Emmarae Dale(BSKI'20) becomes first female player on Saskatoon Hilltops roster
Emmarae Dale (BSKI'20), a linebacker who helped the Saskatoon Valkyries win a pair of Western Women’s Canadian Football League (WWCFL) titles in 2016 and 2019, is the first female football player to join the Hilltops roster.
By Darren Zary • Saskatoon StarPhoenixThe Saskatoon Hilltops aren’t breaking down any film these days, but they are certainly breaking down barriers.
There’s a new addition — and a new gender — on the Hilltops’ gridiron.
Emmarae Dale (BSKI'20), a linebacker who helped the Saskatoon Valkyries win a pair of Western Women’s Canadian Football League (WWCFL) titles in 2016 and 2019, is the first female football player to join the Hilltops roster.
She is also believed to be the first female player in the Canadian Junior Football League’s storied history.
“It’s definitely pretty surreal,” Dale said before the Toppers’ practice on Tuesday night. “Yeah, it’s still hitting me, I guess. I’ve known about it for a while and it’s been in motion for a few months now, but I guess now that it’s brought to light, it’s definitely hitting me all over again that this is happening.
“It still just kind of feels like it’s a dream.”
Read the full story at the Saskatoon StarPhoenix.