Chicago Bliss

Last updated

Chicago Bliss
ChicagoBliss.PNG
Established2004
Folded2019
Based in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, United States
Home field Sears Centre Arena
Head coachKeith Hac (2009–2018)
Sidney Lewis (2019)
League Legends Football League
DivisionEastern Conference
ColorsOrange and blue
  
Legends Cup wins2013, 2014, 2016, 2018
Division titlesEastern Conference Champions: (4) 2009, 2015, 2016, 2018
Western Conference Champions (2) 2013, 2014

The Chicago Bliss were a women's American football team based in the Chicago area. The Bliss were one of the first four teams to participate in the Lingerie Bowl and were carried over to the formation of the Lingerie Football League (LFL) in 2009. After the formation of the league, the Bliss played at multiple indoor and outdoor venues. In 2013, the league rebranded as the Legends Football League. The Bliss were the LFL team with the most wins and the most championship titles. At the conclusion of the 2019 season, the Bliss had a league-best 40–14–1 all-time record and four Legends Cup wins.

Contents

Following the 2019 season, the LFL ceased operations and relaunched as the Extreme Football League (X League), [1] which first played in 2022. All former LFL teams received new brands and the Bliss were replaced by the Chicago Blitz. [1]

History

The Chicago Bliss is one of four teams that were introduced in 2004 for the inaugural Lingerie Bowl along with the Dallas Desire, Los Angeles Temptation, and New York Euphoria. [2] The Bliss were defeated by New York Euphoria in the 2005 Eastern Final (where one of the Semi-Finals included a Skill Test, a 3-on-2 match, and a dance competition) at Lingerie Bowl II and then were defeated again by New York in the 2006 Eastern Final at Lingerie Bowl III. Lingerie Bowls IV, V, and VI were then all cancelled for various reasons.

In 2009, the Lingerie Football League (LFL) was launched with multiple games in a season instead of just an annual event. On September 4, 2009, the Chicago Bliss defeated the Miami Caliente 29–19 in the first ever game of the LFL at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. [3] In 2009 the coaching staff consisted of Bliss Head Coach Keith Hac, coach of the Indoor Football League's Chicago Slaughter.; [4] Offensive Coordinator Rasche Hill, a former member of the National Football League Jacksonville Jaguars and the Chicago Slaughter; and Defensive Coordinator DeJuan Alfonzo, a former member of the Chicago Rush and Chicago Slaughter. The Bliss defeated the Miami Caliente 20–7 to win the Eastern Conference title [3] [5] but fell 27–14 to the Los Angeles Temptation in Lingerie Bowl VII. Professional wrestler Danielle Moinet also played with Chicago Bliss from 2008 through 2011, where she was cornerback and team captain. [6]

Keith Hac coached Chicago for nine seasons with a 29–6–1 regular season record. Under Hac, Chicago qualified for the playoffs eight times, reached the Legends Cup six times (2009, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2018), and won the championship four times (2013, 2014, 2016, and 2018). His overall record was 40–10–1 making him the winningest coach in the league's history and the only coach (as of 2022) to win 40 games.

Sidney Lewis became head coach in 2019 and in two seasons has gone 2–4 in the regular season, qualifying for the playoffs in 2022.

In 2013, the Lingerie Football league was rebranded as the Legends Football League and shifted to a summer and fall season schedule. On September 1, 2013, the Bliss then won their first championship, now called the Legends Cup, over the Philadelphia Passion. They would repeat as champions the next year, appear in four consecutive championships including a third title, and win a fourth title in 2018. The Bliss had since used both Sears Centre Arena and Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois, in various seasons as their home venue.

