Heights Mustang Stadium

| city = Cleveland, Ohio

| colors = Seal Brown, Orange, White

| president = T.J. Monachino

| coach = Erik Keister

| championships = 0

| titles = 2

| dancers =

| mascot =

}}

The Cleveland Fusion is a women's professional American football team based in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. They play in the Women's Football Alliance. The Fusion played in the National Women's Football Association from their inception in 2002 until 2008. Home games are played at Mustang Stadium at Maple Heights High School.

History

The Cleveland Fusion were founded in 2002.{{Cite news|url=http://observer.case.edu/cwru-alumni-hit-gridiron-for-cleveland-fusion/|title=CWRU Alumni hit gridiron for Cleveland Fusion|date=2012-04-06|work=The Observer|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180531181304/http://observer.case.edu/cwru-alumni-hit-gridiron-for-cleveland-fusion/|archive-date=2018-05-31|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.cleveland.com/sunstarcourier/index.ssf/2010/04/north_royalton_women_at_forefr.html|title=North Royalton women at forefront of Cleveland Fusion fever: Royalton Revue|last=Kedzi|first=Mike|date=2010-04-22|work=cleveland.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180531181518/https://www.cleveland.com/sunstarcourier/index.ssf/2010/04/north_royalton_women_at_forefr.html|archive-date=2018-05-31|language=en-US}} They joined the Women's Football Alliance in 2009 after seven seasons in the National Women's Football Association.{{Cite news|url=http://pressurelife.com/43100-2/|title=Cleveland's New Football Revolution|last=Watson|first=Lex|date=2018-04-14|work=PressureLife|access-date=2018-05-31|language=en-US}}

The team used to play at Bedford High School's Bearcat Stadium, as well as at Byers Field in Parma, Ohio.{{Cite news|url=https://clevelandmagazine.com/in-the-cle/sports/articles/gridiron-girl|title=Gridiron Girl|last=Bowen|first=Chuck|date=2007-10-22|work=Cleveland Magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180531181108/https://clevelandmagazine.com/in-the-cle/sports/articles/gridiron-girl|archive-date=2018-05-31|language=en}} A number of players have been drawn from Cleveland-area colleges, including Case Western Reserve University.

T.J. Monachino took over the team before the 2017 season.{{Cite news|url=http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20170108/NEWS/170109859/fusion-will-put-best-foot-forward-in-2017|title=Fusion will put best foot forward in 2017|last=Kleps|first=Kevin|date=2017-01-08|work=Crain's Cleveland Business|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180531181753/http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20170108/NEWS/170109859/fusion-will-put-best-foot-forward-in-2017|archive-date=2018-05-31}}

Multiple organizations have praised the Fusion for promoting gay pride and breaking down gender roles.{{Cite news|url=http://www.clevelandpride.org/home/fusion-football-pride/|title=The Perfect Fusion of Football and Pride|date=2017-05-22|work=Cleveland Pride|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180531182003/http://www.clevelandpride.org/home/fusion-football-pride/|archive-date=2018-05-31|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/best-gender-bending-sports-team/BestOf?oid=1536484|title=Best Gender-Bending Sports Team: Cleveland Fusion|date=2006|work=Cleveland Scene|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180531182139/https://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/best-gender-bending-sports-team/BestOf?oid=1536484|archive-date=2018-05-31|language=en}}

Season-by-season results

{{Start NFL SBS}}

|-

| colspan="6" align="center" | Cleveland Fusion (NWFA)

|-

|2002 || 6 || 3 || 0 || 2nd Great Lakes || Lost League Quarterfinal (Massachusetts)

|-

|2003 || 7 || 3 || 0 || 2nd Northern Great Lakes || Won Northern Conference Quarterfinal (Baltimore)
Lost Northern Conference Semifinal (Detroit)

|-

|2004 || 3 || 5 || 0 || 4th Northern Great Lakes || –

|-

|2005 || 5 || 3 || 0 || 10th Northern || –

|-

|2006 || 8 || 2 || 0 || 1st Northern North Central || Won League Wild Card (Philadelphia)
Lost League Quarterfinal (Oklahoma City)

|-

|2007 || 8 || 3 || 0 || 3rd Northern Central || Won Northern Conference Quarterfinal (Connecticut)
Won Northern Conference Semifinal (Massachusetts)
Lost Northern Conference Championship (Pittsburgh)

|-

|2008 || 5 || 3 || 0 || 2nd Northern Central || –

|-

| colspan="6" align="center" | Cleveland Fusion (WFA)

