View source for Cleveland Fusion

{{update|date=July 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{USFootball team 
| logo          = ClevelandFusion.PNG
| pixels        = 200px
| founded       = 2002
| league        = [[Women's Football Alliance]]
| history       = [[National Women's Football Association|NWFA]] (2002–2008)<br>[[Women's Football Alliance|WFA]] (2009–Present)
| stadium       = Maple Heights Mustang Stadium
| city          = [[Cleveland, Ohio]]
| colors        = Seal Brown, Orange, White
| president     = T.J. Monachino
| coach         = Erik Keister
| championships = 0
| titles        = 2
| dancers       = 
| mascot        = 
}}

The '''Cleveland Fusion''' is a women's professional [[American football]] team based in [[Cleveland, Ohio]], United States. They play in the [[Women's Football Alliance]]. The Fusion played in the [[National Women's Football Association]] from their inception in 2002 until 2008. Home games are played at Mustang Stadium at [[Maple Heights High School]].

== History ==
The Cleveland Fusion were founded in 2002.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://observer.case.edu/cwru-alumni-hit-gridiron-for-cleveland-fusion/|title=CWRU Alumni hit gridiron for Cleveland Fusion|date=2012-04-06|work=The Observer|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180531181304/http://observer.case.edu/cwru-alumni-hit-gridiron-for-cleveland-fusion/|archive-date=2018-05-31|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cleveland.com/sunstarcourier/index.ssf/2010/04/north_royalton_women_at_forefr.html|title=North Royalton women at forefront of Cleveland Fusion fever: Royalton Revue|last=Kedzi|first=Mike|date=2010-04-22|work=[[cleveland.com]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180531181518/https://www.cleveland.com/sunstarcourier/index.ssf/2010/04/north_royalton_women_at_forefr.html|archive-date=2018-05-31|language=en-US}}</ref> They joined the [[Women's Football Alliance]] in 2009 after seven seasons in the [[National Women's Football Association]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=http://pressurelife.com/43100-2/|title=Cleveland's New Football Revolution|last=Watson|first=Lex|date=2018-04-14|work=PressureLife|access-date=2018-05-31|language=en-US}}</ref>

The team used to play at [[Bedford High School (Ohio)|Bedford High School]]'s Bearcat Stadium, as well as at [[Byers Field]] in [[Parma, Ohio|Parma]], Ohio.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://clevelandmagazine.com/in-the-cle/sports/articles/gridiron-girl|title=Gridiron Girl|last=Bowen|first=Chuck|date=2007-10-22|work=[[Cleveland Magazine]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180531181108/https://clevelandmagazine.com/in-the-cle/sports/articles/gridiron-girl|archive-date=2018-05-31|language=en}}</ref> A number of players have been drawn from Cleveland-area colleges, including [[Case Western Reserve University]].<ref name=":0" />

T.J. Monachino took over the team before the 2017 season.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20170108/NEWS/170109859/fusion-will-put-best-foot-forward-in-2017|title=Fusion will put best foot forward in 2017|last=Kleps|first=Kevin|date=2017-01-08|work=[[Crain's Cleveland Business]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180531181753/http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20170108/NEWS/170109859/fusion-will-put-best-foot-forward-in-2017|archive-date=2018-05-31}}</ref>

Multiple organizations have praised the Fusion for promoting [[gay pride]] and breaking down [[gender role]]s.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.clevelandpride.org/home/fusion-football-pride/|title=The Perfect Fusion of Football and Pride|date=2017-05-22|work=Cleveland Pride|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180531182003/http://www.clevelandpride.org/home/fusion-football-pride/|archive-date=2018-05-31|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/best-gender-bending-sports-team/BestOf?oid=1536484|title=Best Gender-Bending Sports Team: Cleveland Fusion|date=2006|work=[[Cleveland Scene]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180531182139/https://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/best-gender-bending-sports-team/BestOf?oid=1536484|archive-date=2018-05-31|language=en}}</ref>

