| Conference | National Conference |
|---|---|
| League | Arena Football League |
| Sport | Arena Football |
| Founded | 1992 (as the Western Division, as a member of the American Conference) |
| Most recent champion(s) | Arizona Rattlers (10th title) |
| Most titles | Arizona Rattlers (10 titles) |
The Western Division was one of four divisions that previously made up the Arena Football League. The Western Division was formed in 1992 when the AFL first split into three divisions. The League used only conferences in 1993 and 1994, but returned to division play in 1995. Because the number of active AFL teams has decreased greatly in recent years, the league no longer uses divisions.
Division lineups
1992[1]
Creation of the Western Division. Arizona, Sacramento, and San Antonio are enfranchised. San Antonio folded in 1993 as the AFL realigned into the American/National conference format, suspending the Western Division (for two years) as well. Also in the 1993 season, Sacramento Attack joined the National Conference as they move to Miami, Florida as the Hooters.
1995[2]
- Arizona Rattlers
- Las Vegas Sting
- San Jose SaberCats
The Western Division returned as an American Conference division. San Jose SaberCats enfranchised.
1996
- Anaheim Piranhas
- Arizona Rattlers
- Minnesota Fighting Pike
- San Jose SaberCats
Las Vegas moved to Anaheim as the Piranhas. Minnesota Fighting Pike enfranchised.
1997
- Anaheim Piranhas
- Arizona Rattlers
- San Jose SaberCats
Minnesota folded.
1998–1999
- Arizona Rattlers
- Portland Forest Dragons
- San Jose SaberCats
Anaheim folded. Portland moved in from the American Conference's Central Division.
2000
- Arizona Rattlers
- Los Angeles Avengers
- Oklahoma Wranglers
- San Jose SaberCats
Los Angeles Avengers enfranchised. Portland moved to Oklahoma City as Oklahoma Wranglers.
2001
- Arizona Rattlers
- Houston Thunderbears
- Los Angeles Avengers
- Oklahoma Wranglers
- San Jose SaberCats
Houston moved in from the Central Division.
2002
- Arizona Rattlers
- Dallas Desperados
- Los Angeles Avengers
- San Jose SaberCats
Dallas Desperados enfranchised. Houston and Oklahoma folded.
2003
- Arizona Rattlers
- Colorado Crush
- Los Angeles Avengers
- San Jose SaberCats
Colorado Crush enfranchised. Dallas moved to Central Division
2004–2005
- Arizona Rattlers
- Las Vegas Gladiators
- Los Angeles Avengers
- San Jose SaberCats
Colorado moved to Central Division. Las Vegas moved in from National Conference's Eastern Division.
2006–2007
- Arizona Rattlers
- Las Vegas Gladiators
- Los Angeles Avengers
- San Jose SaberCats
- Utah Blaze
Utah Blaze enfranchised.
2008
- Arizona Rattlers
- Los Angeles Avengers
- San Jose SaberCats
- Utah Blaze
Las Vegas moved to Cleveland, rejoining the Eastern Division. In 2009, the AFL was put on a one-year hiatus as Los Angeles Avengers folded, San Jose suspended, and Utah played for the AIFA's 2009 season.
2010
- Arizona Rattlers
- Spokane Shock
- Utah Blaze
The Western Division moved to the National Conference. Spokane moved in from the now-defunct AF2. Utah moved back from AIFA.
2011–2013
- Arizona Rattlers
- San Jose SaberCats
- Spokane Shock
- Utah Blaze
San Jose returned.
2014
- Arizona Rattlers
- Los Angeles Kiss
- San Antonio Talons
Los Angeles Kiss enfranchised, Utah folded, San Jose and Spokane moved to the Pacific Division.
2015
Las Vegas Outlaws enfranchised, San Antonio went dormant.
Divisions were discontinued after the 2015 season.