Seasons

2009–10 schedule

DateOpponentLocationResult
September 4 Miami Caliente Sears Centre Arena Won, 29–19
October 2 New York Majesty Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum No contest
December 4 Tampa Breeze St. Pete Times Forum Won, 27–18
December 18 Philadelphia Passion Sears Centre ArenaWon, 46–19
Eastern Conference Championship
February 4Miami Caliente Seminole Hard Rock Live Arena Won, 20–7
Lingerie Bowl VII
February 6 Los Angeles Temptation Seminole Hard Rock Live ArenaLost, 14–27

2010–11 schedule

DateOpponentLocationResult
September 10 Dallas Desire Sears Centre ArenaWon, 14–10
October 2 Seattle Mist ShoWare Center Won, 41–12
November 14 San Diego Seduction Sears Centre ArenaWon, 50–12
December 18 Los Angeles Temptation Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Lost, 12–18
Western Conference Championship
January 29Los Angeles Temptation Veterans Memorial Arena Lost, 14–31

2011–12 schedule

DateOpponentLocationResult
September 2 Las Vegas Sin Toyota Park Lost, 20–32
October 7 Green Bay Chill Toyota ParkLost, 34–36
November 19 Minnesota Valkyrie Target Center Won, 40–33
January 20 Los Angeles Temptation Citizens Business Bank Arena Lost, 26–42

2013 schedule

DateOpponentLocationResult
April 19 Los Angeles Temptation Sears Centre ArenaLost, 18–31
May 10 Las Vegas Sin Sears Centre ArenaWon, 34–12
July 26 Minnesota Valkyrie Target CenterWon, 25–12
August 10 Green Bay Chill Resch Center Won, 27–18
Divisional Playoffs
August 17Los Angeles TemptationSears Centre ArenaWon, 19–12
Conference Championship
August 24 Seattle Mist Citizens Business Bank ArenaWon, 31–14
Legends Cup
September 1 Philadelphia Passion Orleans Arena Won, 38–14

2014 schedule

DateOpponentLocationResult
May 9 Los Angeles Temptation Sears Centre ArenaWon, 25–21
June 13 Seattle Mist Sears Centre ArenaTie, 34–34
July 3 Las Vegas Sin Thomas & Mack Center Won, 27–18
July 12 Green Bay Chill US Cellular Arena Won, 32–7
Western Conference Championship
August 24 Los Angeles Temptation Citizens Business Bank ArenaWon, 40–12
Legends Cup
September 1 Atlanta Steam Citizens Business Bank ArenaWon, 24–18

2015 schedule

DateOpponentLocationResult
April 11 Atlanta Steam Arena at Gwinnett Center Won, 27–24
April 25 Omaha Heart Toyota Park Won, 49–0
May 10Atlanta SteamToyota ParkWon, 29–13
June 13Omaha Heart Ralston Arena Won, 40–0
August 8Omaha HeartRalston ArenaWon, 26–0
Eastern Conference Championship
August 15Atlanta SteamToyota ParkWon, 41–6
Legends Cup
August 23 Seattle Mist AwayLost, 21–27 [7]

2016 schedule

DateOpponentLocationResult
May 14 Seattle Mist ShoWare Center Lost, 28–40
June 25 New England Liberty Verizon Wireless Arena Won, 70–7
July 2 Omaha Heart Toyota ParkWon, 66–0
August 6 Atlanta Steam Toyota ParkWon, 39–32
Eastern Conference Championship
August 20Atlanta SteamShoWare CenterWon, 30–25
Legends Cup
August 27 Seattle Mist WestWorld Won, 31–26 [7]

2017 schedule

DateOpponentLocationResult
April 29 Denver Dream Budweiser Events Center Won, 93–6
June 3 Atlanta Steam Toyota ParkWon, 34–27
July 22 Omaha Heart Ralston Arena Won, 60–0
July 29 Denver Dream Toyota ParkWon, 66–0
Eastern Conference Championship
August 20Atlanta Steam Sears Centre Arena Lost, 6–14

2018 schedule

DateOpponentLocationResult
April 14 Los Angeles Temptation Sears Centre ArenaWon, 28–6
May 11Los Angeles TemptationCitizens Business Bank ArenaWon, 34–18
July 14 Atlanta Steam Infinite Energy Arena Won, 52–34
August 11 Omaha Heart Sears Centre ArenaWon, 76–0
Eastern Conference Championship
August 25 Nashville Knights Toyota Park Won, 18–6
Legends Cup
September 8 Austin Acoustic H-E-B Center Won, 28–20 [7]

