Newlyweds Michelle and Barry sit for a wedding portrait in the Queens Room of the Fletcher Hotel in Leeuwarden, NL, 2021. Michelle, a center for the Amsterdam Cats, and Barry, her offensive line coach, met on the field in 2017 and have been together since April 2018.
Amsterdam quarterback Dominique (left) and Zwolle Blue Jay Laila (right), Amsterdam, NL, 2023.
Kelly, the Cats' former quarterback, and her replacement, Rufina, pose for a portrait at the Hotel l'Europe in Amsterdam, NL, 2022.
Sushell, a linebacker for the Rotterdam Ravens, just before her game against the Amsterdam Cats, Amsterdam, NL, 2021.
Jessica, a running back and receiver for the 0’30 Utrecht Wolverines, after a game against the Amsterdam Cats, Amsterdam, NL, 2021.
Amsterdam Cats quarterback Dominique, Amsterdam, NL, 2023.
Laila, a receiver for the Zwolle Blue Jays, photographed before a game against the Eindhoven Valkyries, Eindhoven, NL, 2021.
Zwolle Blue Jay Laila, Amsterdam NL, 2023
Kelly, quarterback for the Amsterdam Cats, gives her team a pre-game pep talk before facing off against the Rotterdam Ravens, Amsterdam, NL, on Sept. 27, 2020. This would be the only game of the season, which was canceled shortly afterward due to COVID-19.
Amsterdam Cats during training, Amsterdam, NL, 2020.
Amsterdam Cats Rosa, Amsterdam NL, 2023.
Mouthpiece, Amsterdam Cats, Amsterdam, NL, 2020.
Rufina, a flight attendant and mother, is the Cats' second quarterback, Schiphol, NL, 2021.
Eindhoven Valkyries AB, running back, Eindhoven, NL, 2021.
Karen, a linebacker for the Amsterdam Cats, before a game against the Rotterdam Ravens, Amsterdam, NL, 2021.
Ditte, nose tackle for the 0’30 Utrecht Wolverines, before a game against the Zwolle Blue Jays, Utrecht, NL, 2021.
Zwolle Blue Jays during training, Zwolle, NL, 2021.
Lisa, a tight end for the Rotterdam Ravens, during practice, Rotterdam, NL, 2020. At the time, the Cats were the only QFL team who had access to dedicated American football facilities — the field belonging to the Crusaders, Amsterdam's male American football team. The other five teams had to use soccer or other sports fields to practice on.
Two Zwolle Blue Jays players practice during a training session, Zwolle, 2021.
Left to right: Amsterdam Cats center Michelle, quarterback Kelly, center guard Sitara and defensive back Rufina walk back to the rest of the team after winning the coin toss before the first and only game of the 2020-2021 season against the Rotterdam Ravens in Amsterdam, NL, on Sept. 27, 2020.
Mila, a linebacker for the Amsterdam Cats, during training, Amsterdam, NL, 2020.
Amsterdam Cats during training, Amsterdam, NL, 2021.
Wearing her team jacket with her last name on the back, Dominique talks to a referee during the first game of 2021 between Zwolle Blue Jays and Utrecht Wolverines, Utrecht, NL, 2021.
Amsterdam Cats player Pauline after a game, Amsterdam, NL, 2021.
The Rotterdam Ravens run onto the field moments before a game against the Amsterdam Cats — their biggest rivals but which they've never beaten — in September 2021.
Offensive line player Wenna (center with helmet) leads her team mates during a pre-game cheer against the Rotterdam Ravens, Amsterdam, NL, 2020.
Amsterdam Cats Kelly, Sitara and Dami, Diwali festival, Lelystad, NL, 2021.
The Hague Black Scorpions during training, The Hague, NL, 2020.
Dominique, quarterback for the Zwolle Blue Jays, hugs her girlfriend, Ricky, just before being taken into an operating room to have tendons in her left knee repaired, Zevenaar, NL, 2021.
Dominique insisted on a local rather than a general anesthetic so that she could watch the operation on a monitor, Zevenaar, NL, 2021.
Jessica, a linebacker for the Amsterdam Cats, worked as a gym instructor while studying at the University of Amsterdam, NL, 2020.
Amsterdam Cats defense players listen to coach Vito (arm) during their game against the Rotterdam Ravens, Amsterdam, NL, 2020.
Utrecht Dominator Tasha, Utrecht, NL, 2023.
Arantza, a linebacker for the Eindhoven Valkyries, photographed minutes before a game against the Amsterdam Cats, Eindhoven, NL, 2021.
Kelly, quarterback for the Cats, worked at a supermarket while studying business, Lelystad, NL, 2020.
Barry, the offensive coach for the Amsterdam Cats, trained his players via Zoom from the home he shared with Michelle, Lelystad, NL, 2020.
Head coach Arrien (left) tests the skills of Valkyries hopefuls during their first ever training session. Levina, the woman in the pink shirt, eventually made the team as a linebacker. She is still there. Eindhoven, NL, 2020.
Kelly, the quarterback for the Amsterdam Cats, runs with the ball during a rain-soaked training session, Amsterdam, NL, 2020.
Britt, center for the Zwolle Blue Jays, before a game against the Utrecht Wolverines, Utrecht, NL, 2021.
Ravens Assistant Coach Anne used to be a player but left the team after finding the training schedule too strenuous in combination with her daily life. But Anne missed the camaraderie of her teammates so decided to return as a defensive coach.
Dominique, during her first training session after lockdown restrictions were lifted and amateur team sports were possible again, Zwolle, NL, March 13 2021. When Dominique was not training by herself, she attended strategy classes via online video chat with her fellow Blue Jays.
Dami (left), a running back for the Amsterdam Cats, and her sister Sitara, a center guard, celebrate an interception by the Cats' defense during the 2021 Queens Bowl matchup against the Rotterdam Ravens, Amsterdam, NL, 2021.
Tonny, a coach for the Rotterdam Ravens, is hit in the face during practice, Rotterdam, NL, 2020.
Blue Jays coach Kelly (left) watches as part-time coach and boyfriend Jordi tackles Dominique in practice, Zwolle, NL, 2021.
Together with her teammates, Dalila, a defensive end for the Rotterdam Ravens (center foreground), looks on as the Ravens' offense plays against the Eindhoven Valkyries, Rotterdam, NL, 2021.
Kelly, quarterback for the Amsterdam Cats, takes a break during training, Amsterdam, NL, 2020.
Joanna, a former member of The Hague Black Scorpions, now plays flag football with The Hague Hyenas, Oestgeest, NL, 2023.
Rotterdam Ravens during training, Rotterdam, NL, 2020.
Utrecht Wolverine Safijja applauding her own team after loosing against the Amsterdam Cats, Amsterdam, NL, 2021.
Rotterdam Ravens center Marjaline, tight end Lisa and linebacker Sushell trained together during the lockdowns of 2020, Rotterdam, NL.
Marjaline, center for the Rotterdam Ravens, walks off the field with the daughter of a friend after a game against the Utrecht Wolverines, Rotterdam, NL, 2021. Behind her, Lisa, one of the Ravens' tight ends, chats with the game's live commentator while rolling up one of the field lines.
A frustrated Kelly is reassured by her offensive line coach, Barry, after a training session in Amsterdam, in September 2020, in which she felt she had underperformed.
Utrecht Dominator Safijja, Utrecht, NL, 2023.