SUMMER & GRACE! How Rookie Duo Summer McNeal and Grace Wiley Forged a Championship Bond

When the Texas Elite Spartans hoisted the WNFC championship trophy for the fifth time, the crowd roaring at Ford Center, at The Star in Frisco, it was a moment veteran Spartans had seen before, but two rookies, Summer McNeal and Grace Wiley, stood wide-eyed, soaking in a dream they never imagined would come so quickly.

This improbable duo of first-year talents was thrust into the spotlight early in the 2025 season, and what they accomplished was nothing short of extraordinary. McNeal, who led the Spartans with 214 receiving yards and four touchdowns, and Wiley, who rapidly established herself as one of the league’s toughest defensive backs, each started eight games, an unprecedented contribution for rookies on a perennial dynasty.

But their journey to this championship moment was anything but ordinary.

Summer McNeal: From Sidelines to Stardom

For McNeal, playing tackle football was a lifelong dream cultivated by childhood afternoons watching her brothers play from the sidelines. "I always wanted what they had, football glory," she says, reflecting on those early memories.

Incredibly, McNeal only first touched a football competitively six months before trying out for the Spartans, playing in a recreational flag football league. Yet her natural skill was undeniable, and her ascent was meteoric.

"When the IX Cup ended, it was like everything I'd ever dreamed about became real," McNeal recalls. "The crowd, the lights, the stage, it was exactly how I'd pictured it since I was a kid."

Still, her rookie campaign wasn't without adversity. An injury during the championship game cost her valuable playing time and, she believes, even more touchdowns.

"I felt invincible at first," she admits. "But after getting hurt, I learned how important it is to care for my body, to prepare better. It made me realize there's always more I can do."

Her first professional season ended as the team's leading receiver, an incredible feat considering veterans like Maria Jackson missed multiple games due to injury, and longtime standout Amanda Heilman missed the entire regular season.

McNeal now envisions a bigger role, not just in statistics, but in leadership. "I want to help push the game forward. Becoming a leader that helps others find success on the field. I can do more, and that's exciting."

Grace Wiley: Betting on Herself, Locking Down Elite Talent

Wiley's road to Dallas was literal, a 30-hour drive from her hometown of Lake Oswego, Oregon, accompanied only by her pets. A former high school football player, Wiley had briefly entertained the idea of walking onto a men's college football team but chose academics, pursuing a criminal justice degree. Yet her heart remained in the game.

It was a 2019 visit to an Oregon Ravens practice (while she was still in high school) that opened Wiley's eyes to women’s professional football. The WNFC quickly became her post-college ambition.

"I came to peace that I didn't have an opportunity to play in college," Wiley explains. "But football never left my mind. Once I discovered the WNFC, I knew I wanted to structure my entire life around it."

She didn't hesitate. She packed up and drove halfway across the country to Dallas, joining the Spartans with no guarantee of making the team. The move was risky, even daunting.

"Driving 30 hours to a city where I knew nobody was scary," she says. "But I was determined to make my football dreams come true."

Her tenacity paid off instantly. Wiley earned a starting role, overcoming initial nerves—"I was nervous as hell for that first game"—to become one of the Spartans' most dependable defenders.

Wiley finished fourth on the team with 13 combined tackles (10 solo), recorded two tackles for loss, one interception, and notably led the Spartans with four pass deflections, underscoring her ability to neutralize opposing receivers. Routinely matched up against the league’s top offensive threats, Wiley quickly developed a reputation as a fearless competitor capable of shutting down big plays in critical moments.

When asked about the championship, her eyes widen with raw emotion: "The moment the clock hit zero at the IX Cup, it was shock. Pure shock. I've never won a championship in anything before. Standing there with Summer, realizing we did this, was one of the greatest moments of my life."

Sisterhood Forged Through Football

McNeal and Wiley's rapid rise as rookies was exceptional not only for the stats they produced but for the bond they created.

"Doing this alongside Summer, experiencing this together, meant everything," Wiley says. "We push each other, lift each other up, and honestly, we’re still just scratching the surface of how good we can be."McNeal echoes Wiley’s sentiments emphatically. "Trust is everything," she says. "I can call Grace anytime. We lean on each other constantly, and that makes us both better.

"The world hasn't even seen this team at our highest potential yet."

Their shared rookie season, marked by risk-taking and resilience, ended perfectly: holding the IX Cup trophy on June 21, two women who gambled on themselves and won big. For McNeal, her first-ever game with her brothers watching came on the league’s biggest stage. For Wiley, it validated every mile driven, every risk taken, every lonely night in an unfamiliar city.

A Championship Legacy Continues

Spartans head coach and management knew the 2025 campaign would test their depth, especially with critical injuries. Few, however, could have predicted how decisively two untested rookies would respond.

Together, McNeal and Wiley showed veteran composure. They displayed clutch performances that defied their inexperience.

In the end, they earned something even more valuable than a title: respect from teammates, admiration from fans, and confidence that their futures are just beginning. Reflecting on the year, McNeal said,

"This was a dream season. But we’re just getting started."

Wiley concurred, with champion’s fire now unmistakable in her voice. "Comfortable? Never. We just want to keep winning."

And after their unforgettable rookie season, who would dare doubt them?