Division Champions
| Season | Team | Record | Playoff Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Division | |||
| 1992 | Dallas Texans | 5–5 | Won Quarterfinals (Firebirds) 48–45 Lost Semifinals (at Drive) 14–57 |
| American Conference | |||
| 1995 | San Jose SaberCats | 8–4 | Lost Quarterfinals (Predators) 37–55 |
| 1996 | Arizona Rattlers | 11–3 | Won Quarterfinals (Predators) 65–48 Lost Semifinals (at Storm) 54–55 |
| 1997 | Arizona Rattlers | 12–2 | Won Quarterfinals (Mustangs) 46–29 Won Semifinals (Storm) 49–46 (OT) Won ArenaBowl XI (Barnstormers) 55–33 |
| 1998 | Arizona Rattlers | 10–4 | Won Quarterfinals (Thunderbears) 50–36 Lost Semifinals (Predators) 33–38 |
| 1999 | Arizona Rattlers | 10–4 | Won Quarterfinals (Kats) 34–30 Lost Semifinals (at Firebirds) 47–73 |
| 2000 | San Jose SaberCats | 12–2 | Won Quarterfinals (Wranglers) 63–40 Lost Semifinals (Kats) 42–51 |
| 2001 | San Jose SaberCats | 10–4 | Won Quarterfinals (Rattlers) 68–49 Lost Semifinals (at Kats) 47–71 |
| 2002 | San Jose SaberCats | 13–1 | Won Quarterfinals (Storm) 55–48 Won Semifinals (Predators) 52–40 Won ArenaBowl XVI (Rattlers) 52–14 |
| 2003 | San Jose SaberCats | 12–4 | Won Quarterfinals (Force) 69–48 Lost Semifinals (Rattlers) 49–66 |
| 2004 | Arizona Rattlers | 11–5 | Won Quarterfinals (Avengers) 59–42 Won Semifinals (Crush) 45–41 Lost ArenaBowl XVIII (SaberCats) 62–69 |
| 2005 | Los Angeles Avengers | 10–6 | Lost AC Semifinals (Rush) 45–52 |
| 2006 | San Jose SaberCats | 10–6 | Won AC Divisional Playoffs (Rattlers) 62–48 Lost AC Championship (Rush) 56–59 |
| 2007 | San Jose SaberCats | 13–3 | Won AC Divisional Playoffs (Crush) 76–67 Won AC Championship (Rush) 61–49 Won ArenaBowl XXI (vs. Destroyers) 55–33 |
| 2008 | San Jose SaberCats | 11–5 | Won AC Divisional Playoffs (Crush) 64–51 Won AC Championship (Rampage) 81–55 Lost ArenaBowl XXII (vs. Soul) 56–59 |
| National Conference | |||
| 2010 | Spokane Shock | 13–3 | Won NC Semifinals (Rattlers) 57–49 Won NC Championship (Iron) 60–57 Won ArenaBowl XXIII (Storm) 69–57 |
| 2011 | Arizona Rattlers | 16–2 | Won NC Semifinals (Shock) 62–33 Won NC Championship (Rush) 54–48 Lost ArenaBowl XXIV (Sharks) 70–73 |
| 2012 | Arizona Rattlers | 13–5 | Won NC Semifinals (SaberCats) 51–48 Won NC Championship (Blaze) 75–69 Won ArenaBowl XXV (vs. Soul) 72–54 |
| 2013 | Arizona Rattlers | 15–3 | Won NC Semifinals (SaberCats) 59–49 Won NC Championship (Shock) 65–57 Won ArenaBowl XXVI (vs. Soul) 48–39 |
| 2014 | Arizona Rattlers | 15–3 | Won NC Semifinals (Shock) 55–28 Won NC Championship (SaberCats) 72–56 Won ArenaBowl XXVII (at Gladiators) 72–32 |
| 2015 | Arizona Rattlers | 14–4 | Won NC Semifinals (Shock) 72–41 Lost NC Championship (at SaberCats) 67–70 |
Wild Card qualifiers
| Season | Team | Record | Playoff Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Division | |||
| 1992 | Sacramento Attack | 4–6 | Lost Quarterfinals (at Drive) 23–48 |