== Season-by-season results ==
{{Start NFL SBS}}
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | '''Cleveland Fusion (NWFA)'''
|-
|2002 || 6 || 3 || 0 || 2nd Great Lakes || Lost League Quarterfinal ([[Massachusetts Mutiny|Massachusetts]]) 
|-
|2003 || 7 || 3 || 0 || 2nd Northern Great Lakes || Won Northern Conference Quarterfinal ([[Baltimore Burn|Baltimore]])<br>Lost Northern Conference Semifinal ([[Detroit Demolition|Detroit]])
|-
|2004 || 3 || 5 || 0 || 4th Northern Great Lakes || –
|-
|2005 || 5 || 3 || 0 || 10th Northern || –
|-
|2006 || 8 || 2 || 0 || 1st Northern North Central || Won League Wild Card ([[Philadelphia Firebirds (IWFL)|Philadelphia]])<br>Lost League Quarterfinal ([[Oklahoma City Lightning|Oklahoma City]]) 
|-
|2007 || 8 || 3 || 0 || 3rd Northern Central || Won Northern Conference Quarterfinal ([[Connecticut Crushers|Connecticut]])<br>Won Northern Conference Semifinal ([[Massachusetts Mutiny|Massachusetts]])<br>Lost Northern Conference Championship ([[Pittsburgh Passion|Pittsburgh]])
|-
|2008 || 5 || 3 || 0 || 2nd Northern Central || –
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | '''Cleveland Fusion (WFA)'''
|-
|2009 || 4 || 4 || 0 || 3rd National Mid-Atlantic || –
|-
|2010 || 6 || 3 || 0 || 2nd National North Central || Lost National Conference Quarterfinal ([[St. Louis Slam|St. Louis]])
|-
|2011 || 5 || 3 || 0 || 2nd National Mid-Atlantic || –
|-
|2012 || 2 || 6 || 0 || 2nd National Mideast || –
|-
|2013 || 9 || 1 || 0 || 1st National North Central || Won National Conference Wild Card ([[West Michigan Mayhem|West Michigan]])<br>Lost National Conference Quarterfinal ([[Chicago Force|Chicago]])
|-
|2014 || 7 || 3 || 0 || 2nd National Northeast || Won National Conference Wild Card ([[Indy Crash|Indy]])<br>Lost National Conference Quarterfinal ([[Boston Militia|Boston]])
|-
|2015 || 6 || 3 || 0 || 2nd National Mid-Atlantic || Lost National Conference Quarterfinal ([[Chicago Force|Chicago]])
|-
|2016 || 4 || 5 || 0 || 6th National || Lost National Conference Quarterfinal ([[Boston Renegades|Boston]])
|-
!Totals || 85 || 50 || 0
|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
{{s-end}}

<ref>{{cite book|last1=Rozendaal|first1=Neal|title=The Women's Football Encyclopedia|date=20 January 2016|isbn=978-0-9970637-0-7|page=164|url=http://nealrozendaal.com/books/the-womens-football-encyclopedia/}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|last1=Rozendaal|first1=Neal|title=''The Women's Football Encyclopedia'' - 2016 Addendum|url=http://nealrozendaal.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/2016-WFE-U.S.-Addendum.pdf|website=nealrozendaal.com|access-date=22 January 2017}}</ref>

==2015 roster==
{| class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;"
|-
! colspan="7" style="text-align:center; color:#DE6108; background-color:#3E220C" | Cleveland Fusion roster
|-
| style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | '''Quarterbacks'''
* {{player|49}} Keri Palma

'''Running backs'''
* {{player|31}} Mercedes Ephraim
* {{player|38}} Andrea Mixon

'''Wide receivers'''
* {{player|81}} Maria Jackson
* {{player|19}} Kanisha Coward

'''Tight ends'''
* {{player|83}} Valerie Riley

| style="width: 25px;" | 
| style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | '''Offensive & Defensive Line'''
* {{player|35}} Jacque Martin
* {{player|56}} Tiffany Johnson
* {{player|60}} Britney Wallace
* {{player|61}} Daniece Harris
* {{player|63}} Tania Torres
* {{player|66}} Yermesha Kyle
* {{player|77}} Shanolen Kendall
* {{player|78}} Elizabeth Dillow
* {{player|91}} Caprita Bell
* {{player|93}} Kathy Dougherty