2019 schedule

DateOpponentLocationResult
April 20 Los Angeles Temptation Sears Centre ArenaLost, 8–30
May 4 Austin Acoustic H-E-B Center Lost, 8–38
June 15 Atlanta Steam Infinite Energy Arena Lost, 25–30
July 20 Nashville Knights Sears Centre ArenaLost, 6–8

Related Research Articles

The Legends Cup, originally known as the Lingerie Bowl, was the championship game of the LFL—originally the Lingerie Football League and later the Legends Football League—which operated from 2009 to 2019. It was a game of full-contact American football with female athletes playing seven-on-seven tackle football. The players in the game wore helmets, shoulder pads, elbow pads, knee pads, bras and underwear. The LFL ceased operation following its 2019 season, then was restructured as the Extreme Football League, which began play in 2022. The X League's championship game is branded as the "X Cup".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York Euphoria</span>

The New York Euphoria was a women's American football team that participated in the Lingerie Bowl, an alternative Super Bowl halftime event originally consisting of two teams of models and actresses wearing lingerie and minimal protective football gear. The team was established as Team Euphoria, one of two teams that participated in the inaugural Lingerie Bowl broadcast during Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004. Team Euphoria was captained by Angie Everhart and were shutout the Nikki Ziering-captained Team Dream with a single touchdown scored, losing the inaugural event 6–0.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">X League (women's football)</span> American womens tackle football league

The Extreme Football League is a women's semi-professional indoor American football league operating in the United States. The league was originally founded in 2009 as the Lingerie Football League (LFL), and later rebranded as the Legends Football League in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Los Angeles Temptation</span> American womens gridiron football team

The Los Angeles Temptation were a women's American football team in the Legends Football League (LFL) based in Los Angeles and Ontario, California. The team was established as Team Dream, one of two teams that participated in the inaugural Lingerie Bowl broadcast during Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004. The team won the first two Lingerie Bowls, and went on to win three more, their final one in 2012. The league, originally known as the Lingerie Football League, rebranded in 2013 and shifted away from Super Bowl halftime shows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dallas Desire</span> Professional womens American football team

The Dallas Desire was a professional women's American football team located in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. While active, they were one of five teams of the Lingerie Football League's Western Division. The Desire was one of two new teams added in 2004, along with the Chicago Bliss, before the second Lingerie Bowl in 2005. Before the 2011–2012 season, the team was suspended and brought back for the 2016 season.

The Nashville Knights were a women's American football team of the Legends Football League (LFL) based in Nashville, Tennessee. The team played its home games at Nashville Municipal Auditorium in downtown Nashville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Las Vegas Sin</span> Folded lingerie football team

The Las Vegas Sin was a team in the Legends Football League, primarily based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Sin was originally announced in 2006 as one of four expansion teams to be included in the 2008 Lingerie Bowl along with the Atlanta Steam, Miami Caliente and San Francisco Seduction. The 2008 event was cancelled and the organization then launched the Lingerie Football League (LFL) in 2009. When the league began play in the 2009–10 season, the Sin were not included as one of the ten inaugural franchises.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miami Caliente</span>

The Miami Caliente was a women's American football team in the Lingerie Football League based in the Miami area. They were part of the Lingerie Bowl's expansion into a full-fledged league in 2009 with home games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida. Head coach Bob Hewko was a quarterback for the University of Florida and a back-up quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seattle Mist</span> Womens American football team

The Seattle Mist were a team in the Legends Football League that were founded as part of the Lingerie Bowl's expansion into a full-fledged league in 2009. They played their home games at the ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington. The league, originally named the Lingerie Football League, rebranded in 2013 and shifted away from Super Bowl halftime shows. The Mist won three championships, known as the Legends Cup.

The 2009–10 LFL Season was the inaugural season of the Lingerie Football League. The league was formed from a concept called the Lingerie Bowl, that was featured during half-time of the Super Bowl. The season featured 10 teams in cities across the United States. The season kicked off on September 4, 2009, and culminated with Lingerie Bowl VII on February 7, 2010. The championship game, scheduled to coincide with Super Bowl XLIV, was held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. The Western Conference Los Angeles Temptation defeated the Eastern Conference Chicago Bliss by the score of 27–14.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denver Dream (football)</span> Womens American football team

The Denver Dream were a women's American football team that played in the Legends Football League (LFL), with home games at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, Colorado. The team first competed during the league's 2009–10 season, were inactive from 2011 through 2016, the played during the 2017 through 2019 seasons. During the 2009–10 season, the league was known as the Lingerie Football League and the team was based in Commerce City, Colorado.