|-

|2009 || 4 || 4 || 0 || 3rd National Mid-Atlantic || –

|-

|2010 || 6 || 3 || 0 || 2nd National North Central || Lost National Conference Quarterfinal (St. Louis)

|-

|2011 || 5 || 3 || 0 || 2nd National Mid-Atlantic || –

|-

|2012 || 2 || 6 || 0 || 2nd National Mideast || –

|-

|2013 || 9 || 1 || 0 || 1st National North Central || Won National Conference Wild Card (West Michigan)
Lost National Conference Quarterfinal (Chicago)

|-

|2014 || 7 || 3 || 0 || 2nd National Northeast || Won National Conference Wild Card (Indy)
Lost National Conference Quarterfinal (Boston)

|-

|2015 || 6 || 3 || 0 || 2nd National Mid-Atlantic || Lost National Conference Quarterfinal (Chicago)

|-

|2016 || 4 || 5 || 0 || 6th National || Lost National Conference Quarterfinal (Boston)

|-

!Totals || 85 || 50 || 0

|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)

{{s-end}}

{{cite book|last1=Rozendaal|first1=Neal|title=The Women's Football Encyclopedia|date=20 January 2016|isbn=978-0-9970637-0-7|page=164|url=http://nealrozendaal.com/books/the-womens-football-encyclopedia/}}

{{cite web|last1=Rozendaal|first1=Neal|title=The Women's Football Encyclopedia - 2016 Addendum|url=http://nealrozendaal.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/2016-WFE-U.S.-Addendum.pdf|website=nealrozendaal.com|access-date=22 January 2017}}

2015 roster

class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;"
colspan="7" style="text-align:center; color:#DE6108; background-color:#3E220C" | Cleveland Fusion roster
style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | Quarterbacks

  • {{player|49}} Keri Palma

Running backs

  • {{player|31}} Mercedes Ephraim
  • {{player|38}} Andrea Mixon

Wide receivers

  • {{player|81}} Maria Jackson
  • {{player|19}} Kanisha Coward

Tight ends

  • {{player|83}} Valerie Riley

| style="width: 25px;" |

| style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | Offensive & Defensive Line

  • {{player|35}} Jacque Martin
  • {{player|56}} Tiffany Johnson
  • {{player|60}} Britney Wallace
  • {{player|61}} Daniece Harris
  • {{player|63}} Tania Torres
  • {{player|66}} Yermesha Kyle
  • {{player|77}} Shanolen Kendall
  • {{player|78}} Elizabeth Dillow
  • {{player|91}} Caprita Bell
  • {{player|93}} Kathy Dougherty

Linebackers

  • {{player|21}} Stefanie Russo
  • {{player|23}} Desiree Alexander
  • {{player|45}} Veronica Rucker
  • {{player|51}} Christine Mason
  • {{player|52}} Chelsea Biggers

| style="width: 25px;" |

| style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | Defensive backs

  • {{player|26}} Angela Mason
  • {{player|32}} Amanda Cooch
  • {{player|44}} Katie Green

Kickers

  • {{player|86}} Lauren Acker

| style="width: 25px;" |

| style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | Injured Reserve

  • {{player|63}} Marie "Pony" Vibbert

Exempt List

  • currently vacant

Practice squad

  • currently vacant

{{plainlist|

  • rookies in italics
  • [http://www.clevelandfusion.com/womens-football-roster.html Roster] updated December 2015
  • 26 Active, 0 Inactive, 0 PS

}}

2009

=Season Schedules=

class="wikitable"
Date

!Opponent

!Home/Away

!Result

April 18

|Kentucky Karma

|Home

|Won 38–14

April 25

|Pittsburgh Force

|Home

|Lost 28–34

May 9

|Columbus Comets

|Away

|Lost 12–30

May 16

|Kentucky Karma

|Away

|Lost 12–20

May 30

|Pittsburgh Force

|Away

|Won 34–16

June 6

|Columbus Comets

|Home

|Lost 7–20

June 13

|Cincinnati Sizzle

|Home

|Won 36–18

June 27

|Cincinnati Sizzle

|Away

|Won 48–14

2010

=Season Schedules=

class="wikitable"
Date

!Opponent

!Home/Away

!Result

April 10

|Toledo Reign

|Away

|Won 18–7

April 17

|Kentucky Karma

|Away

Won 54–6
April 24

|Pittsburgh Force

|Home

|Won 60–3

May 1

|Detroit Dark Angels

|Home

|Won 39–12

May 8

|West Michigan Mayhem

|Away

|Lost 0–55

May 15

|Toledo Reign

|Home

|Won 62–0

June 5

|Detroit Dark Angels

|Away

|Won 34–14

June 19

|West Michigan Mayhem

|Home

|Lost 14–66

June 26

|St. Louis Slam (National Conference Quarterfinal)

