Allison Lodish, 36, of Kentfield, Calif., and two sympathizers created the site as an outlet for people to ridicule, mourn and lament the loss of their partners who spend an inordinate amount of time online consuming player data, drafting and managing their teams, scouring stats, scores, and injury reports and trash-talking with friends and players in their leagues.             

There is much data confirming that Lodish is just one of many who have been “widowed” by fantasy sports.  According to the Fantasy Sports Trade Association, fantasy sports is a $3-4 billion a-year industry with more than 18 million adults in the U.S. participating – fantasy football leads in popularity, followed by baseball.  According to a 2007 study, more than two million teenagers in the U.S. and Canada are active fantasy sports participants, indicating there are plenty of budding consumers to stimulate continued industry growth.           

In fact WAFS co-founder Azar McMaster, 32, of Salt Lake City, Utah, contributed to the revolution with his admitted addiction to fantasy football, participating in 10 fantasy football leagues in one season alone.  While he fondly remembers winning three of those leagues, he recognized the impact his obsession was having on his family.  “That year I hit rock bottom.  I wasted too much time on fantasy sports – we fantasy sports fanatics definitely take it too seriously,” says McMaster.  “I realized there are enough of us fantasy dorks out there playing in several leagues, and there is a need for an online gathering place for our significant others to share stories and buy cool stuff that pokes fun at our addiction.”            

“It was about four years ago when my husband started to play fantasy football,” says Lodish.  “Had I known where this would lead, I may not have been so eager for him to take up this “hobby”.”           

Is Lodish like the Peanuts’ Lucy swiping away the pigskin from Charlie Brown as he approaches to kick the proverbial fantasy football?            

“No way.  WAFS isn’t here to spoil anyone’s fun – we’re just making our own entertainment and supporting one another,” says Lodish.  “The website is a humorous retaliation for the millions out there who have “lost” their significant others to the world of fantasy sports.  It’s a forum for anyone who feels the need to address their partner’s fantasy sports compulsion,” says Lodish.             

McMaster underscores that WAFS is gender-neutral, despite the name of the site.  “Even though most people playing fantasy sports are men, WAFS does not cater exclusively to women,” says McMaster.  “We welcome all comers of the fantasy-possessed.  Addiction favors no gender.”  Studies indicate that about 15 percent of fantasy sports participants are women.           

Rounding out the team is WAFS Co-founder Nichole Jordan, 33, of Hercules, Calif., who identifies with neither Lodish nor McMaster. “I thought it was an innovative and hilarious idea. It’s also turned into a pseudo-dating service for me. I’ve already received a couple of e-mails from interested guys.”  

So how did such an eclectic trio come together, you ask? Lodish’s idea was presented to McMaster and Jordan as a potential class assignment in the Wharton Executive MBA Program. McMaster and Jordan were Entrepreneurial Marketing students taking a class by Lodish’s father-in-law.  After the two earned their MBAs, they partnered with Lodish to form WAFS.