By Colleen Kane
Enquirer staff writer

The Cincinnati Sizzle, an expansion team in the National Women's Football Association, kicked off its inaugural season June 26 with a 21-6 exhibition win over the expansion Kentucky Karma.

The team, coached by former Bengals running back Ickey Woods, will try to play two more exhibitions before next year's full participation in the NWFA. Thursday afternoon, Woods talked about what the team has been doing.

Question: How did your first game go?

Answer: It went good. The girls finally got a chance to hit somebody in the opposite-color jersey. We executed well.

Q: Strengths of the team so far?

A: Right now the running game is strong. Defense is also good. We need to work on special teams and our passing game. We also need to eliminate mental mistakes a lot of the girls made. ... You take the good with the bad.

Q: If you were to enter the league right now, where would you be?

A: I think we'd be competitors. We've still got work to do. We're not where we need to be to be at championship quality, but we're working hard and I think we'll get there.

Q: Any star players yet?

A: Both running backs are decent - "Zee" (Xiomara Van Deinse) and "Smoove" (DeShawn Thomas). Our quarterback is coming along, (Amanda) Long. ... We have seven or eight girls that are bona fide players.

Q: So do you take a special interest in the running backs?

A: I like to see them do well, but I'm the head coach now - I take an interest in all the girls.

Q: What has it been like coaching your wife, Chandra (a tight end and defensive lineman)?

A: It's been OK. ... Her play surprised me. I didn't think she'd be able to hack it, but she's still out there going strong.

Q: Have you taught the players any end zone dances yet?

A: No, I haven't taught them any. Zee tried to do my dance (the Ickey Shuffle) after she scored her touchdown, but she messed it all up. ... We just watched her having fun. I didn't want to tell her.

Q: Biggest difficulty getting this team started?

A: Getting sponsors. They're not really ready or they just don't want to take a chance. They don't know what the league is going to do. ... I think once we get established - have a set division and a set amount of games each year - it will be a lot easier to get big corporate sponsors.

Q: Best part?

A: Seeing the ladies develop and learn the game of ball. ... Some, when they first started, didn't know anything. Now, we watch games and they know what defense they're running and what offense they're running.