That's when Catherine Masters (NWFA CEO & founder) held tryouts for the first women's football team in Pensacola.

The Power had less than 2 months to select a team, get in shape, order equipment and learn the fundamentals of the game.

The Power burst on the NWFA scene with a vengeance setting records for attendance ranging from a reported 2,500 to 5,000 fans per game.

While the Power lost the championship game to nerves and the overwhelming size and strength of the Philadelphia Liberty Belles, no one could have asked for a better start.

The Power defeated the Alabama Renegades 12–8 in the first round of the playoffs but fell to the eventual National Champion, the Detroit Danger by a score of 14–7.

With new management and solid financial controls the Power ended the year with zero debt and the ability to start the 2003 season with a small balance in the bank.

With Coach Mike Thomas leading the way, the Power saw some new competition, as their favorite rival the Alabama Renegades were shifted into a different division.

New playoff rules put into place made the scenario such that you must beat each opponent by more than 30 points to ultimately gain the home field advantage.

Although 8–0 and outscoring their opponents 398–57, the Power lost the home field advantage, was seeded #3 and had to travel for 2 out of 3 playoff games.

The game began slowly with both teams showing some strengths and weaknesses but the Power opened things up in the second half and defeated the Locomotion 35–20.

They traveled to Louisville, Kentucky to play the Detroit Demolition for the NWFA Championship but they were literally out of their league as they were overpowered by a painful 74–0 loss.

Despite capturing a 7–1 record and another Southeast Division Title, the Power were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Columbus Comets once again.

For the 2009 season, the Power moved to the Women's Football Alliance and changed their name to the Gulf Coast Riptide.

This is because of the WFA's new playoff system which did not allow for any wildcards from the American Conference and because of the Riptide's two losses to the Jacksonville Dixie Blues.