WNFC’s Pick IX Rule Is Making QBs Better: A Look at Offensive Efficiency Since the Shift

WNFC
5 hours ago
3 min read

When the Women’s National Football Conference (WNFC) introduced the Pick IX rule in 2024, awarding nine points for defensive touchdowns it was a bold, defense-focused innovation. But two seasons into the experiment, it’s had an unexpected and fascinating side effect: quarterbacks are playing better, more efficient football.

A Rule Meant for Defense… Benefiting Offense?

The goal of the Pick IX was to elevate the game-changing power of defensive scoring. What it’s also done is raise the stakes of turnovers so high that quarterbacks and offensive coordinators have had no choice but to adapt. The risk of giving up nine points on a single mistake has created a league-wide cultural shift toward efficiency, decision-making, and situational awareness.

And the numbers back it up.

Offensive scoring in 2024 dipped compared to pre-Pick IX years, and defensive scoring, thanks to the nine-point swing became a major contributor in close games. But in 2025, we’re seeing something even more intriguing: scoring is rising again, but not just from offenses. It’s now a blend of explosive offenses and opportunistic defenses.

QB Efficiency is Up in 2025

Let’s compare 2025 to previous seasons, particularly pre-Pick IX (2023 and earlier) and the first year of the rule (2024). Here are the key takeaways:

2025 Is the Most Efficient Passing Year Since 2019

Michelle Angel (Elite Spartans) leads the league with 13 TDs and a 100.3 passer rating, completing nearly 59% of her passes. She’s on pace to break the single-season TD record for the modern era, despite the increased pressure defenses now bring.
Sarah Teubner (Winds) boasts a 107.0 rating, the highest in the league among starting QBs with more than 40 attempts.
Ashley Clark (Prodigy) has 0 interceptions through 6 weeks, in a league where a turnover could cost you nine points.

Compare that to the previous years:

Season	Top Rating (Min. 50 attempts)	Average TD/INT Ratio (Top 5 QBs)	Avg. Completion % (Top 5 QBs)
2021	120.1 (Bushman)	2.6:1	52.1%
2022	116.0 (Bushman)	2.8:1	49.5%
2023	114.0 (Bushman)	2.1:1	47.3%
2024	68.2 (Trainor)	1.3:1	39.2%
2025	107.0 (Teubner)	3.5:1 (Teubner, Angel, Clark, etc.)	52.6%

Interceptions Are Way Down

The Pick IX rule has made QBs more selective, smarter, and more protective of the football.

In 2023:

Top 5 passers threw 30 combined interceptions.

In 2025 (through Week 6):

Top 5 passers have thrown only 10 combined interceptions.

Top Quarterbacks Melyse Brown (Panthers) and Nashi Catron (Glory) are showing improved ratios in 2025, helping their squads stay in tight games by not giving up that deadly Pick IX score.

The Evolution of QB Play

What we’re witnessing is the evolution of quarterbacking in the WNFC:

Faster reads: With more blitz-heavy defenses and turnover pressure, QBs are getting the ball out quicker.
Smarter decisions: Checkdowns, throwaways, and scramble awareness have improved noticeably in game film.
Ball placement: Completion percentages are up in part because QBs are throwing more accurate passes.

This isn't just helping individual stat lines. It’s creating closer games, reducing blowouts, and making WNFC football even more competitive.

The Bottom Line: Pressure Creates Precision

The Pick IX rule has been a success in more ways than one. Yes, it has made defense a headline-grabber, but in doing so, it has forced the offensive side of the ball to level up.

Quarterbacks are more efficient, TD-to-INT ratios are climbing, and coaches are scheming more intelligently. In other words: WNFC football is better across the board.

And while the Pick IX may reward the defense, it’s challenged the quarterback position, arguably the hardest position in sports to rise to a new standard.

So far in 2025? Challenge accepted. Watch all games live tonight starting at 6pm ET on Victory+