The NFL may be the most popular sport in the country, but it’s no longer the only game in town. Did you know there’s a thriving nationwide women’s league? And no, this isn’t the Lingerie Bowl. This is hard-hitting, smashmouth tackle football.

One of the toughest players in the league is also the oldest. Find out why Melinda Sparks says at 52, all her dreams are finally coming true. 

See how she is defying her age, her gender and society’s expectations of what a woman “should” do. 

Click here to learn more about the Women’s Football Alliance and to find a team near you.

Special thanks to the film Gridiron Girls for some footage in this story. To learn more about the documentary, click here.