America’s Got New Sweethearts
If you, like me, have spent the last few weekends trying to master the “Thunderstruck” choreography in your bedroom (which includes 22 kicks during its kickline, yes, I counted) and can’t stop chanting “thun-duh” under your breath, you’ll be pleased to know that Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader director Kelli Finglass has finally put everyone out of their misery and announced the 2023-2024 team. Since its founding in the ‘60s, the oft-imitated team of dancers has been an integral part of the NFL’s Americana iconography. But ever since the June premiere of Netflix’s America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders docuseries, the team has acquired more than a few new fans, racking up over 1 million followers on Instagram alone and spawning tear-jerker fan edits on TikTok. With that, let’s find out who of this year’s hopefuls will be gracing the field of AT&T Stadium next year, and who got the boot.
On Monday, the organization announced this year’s squad with a carousel of images on Instagram, revealing the 12 rookies and 24 veterans that survived the grueling annual training camp and scored spots on the 36-person roster. You can thank your lucky DCC stars (or Jesus, if that’s your thing) that fan-favorite Reece Weaver is back for her second season on the team, which hopefully means we’ll get to see a lot more of her golden retriever husband Will, too. Both cut from the 2023 training camp as showcased in the Netflix doc, Kelly Villares and Charly Barby are now anointed rookies, and star veterans like Kleine Powell, KayDianna MacKenzie, Armani Latimer, and Jada Mclean are all back for another go at Texan euphoria under the Sunday night lights. Meanwhile, Victoria Kalina — whose complicated relationship with Finglass, her teammates, and her mother earned her plenty of screen time and sympathy with Netflix viewers — will not be returning to the team, opting instead for a stab at the New York dance scene. Good for her!
I’m not going to list out all the ways in which Finglass and the institution have been historically problematic as hell (strict weight requirements and systemic whiteness, for starters). But the team is made up of multi-faceted athletes who, in some cases, have dedicated their entire lives to making this squad. So let’s cheer on the cheerleaders for once, and chant for fair wages while we’re at it! And a union! Is that so much to ask?
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