Huddle around Sara Galica: the Utah women’s tackle quarterback who brings the spark
By Liliana Anderson
Standing at 5 feet, 2 inches, the hot blinding stadium lights radiate on the back of Sara Galica, glistening off the blue and white jersey on her back, as she bears her team and community with the same weight. Breathe In. Breathe Out. Every step taken forges ahead both on and off the field for Galica.
Galica, a 10th-year veteran women’s tackle football player, hasn’t had it easy to get where she’s at. Despite stereotypes in women’s sports, financial hurdles with her team, and injuries, she persists, alternatively by creating community through the women’s tackle football team.
“[Football] is not just for one specific person, football is for everyone, there’s every type of body type, background, age and it’s really a competitive environment that brings one unit together," Galica said.
The Falconz, a local Utah women’s tackle football team, who Galica is the quarterback for, have accomplished more than two National Championships and 6 Conference Titles. They have created a place for community, strength, and devotion in women’s sports.
Ever since 2015, when Galica joined, she learned to conquer the field, and even received a gold medal in the 2022 International Federation of American FootballWomen’s World Championship.
Even though she plays for the pros, her career hasn’t been like her male counterparts. The Women’s National Football Conference, which the Falconz play in, is a pay-to-play league.
“Women’s sports notoriously doesn’t pay as high as men’s or visibility as high as men’s so for us in women’s tackle football it is pay-to-play, meaning we have to pay a player fee to cover some key aspects of the Falconz such as uniforms and field rental,” Galica said.
On top of paying the fee and providing the team’s basic necessities, athletes must pay for travel and equipment while balancing a life with family, work, and everyday tasks. For some women, it may discourage them from playing, creating roadblocks for opportunity.
However, Galica continues to encourage the growth of the team. Striving for resilience in each player that will further drive success in the sport.
“It’s amazing to see how someone who has never played football before come[s] in, overcome[s] doubts and achieve[s] something they maybe once thought was never possible,” Galica said.
Kim Krinke, a former player and now linebacker assistant coach said, “I think it is entirely fair to say that the sport of women’s football is currently being stunted because of the lack of financial support. We cannot compare to our male counterparts who have been able to train for this sport since childhood. Young girls are not given the same opportunities to play as youth.”
Future Connections
Galica looks to increase awareness and encourage all to watch or play. As a player, she has visited both boys' and girls' youth practices to drive encouragement and lead by example.
“Compete, don't compare, give it your all, do your best but don’t compare yourself to others. I always like the motto ‘be the best you’ because that’s when you can give it your best effort,” Galica said.
Connecting with not only other players but fans and audience is another key factor for Galica and her local team. “Viewership and fandom is everything, no sport can survive without them,” said AJ Roby, offense and defense line assistant coach and former player for the Utah Falconz.
The community is what helps drive Galica to continue to commit to the sport. Creating an impact on her life she can’t walk away from quite yet.
“Being part of something bigger than myself is what helps me feel connected,” Galica said, “I find joy in helping others believe in themselves when they may have doubts because former teammates and coaches have done that for me.”
The Falconz work with organizations and events to build community both on and off the field.
“One of the things our non-profit Women’s Excellence 4 Life focuses on is ensuring we are helping women grow as individuals off the field just as much as we develop as players on the field,” Krinke said.
Love of the Game
Originally Galica never thought she would play tackle football, but once she had established the impact and importance of the football community she was hooked.
“Being a part of something bigger than myself, being part of the community, and striving for one goal, of course, a championship was really cool for me.”
Throughout the years Galica has overcome injuries, self-doubt and negative inquiry from some people. When she initially would tell people she would receive commentary like, “Oh is it the lingerie league,” or “Is it flag,” Galica triumphed over skepticism.
While people compare women’s tackle football to the NFL, the WNFC is its own elite league for women’s sports. With the rise in popularity of women’s sports, women supporting women, and men supporting women can further influence and impact the WNFC, Galica said.
“In 2017, here in Utah, we actually hosted and had the governor give the coin toss and just having the community rally and winning a championship here at home is probably one of my favorite memories,” Galica said.
While Galica has reached some of her greatest highs in the sport, she has dealt with what could have been career-ending injuries. Not only breaking her right collarbone in 2023, but her left collarbone in 2024.
After back-to-back injuries Galica was in it for the long haul of recovery. After her first break, the team had been 6-0 on a possible championship run. Then, after her second break, the team had been going through a rough patch and for the first time in Falconz history, had missed the playoffs.
After being tackled by the blows of injuries, and hills that seemed too vigorous to climb, Galica continued to carry the love and gratitude for the team effortlessly.
“Coming back from my 2023 broken collarbone and the first broken bone in my life, surprisingly I felt fearless,” Galica said.
Through 10 years of playing women’s tackle football, Galica had one prominent moment that lingers.
She said, “For my first game way back when, it was like wow, I’m so grateful to be here. I never thought I’d be here in a football uniform, but now my mindset is like, I belong here. This is amazing, and I’m going to make the most out of this opportunity, but I belong here.”