| American Conference | |||
| 1995 | Arizona Rattlers | 7–5 | Lost Quarterfinals (Barnstormers) 52–56 |
| 1996 | Anaheim Piranhas | 9–5 | Lost Quarterfinals (at Storm) 16–30 |
| 1997 | San Jose SaberCats | 8–6 | Lost Quarterfinals (at Barnstormers) 59–68 |
| 1998 | San Jose SaberCats | 7–7 | Lost Quarterfinals (at Storm) 46–65 |
| 2000 | Arizona Rattlers | 12–2 | Won Wild Card Round (Destroyers) 41–34 Won Quarterfinals (at Firebirds) 53–50 Lost Semifinals (at Predators) 44–56 |
| Oklahoma Wranglers | 7–7 | Won Wild Card Round (at Sea Wolves) 52–38 Lost Quarterfinals (at SaberCats) 40–63 | |
| 2001 | Arizona Rattlers | 8–6 | Won Wild Card Round (Fury) 52–44 Lost Quarterfinals (at SaberCats) 49–68 |
| 2002 | Arizona Rattlers | 11–3 | Won Quarterfinals (Cobras) 61–59 Won Semifinals (Rush) 46–35 Lost ArenaBowl XVI (at SaberCats) 14–52 |
| Los Angeles Avengers | 8–6 | Lost Wild Card Round (Storm) 41–66 | |
| Dallas Desperados | 7–7 | Won Wild Card Round (Firebirds) 47–46 Lost Quarterfinals (at Rush) 47–60 | |
| 2003 | Los Angeles Avengers | 11–5 | Lost Quarterfinals (Rattlers) 63–70 |
| Arizona Rattlers | 10–6 | Won Wild Card Round (Gladiators) 69–26 Won Quarterfinals (at Avengers) 70–63 Won Semifinals (at SaberCats) 66–49 Lost ArenaBowl XVII (at Storm) 29–43 | |
| 2004 | San Jose SaberCats | 11–5 | Won Quarterfinals (Storm) 56–52 Won Semifinals (Rush) 49–35 Won ArenaBowl XVIII (at Rattlers) 69–62 |
| Los Angeles Avengers | 9–7 | Lost Quarterfinals (at Rattlers) 42–59 | |
| 2005 | San Jose SaberCats | 9–7 | Lost AC Semifinals (at Crush) 48–56 |
| 2006 | Arizona Rattlers | 8–8 | Won AC Wild Card Playoffs (Blaze) 57–34 Lost AC Divisional Playoffs (at SaberCats) 48–62 |
| Utah Blaze | 7–9 | Lost AC Wild Card Playoffs (at Rattlers) 34–57 | |
| 2007 | Los Angeles Avengers | 9–7 | Won AC Wild Card Playoffs (Blaze) 64–42 Lost AC Divisional Playoffs (at Rush) 20–52 |
| Utah Blaze | 8–8 | Lost AC Wild Card Playoffs (at Avengers) 42–64 | |
| 2008 | Arizona Rattlers | 8–8 | Lost AC Wild Card Playoffs (Rampage) 41–48 |
| Utah Blaze | 6–10 | Lost AC Wild Card Playoffs (Crush) 44–49 | |
| National Conference | |||
| 2010 | Arizona Rattlers | 10–6 | Lost NC Semifinals (at Shock) 49–57 |
| 2011 | Spokane Shock | 9–9 | Lost NC Semifinals (at Rattlers) 33–62 |
| 2012 | San Jose SaberCats | 12–6 | Lost NC Semifinals (at Rattlers) 48–51 |
| Utah Blaze | 12–6 | Won NC Semifinals (at Talons) 35–34 Lost NC Championship (at Rattlers) 69–75 | |
| 2013 | Spokane Shock | 14–4 | Won NC Semifinals (at Rush) 69–47 Lost NC Championship (at Rattlers) 57–65 |
| San Jose SaberCats | 13–5 | Lost NC Semifinals (at Rattlers) 49–59 | |
References
- ↑ "1992 Season - Pro Football Archives". www.profootballarchives.com. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
- ↑ "1995 Season - Pro Football Archives". www.profootballarchives.com. Retrieved 2022-10-17.