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 Arizona Rattlers Dallas Texans Sacramento Attack San Antonio Force 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 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 Arizona Rattlers Los Angeles Kiss Las Vegas Outlaws Las Vegas Outlaws enfranchised, San Antonio went dormant.
Divisions were discontinued after the 2015 season.
Division Champions Season Team Record Playoff ResultsWestern 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) 46–29Won Semifinals (Storm) 49–46 (OT)Won ArenaBowl XI (Barnstormers) 55–33 1998 Arizona Rattlers 10–4 Won Quarterfinals (Thunderbears) 50–36Lost 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) 63–40Lost Semifinals (Kats) 42–51 2001 San Jose SaberCats 10–4 Won Quarterfinals (Rattlers) 68–49Lost Semifinals (at Kats) 47–71 2002 San Jose SaberCats 13–1 Won Quarterfinals (Storm) 55–48Won Semifinals (Predators) 52–40Won ArenaBowl XVI (Rattlers) 52–14 2003 San Jose SaberCats 12–4 Won Quarterfinals (Force) 69–48Lost Semifinals (Rattlers) 49–66 2004 Arizona Rattlers 11–5 Won Quarterfinals (Avengers) 59–42Won Semifinals (Crush) 45–41Lost 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) 62–48Lost AC Championship (Rush) 56–59 2007 San Jose SaberCats 13–3 Won AC Divisional Playoffs (Crush) 76–67Won AC Championship (Rush) 61–49Won ArenaBowl XXI (vs. Destroyers) 55–33 2008 San Jose SaberCats 11–5 Won AC Divisional Playoffs (Crush) 64–51Won AC Championship (Rampage) 81–55Lost ArenaBowl XXII (vs. Soul) 56–59 National Conference 2010 Spokane Shock 13–3 Won NC Semifinals (Rattlers) 57–49Won NC Championship (Iron) 60–57Won ArenaBowl XXIII (Storm) 69–57 2011 Arizona Rattlers 16–2 Won NC Semifinals (Shock) 62–33Won NC Championship (Rush) 54–48Lost ArenaBowl XXIV (Sharks) 70–73 2012 Arizona Rattlers 13–5 Won NC Semifinals (SaberCats) 51–48Won NC Championship (Blaze) 75–69Won ArenaBowl XXV (vs. Soul) 72–54 2013 Arizona Rattlers 15–3 Won NC Semifinals (SaberCats) 59–49Won NC Championship (Shock) 65–57Won ArenaBowl XXVI (vs. Soul) 48–39 2014 Arizona Rattlers 15–3 Won NC Semifinals (Shock) 55–28Won NC Championship (SaberCats) 72–56Won ArenaBowl XXVII (at Gladiators) 72–32 2015 Arizona Rattlers 14–4 Won NC Semifinals (Shock) 72–41Lost NC Championship (at SaberCats) 67–70
Wild Card qualifiers Season Team Record Playoff ResultsWestern 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) 46–652000 Arizona Rattlers 12–2 Won Wild Card Round (Destroyers) 41–34Won Quarterfinals (at Firebirds) 53–50Lost Semifinals (at Predators) 44–56 Oklahoma Wranglers 7–7 Won Wild Card Round (at Sea Wolves) 52–38Lost Quarterfinals (at SaberCats) 40–63 2001 Arizona Rattlers 8–6 Won Wild Card Round (Fury) 52–44Lost Quarterfinals (at SaberCats) 49–682002 Arizona Rattlers 11–3 Won Quarterfinals (Cobras) 61–59Won Semifinals (Rush) 46–35Lost 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) 47–46Lost Quarterfinals (at Rush) 47–602003 Los Angeles Avengers 11–5 Lost Quarterfinals (Rattlers) 63–70 Arizona Rattlers 10–6 Won Wild Card Round (Gladiators) 69–26Won Quarterfinals (at Avengers) 70–63Won Semifinals (at SaberCats) 66–49Lost ArenaBowl XVII (at Storm) 29–432004 San Jose SaberCats 11–5 Won Quarterfinals (Storm) 56–52Won Semifinals (Rush) 49–35Won 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) 48–562006 Arizona Rattlers 8–8 Won AC Wild Card Playoffs (Blaze) 57–34Lost AC Divisional Playoffs (at SaberCats) 48–62 Utah Blaze 7–9 Lost AC Wild Card Playoffs (at Rattlers) 34–572007 Los Angeles Avengers 9–7 Won AC Wild Card Playoffs (Blaze) 64–42Lost AC Divisional Playoffs (at Rush) 20–52 Utah Blaze 8–8 Lost AC Wild Card Playoffs (at Avengers) 42–642008 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) 33–622012 San Jose SaberCats 12–6 Lost NC Semifinals (at Rattlers) 48–51 Utah Blaze 12–6 Won NC Semifinals (at Talons) 35–34Lost NC Championship (at Rattlers) 69–752013 Spokane Shock 14–4 Won NC Semifinals (at Rush) 69–47Lost NC Championship (at Rattlers) 57–65 San Jose SaberCats 13–5 Lost NC Semifinals (at Rattlers) 49–59
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