'''Linebackers'''
* {{player|21}} Stefanie Russo
* {{player|23}} Desiree Alexander
* {{player|45}} Veronica Rucker
* {{player|51}} Christine Mason
* {{player|52}} Chelsea Biggers

| style="width: 25px;" | 
| style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | '''Defensive backs'''
* {{player|26}} Angela Mason
* {{player|32}} Amanda Cooch
* {{player|44}} Katie Green

'''Kickers'''
* {{player|86}} Lauren Acker

| style="width: 25px;" | 
| style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | '''Injured Reserve'''
* {{player|63}} Marie "Pony" Vibbert

'''Exempt List'''
*''currently vacant''

'''Practice squad'''
*''currently vacant''

{{plainlist|
* ''rookies in italics''
* [http://www.clevelandfusion.com/womens-football-roster.html Roster] updated December 2015
* 26 Active, 0 Inactive, 0 PS
}}
|-
|}

==2009==

===Season Schedules===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Date
!Opponent
![[Home team|Home]]/[[Home team|Away]]
!Result
|-
|April 18
|[[Kentucky Karma]]
|Home
|[[Wiktionary:win|Won]] 38–14
|-
|April 25
|[[Pittsburgh Force]]
|Home
|[[Wiktionary:loss|Lost]] 28–34
|-
|May 9
|[[Columbus Comets]]
|Away
|Lost 12–30
|-
|May 16
|Kentucky Karma
|Away
|Lost 12–20
|-
|May 30
|Pittsburgh Force
|Away
|Won 34–16
|-
|June 6
|Columbus Comets
|Home
|Lost 7–20
|-
|June 13
|[[Cincinnati Sizzle]]
|Home
|Won 36–18
|-
|June 27
|[[Cincinnati Sizzle]]
|Away
|Won 48–14
|}

==2010==

===Season Schedules===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Date
!Opponent
![[Home team|Home]]/[[Home team|Away]]
!Result
|-
|April 10
|[[Toledo Reign]]
|Away
|Won 18–7
|-
|April 17
|[[Kentucky Karma]]
|Away
||Won 54–6
|-
|April 24
|[[Pittsburgh Force]]
|Home
|Won 60–3
|-
|May 1
|[[Detroit Dark Angels]]
|Home
|Won 39–12
|-
|May 8
|[[West Michigan Mayhem]]
|Away
|Lost 0–55
|-
|May 15
|Toledo Reign
|Home
|Won 62–0
|-
|June 5
|Detroit Dark Angels
|Away
|Won 34–14
|-
|June 19
|West Michigan Mayhem
|Home
|Lost 14–66
|-
|June 26
|[[St. Louis Slam]] (National Conference Quarterfinal)
|Home
|Lost 23–50
|}

==2011==

===Standings===
{{2011 WFA Mid Atlantic Division standings|team=Fusion}}

===Season Schedules===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Date
!Opponent
![[Home team|Home]]/[[Home team|Away]]
!Result
|-
|April 2
|[[Columbus Comets]]
|Away
|Lost 13–16
|-
|April 16
|[[Pittsburgh Passion]]
|Home
|Lost 8–26
|-
|April 30
|[[Erie Illusion]]
|Home
|Won 50–0
|-
|May 7
|[[Pittsburgh Force]]
|Away
|Won 54–0
|-
|May 14
|Columbus Comets
|Home
|Won 16–6
|-
|May 21
|Erie Illusion
|Away
|Won 50–0
|-
|June 4
|Pittsburgh Force
|Home
|Won 76–0
|-
|June 11
|Pittsburgh Passion
|Away
|Lost 0–42
|}