The Philadelphia Passion was a women's American football team that played in the Legends Football League and were based in the Delaware Valley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York Majesty</span>

The New York Majesty was a women's American football team based in Reading, Pennsylvania, that played for only the 2009–10 season as a member of the Eastern Conference of the Lingerie Football League (LFL). The team was the successor to the New York Euphoria.

The 2010–11 LFL Season was the second season of the Lingerie Football League. The league featured 10 teams in various cities across the United States. For the 2010–11 season, the league launched two expansion franchises in the Orlando Fantasy and Baltimore Charm, while the Denver Dream and New York Majesty suspended operations because of issues with home venues.

The 2011-12 LFL Season was the third season of the Lingerie Football League. The league features 12 teams in various cities across the United States and Canada. For the 2011–2012 season the League granted five new franchises: Cleveland Crush, Green Bay Chill, Las Vegas Sin, Minnesota Valkyrie and Toronto Triumph. Dallas Desire has suspended operations for the 2011-2012 season with a planned return in 2012-2013. The stated reasons were financial and issues with the commitment of players on and off the field. The statuses of the Miami Caliente and San Diego Seduction are unknown; they are no longer included on the LFL's list of teams and are not included in the 2011-2012 schedule, but no suspension of operations has been publicly indicated. The Denver Dream and New York Majesty/Euphoria remain shuttered.

The 2013 LFL US Season was the fourth season of LFL United States, the first in the rebranded Legends Football League, and the fifth in the combined history of that league and its predecessor, the Lingerie Football League. The season featured 12 teams in various cities across the United States. In 2012, the league decided to move to a spring and summer schedule, beginning in March, 2013. For the 2013 season the league granted two new franchises: Omaha Heart and Atlanta Steam. The Toronto Triumph was, as scheduled, realigned into the league's Canadian division, LFL Canada, for the 2012 season. The Orlando Fantasy officially suspended operations, while the Tampa Breeze relocated to Jacksonville, Florida to become the Jacksonville Breeze.

The 2014 LFL US Season was the fifth season of LFL United States, the second in the rebranded Legends Football League, and the seventh in the combined history of that league and its predecessor, the Lingerie Football League. The season featured 10 teams in various cities across the United States.

The 2015 LFL Season was the sixth season of LFL United States, the third in the rebranded Legends Football League, and the eighth in the combined history of that league and its predecessor, the Lingerie Football League. The season featured six teams in various cities across the United States.

The 2018 LFL US Season is the ninth season of the Legends Football League (LFL) in the United States. It began on 14 April 2018, and ended on 11 August.

The 2019 LFL US season was the 10th and final season of the Legends Football League (LFL) in the United States. It began April 5 and concluded on August 10.

References

  1. 1 2 "A NEW ERA IN WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT, THE X LEAGUE". extfl.com (Press release). December 17, 2019. Archived from the original on January 14, 2020 – via Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ "Lingerie Bowls from Past Years". NBC Los Angeles. February 20, 2009.
  3. 1 2 Mooney, Michael J. (February 5, 2010). "Miami Caliente Eliminated From The Lingerie Football League Playoffs". Broward-Palm Beach New Times. Archived from the original on February 27, 2010. Retrieved February 23, 2010.
  4. ↑ Hamnik, Al (February 2, 2010). "Wiping that LFL smirk off smug faces". The Northwest Indiana Times. Retrieved February 23, 2010.
  5. ↑ Harris, Elliott (February 5, 2010). "Bliss reaches Lingerie Bowl". Chicago Sun-Times . Archived from the original on February 15, 2010. Retrieved February 23, 2010.
  6. ↑ Perlas, Eddie (February 8, 2010). "Chicago Bliss Fall in Lingerie Bowl". NBC Chicago. Retrieved February 23, 2010.
  7. 1 2 3 "Schedule - Garden, Sport & Outdoor Tools". February 6, 2023.