Mark Simon | Boston Renegades Staff
NEW YORK — March 22, 2021 — Boston Renegades wide receiver Adrienne Smith has joined the American Flag Football League (AFFL) to head up its new Women’s Division. In this role, she will oversee football operations and corporate partnerships.
“This is a momentous occasion for women in professional sports and especially football,” said Smith. “Flag football is one of the most exciting and accessible sports today. Leading the AFFL’s new Women’s Division — with an equal grand prize to the Men’s Division — represents greater gender diversity and equity in sports. This perfectly aligns with my company Gridiron Queendom’s mission in promoting women and girls in football.”
“We are proud to make Flag the first sport to institute pay equity from day one,” AFFL CEO and founder Jeffrey Lewis said. “How could we even consider playing football without a level playing field?”
The AFFL’s Women’s Division will have a qualifier at the Lynn Lewis Foundation Invitational in Palm Coast, Florida (April 30 – May 2). The Lynn Lewis Foundation is a non-profit group founded in 2007 to increase breast cancer awareness in the women’s football community. The Lynn Lewis Foundation Invitational is the longest-running and largest women’s flag football tournament in the United States.
“We are excited to partner with the AFFL to highlight the immense pool of talent in women’s flag football,” said Mashonda Gilmore, founder & CEO of the Lynn Lewis Foundation. “It is time for women and girls to have equal footing. We are proud to be a part of this important movement.”
Smith will be joined by Michelle Roque who will handle social media for the league and marketing for the women’s division. Like Smith, Roque is also a member of US Women’s National Flag Football Team.
Smith started her football career in 2006 as a member of the New York Sharks. She has played for Boston since 2011, winning Women’s Football Alliance national championships in 2011, 2014 and 2019. Internationally, Adrienne brought home silver medals from Sweden and Canada as a member of the U.S. Women’s National Flag Football Team. She also helped the U.S. Women’s National Tackle Football Team bring home gold medals in the International Federation of American Football’s Women’s World Championships in 2010 and 2013.
Adrienne is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis with an MBA from Columbia Business School. She is an entrepreneur and creator of Blitz Champz, a football-themed card game for kids and families that is a National Parenting Product Awards (NAAPA) winner. Smith is also a long-time football advocate and spokesperson through her company Gridiron Queendom. She recently participated in a Women’s History Month panel discussion hosted by The New England Patriots and New England Revolution. The discussion featured influential women in sports discussing their careers and the challenges they have overcome to become leaders in the sports industry.