The Philadelphia Force was a women's professional

softball Softball is a game similar to baseball played with a larger ball on a smaller field. Softball is played competitively at club levels, the college level, and the professional level. The game was first created in 1887 in Chicago by George Hanc ...

team based in Allentown, Pennsylvania. From 2006 to 2009, it played as a member of

National Pro Fastpitch National Pro Fastpitch (NPF), formerly the Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL), was a professional women's softball league in the United States. The teams battled for the Cowles Cup. The WPSL was founded in 1997 and folded in 2001; the NPF revive ...

(NPF) league until a failed sale in September 2009 put an end to the team on hiatus and ultimately ended its participation in the NPF. Their home games took place at Bicentennial Park in Allentown.

History

The Philadelphia Force's inaugural season was in 2006. Two years later, the Force played in the National Pro Fastpitch championship, but were defeated by the

Chicago Bandits The Chicago Bandits were a women's professional softball team based in Rosemont, Illinois. Since the 2005 season, they have played as a member of National Pro Fastpitch (NPF). The Bandits won the 2008 NPF championship, defeating the Washington ...

. One of the most prominent veterans of the Force was

Natasha Watley Natasha Renee Watley (born November 27, 1981) is an American, former collegiate four-time first-team All-American, two-time medal winning Olympic Games, Olympian, retired seven-time pro All-Star softball player. Watley played college softball at ...

, who also played in international competition with the

United States women's national softball team The United States women's national softball team is the national softball team of the United States. It is governed by USA Softball (formerly known as the Amateur So ...

. She joined the team in 2006, but her time with the Force was limited by national team commitments. The Philadelphia Force's last season was 2009.

References

External links

Philadelphia Force
* Sports in Philadelphia Sports in Allentown, Pennsylvania Defunct softball teams in the United States Defunct National Pro Fastpitch teams 2006 establishments in Pennsylvania 2009 disestablishments in Pennsylvania Sports clubs and teams established in 2006 Sports clubs and teams disestablished in 2009 Defunct sports clubs and teams in Pennsylvania Philadelphia Force Women's sports in Pennsylvania {{Pennsylvania-sport-team-stub