==2012==

===Standings===
{{2012 WFA Division 4 standings|team=Fusion}}

===Season schedule===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Date
!Opponent
![[Home team|Home]]/[[Home team|Away]]
!Result
|-
|April 14
|[[West Michigan Mayhem]]
|Home
|Lost 7–23
|-
|April 21
|[[Pittsburgh Force]]
|Home
|Won 33–6
|-
|April 28
|[[Detroit Dark Angels]]
|Away
|Lost 6–14
|-
|May 5
|[[Pittsburgh Passion]]
|Away
|Lost 0–49
|-
|May 12
|Pittsburgh Force
|Away
|Won 14–6
|-
|May 19
|[[Chicago Force]]
|Home
|Lost 0–48
|-
|June 2
|[[Columbus Comets]]
|Away
|Lost 0–22
|-
|June 9
|Detroit Dark Angels
|Home 
|Lost 14–17
|}

==2013==

===Standings===
{{2013 WFA Division 3 standings|team=Fusion}}

===Season schedule===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Date
!Opponent
![[Home team|Home]]/[[Home team|Away]]
!Result
|-
|April 13
|[[Derby City Dynamite]]
|Home
|Won 44–0
|-
|April 20
|[[Toledo Reign]]
|Away
|Won 36–6
|-
|April 27
|[[Derby City Dynamite]]
|Away
|Won 40–0
|-
|May 4
|Central Maryland
|Home
|Won 42–0
|-
|May 11
|[[Cincinnati Sizzle]]
|Away
|Won 47–6
|-
|May 18
|[[Toledo Reign]]
|Home
|Won 50–0
|-
|June 1
|[[Cincinnati Sizzle]]
|Home
|Won 55–6
|-
|June 8
|Central Maryland
|Away
|Won 48–0
|}

==2014==

===Standings===
{{2014 WFA Northeast Division standings|team=Fusion}}

===Season schedule===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Date
!Opponent
![[Home team|Home]]/[[Home team|Away]]
!Result
|-
|April 5
|[[Columbus Comets]]
|Home
|Won 27–7
|-
|April 19
|[[Boston Militia]]
|Away
|Lost 7–47
|-
|April 26
|[[Indy Crash]]
|Home
|Won 7–0
|-
|May 3
|[[Boston Militia]]
|Home
|Lost 7–48
|-
|May 10
|[[Cincinnati Sizzle]]
|Away
|Won 71–0
|-
|May 17
|[[Toledo Reign]]
|Away
|Won 46–0
|-
|May 31
|[[Columbus Comets]]
|Away
|Won 23–12
|-
|June 7
|[[West Michigan Mayhem]]
|Home
|Won 33–8
|}

==2015==

===Standings===

===Season schedule===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Date
!Opponent
![[Home team|Home]]/[[Home team|Away]]
!Result
|-
|April 11
|Central Maryland Seahawks
|Away
|Won 35–0
|-
|April 18
|[[Columbus Comets]]
|Home
|Won 49–0
|-
|April 25
|[[Indy Crash]]
|Home
|Won 35–0
|-
|May 9
|[[Columbus Comets]]
|Away
|Won 47–6
|-
|May 16
|[[Boston Renegades (WFA)|Boston Renegades]]
|Home
|Lost 20–24
|-
|May 30
|[[Detroit Dark Angels]]
|Away
|Won 35–0
|-
|June 6
|[[DC Divas]]
|Away
|Lost 7–27
|-
|June 13
|[[West Michigan Mayhem]]
|Home
|Won 42–12
|}

==Logos==
<gallery>
Image:LogoFusion.png|Cleveland Fusion (2002-2007)
Image:ClevelandFusion.PNG|Cleveland Fusion (2008–present)
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
*[http://www.clevelandfusion.com/ Cleveland Fusion]

{{WFA}}
{{Cleveland Sports}}
{{Ohio Sports}}

[[Category:National Women's Football Association teams]]
[[Category:American football teams in Cleveland]]
[[Category:Women's Football Alliance teams]]
[[Category:American football teams established in 2002]]
[[Category:2002 establishments in Ohio]]
[[Category:Women's sports in Cleveland]]
[[Category:Long stubs with short prose]]


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