The RVA Lady Tomahawks were rolling along and enjoying a football season of mostly sunshine and blue skies.

And then the storm hit, literally and figuratively.

Although heavily favored, the host Lady T’s lost in the finals of the U.S. Women’s Football League, 42-0, to the visiting and beefed up Detroit Prowl.

The game took place July 1 at River City Sportsplex, first under threatening skies and finally under a drenching downpour.

The park was evacuated under order of Chesterfield County. People huddled wherever.

“It was pouring so hard, you couldn’t see halfway across the parking lot,” said RVA Coach Mike Hickam.

The teams took shelter in the facility’s concession stand and office while thunder boomed, and lightning streaked the charcoal skies.

When play resumed after more than an hour break, the Tomahawks couldn’t find the rhythm that had helped them win the USWFL regular season title.

In two earlier meetings with Detroit, RVA had won 10-0 and 26-0.

Between July 1 and RVA’s last meeting with the Prowl, Detroit had legally added several players from the more advanced Women’s National Football Conference.

“It definitely didn’t end the way we wanted,” Coach Hickam said. “But we’re happy with the season overall and can’t wait to get started for next season.” With the spirit-sapping delay, even the traditional postgame party at a local restaurant was canceled.

This was the first season of play for the Lady Tomahawks. Most of the young ladies had never played tackle football before this year.

The majority were recruits from other sports such as basketball and various flag-football leagues.

The team is considered semi-pro, but there is a $300 entry fee that covers uniforms. Several fund raisers enabled the squad to make overnight trips to Detroit and Cincinnati.

Coach Hickam says there is always room on his roster for more talent, even if it’s “rookie” talent. Most of the women on this year’s roster lived within 100 miles of Richmond. Some practices were on Zoom.

It was a promising start, even though Mother Nature was less than kind on the final Saturday night.

“We’re looking to refocus and rebuild,” said Coach Hickam.

Plans for conditioning and tryouts for the 2024 season are underway. You might say the Lady Tomahawks have weathered the storm.

Interested in being a Tomahawk? Visit the Tomahawk’s website at rvaladytomahawks.com.