MISSION
To be the gold standard of women’s football—where championship excellence drives the empowerment of female and non-binary athletes. We develop leaders in football, grow the sport, and train athletes to compete at their highest level, fostering strength, resilience, and a lasting impact both on and off the field while striving for national championship success.
VISION
A united team where barriers are removed for female and non-binary athletes, enabling them to train and compete at the highest level in tackle football. We are leaders in shaping the future of the game—on and off the field—by driving league initiatives, excelling in competition, and developing players and coaches through training, film study, and leadership principles.
What This Looks Like in Action:
✅ Player & Coach Development
- Train athletes to perform at their highest level through structured practices and film study.
- Focus on mastering the fundamentals of the game.
- Foster leadership principles among players and coaches for success on and off the field.
- Growth in skills, knowledge, and leadership abilities should be evident in every player and coach by the end of the season.
- Utilize team awards and acknowledgments to highlight individual and collective achievements, recognizing those who have grown and positively impacted our team—both on the field and in the locker room.
✅ Championship-Caliber Performance
- Compete at the highest level, striving for playoffs and championship success.
- Consistently produce league leaders in stats, MVPs, and top performers.
- Earn respect and recognition at the team, league, and national levels for excellence in performance, leadership, and contributions to the sport.
✅ Advancing the Sport & Strengthening Our Team
- Develop and implement initiatives that grow the sport at the league level.
- Serve on boards, committees, and programs that shape the future of the game.
- Lead change through innovation, advocacy, and collaboration within the league.
- Share knowledge and best practices with other team owners to strengthen operations and sustainability across the league.
- Continuously improve the athlete experience by enhancing training methods, upgrading facilities and equipment, and implementing best practices in player development.
- Work to relieve financial burdens through fundraising and sponsorship efforts, ensuring that resources and opportunities remain accessible to all players.
✅ Expanding Our Impact
- Create opportunities for international players to compete, develop, and integrate into the sport at the highest level.
- Support and inspire the next generation by increasing access for girls to play flag and tackle football by providing
- Camps and clinics that develop skills and confidence.
- Girls of Fall program that acknowledges and supports girls who play football.
- Direct support at their games to encourage participation and visibility.
- Role models who provide guidance, resources, and opportunities for growth.
- Normalize women in football. We belong here. Be role models for young girls and boys, showing them that football is a space for all who have the passion to play.
- Inspire others by breaking barriers and defying expectations, proving that hard work and resilience can lead to success in any path they choose.
We strive to provide a unique opportunity for female and non-binary athletes to play full-contact football at a highly competitive level with other women’s teams from across the country. Established in 1999, the Vixen are the longest continuously operating women’s tackle football team in the nation. The team plays full contact, tackle football following NCAA rules. The Vixen compete in the Women’s Football Alliance (WFA) with over 60 teams across the nation. The season is from April to June each year with playoffs in July.
The Vixen have a long and storied franchise going back to 1999 as part of the Barnstorming Tour. Other notable game appearances are as follows
- First women’s tackle football game of modern women’s tackle football era (Oct. 9, 1999)
- National Conference Wildcard Game (2004)
- Legacy Bowl (2014)
- IWFL Midwest Conference Championship (2016)
- IWFL Championship game (2016)
- WFA Division II National Champion game (2018)
- WFA Division I National Championship game (2021)
- WFA Pro National Championship game (2022)
- First women’s tackle football game aired on ESPN2 (2022)
- WFA Pro Conference Championship (2024)
The Minnesota Vixen take pride in playing high-caliber tackle football and being role models both on and off the field. The Vixen are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all. We are role models for the young and old alike. Diversity and equality are key concepts to the Vixen. We stand together against systematic inequities and discrimination of all types and are positive contributors to our communities.