|Home

|Lost 23–50

2011

=Standings=

{{2011 WFA Mid Atlantic Division standings|team=Fusion}}

=Season Schedules=

class="wikitable"
Date

!Opponent

!Home/Away

!Result

April 2

|Columbus Comets

|Away

|Lost 13–16

April 16

|Pittsburgh Passion

|Home

|Lost 8–26

April 30

|Erie Illusion

|Home

|Won 50–0

May 7

|Pittsburgh Force

|Away

|Won 54–0

May 14

|Columbus Comets

|Home

|Won 16–6

May 21

|Erie Illusion

|Away

|Won 50–0

June 4

|Pittsburgh Force

|Home

|Won 76–0

June 11

|Pittsburgh Passion

|Away

|Lost 0–42

2012

=Standings=

{{2012 WFA Division 4 standings|team=Fusion}}

=Season schedule=

class="wikitable"
Date

!Opponent

!Home/Away

!Result

April 14

|West Michigan Mayhem

|Home

|Lost 7–23

April 21

|Pittsburgh Force

|Home

|Won 33–6

April 28

|Detroit Dark Angels

|Away

|Lost 6–14

May 5

|Pittsburgh Passion

|Away

|Lost 0–49

May 12

|Pittsburgh Force

|Away

|Won 14–6

May 19

|Chicago Force

|Home

|Lost 0–48

June 2

|Columbus Comets

|Away

|Lost 0–22

June 9

|Detroit Dark Angels

|Home

|Lost 14–17

2013

=Standings=

{{2013 WFA Division 3 standings|team=Fusion}}

=Season schedule=

class="wikitable"
Date

!Opponent

!Home/Away

!Result

April 13

|Derby City Dynamite

|Home

|Won 44–0

April 20

|Toledo Reign

|Away

|Won 36–6

April 27

|Derby City Dynamite

|Away

|Won 40–0

May 4

|Central Maryland

|Home

|Won 42–0

May 11

|Cincinnati Sizzle

|Away

|Won 47–6

May 18

|Toledo Reign

|Home

|Won 50–0

June 1

|Cincinnati Sizzle

|Home

|Won 55–6

June 8

|Central Maryland

|Away

|Won 48–0

2014

=Standings=

{{2014 WFA Northeast Division standings|team=Fusion}}

=Season schedule=

class="wikitable"
Date

!Opponent

!Home/Away

!Result

April 5

|Columbus Comets

|Home

|Won 27–7

April 19

|Boston Militia

|Away

|Lost 7–47

April 26

|Indy Crash

|Home

|Won 7–0

May 3

|Boston Militia

|Home

|Lost 7–48

May 10

|Cincinnati Sizzle

|Away

|Won 71–0

May 17

|Toledo Reign

|Away

|Won 46–0

May 31

|Columbus Comets

|Away

|Won 23–12

June 7

|West Michigan Mayhem

|Home

|Won 33–8

2015

=Standings=

=Season schedule=

class="wikitable"
Date

!Opponent

!Home/Away

!Result

April 11

|Central Maryland Seahawks

|Away

|Won 35–0

April 18

|Columbus Comets

|Home

|Won 49–0

April 25

|Indy Crash

|Home

|Won 35–0

May 9

|Columbus Comets

|Away

|Won 47–6

May 16

|Boston Renegades

|Home

|Lost 20–24

May 30

|Detroit Dark Angels

|Away

|Won 35–0

June 6

|DC Divas

|Away

|Lost 7–27

June 13

|West Michigan Mayhem

|Home

|Won 42–12

Logos

Image:LogoFusion.png|Cleveland Fusion (2002-2007)

Image:ClevelandFusion.PNG|Cleveland Fusion (2008–present)

References

{{Reflist}}

  • [http://www.clevelandfusion.com/ Cleveland Fusion]

{{WFA}}

{{Cleveland Sports}}

{{Ohio Sports}}

Category:National Women's Football Association teams

Category:American football teams in Cleveland

Category:Women's Football Alliance teams

Category:American football teams established in 2002

Category:2002 establishments in Ohio

Category:Women's sports in Cleveland

Category:Long stubs with short prose

{{Amfoot-team-stub}}

{{Ohio-sport-team-stub}}