Emmarae Dale who played for the Saskatoon Valkyries in the Western Women's Canadian Football League has signed with the Saskatoon Hilltops of the Canadian Junior Football League, becoming the first women to do so.

Emmarae Dale, a linebacker who helped the Saskatoon Valkyries win a pair of Western Women’s Canadian Football League (WWCFL) titles in 2016 and 2019, is the first female football player to join the Hilltops roster. She is also believed to be the first female player in the Canadian Junior Football League’s storied history.

“It’s definitely pretty surreal,” Dale said before the Toppers’ practice on Tuesday night. “Yeah, it’s still hitting me, I guess. I’ve known about it for a while and it’s been in motion for a few months now, but I guess now that it’s brought to light, it’s definitely hitting me all over again that this is happening. “It still just kind of feels like it’s a dream.”

Hilltops defensive coordinator Jeff Yausie, as a former Valkyries head coach, got to see Dale first-hand in the WWCFL. ....

“Nothing’s token about this,” Yausie stressed. “We’re not doing this for any (publicity). She’s very talented. “Last week was sort of the first time we saw her on the field with our guys and, to me, she fits right in and does not look out of place at all.”

When Yausie coached the Valkyries, Dale was still young and raw. “But to see her grow up and dominate at that level, we kind of had this idea, Tom (Sargeant) and I, in the winter,” added Yausie, noting that Dale was invited to their winter workouts before the COVID-19 pandemic put a stop to everything. When the Hilltops returned to the field last week after a pandemic pause, Dale was among those to show up.

“She’s unique,” said Yausie, a former CFL player. “What sets her apart is she’s very strong and she’s a great athlete. I was able to watch her with the bag drill with our linebackers. She is at the same level or perhaps a little bit quicker than some of the players.
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