Chicago Bliss

Chicago Bliss
Team logo
Established2004
Folded2019
Based inHoffman Estates, Illinois, United States
Home fieldSears Centre Arena
Head coachKeith Hac (2009–2018)
Sidney Lewis (2019)
LeagueLegends 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.

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

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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

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2009–10 schedule

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Date Opponent Location Result
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 Arena Won, 46–19
Eastern Conference Championship
February 4 Miami Caliente Seminole Hard Rock Live Arena Won, 20–7
Lingerie Bowl VII
February 6 Los Angeles Temptation Seminole Hard Rock Live Arena Lost, 14–27

2010–11 schedule

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

2011–12 schedule

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Date Opponent Location Result
September 2 Las Vegas Sin Toyota Park Lost, 20–32
October 7 Green Bay Chill Toyota Park Lost, 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

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

2014 schedule

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Date Opponent Location Result
May 9 Los Angeles Temptation Sears Centre Arena Won, 25–21
June 13 Seattle Mist Sears Centre Arena Tie, 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 Arena Won, 40–12
Legends Cup
September 1 Atlanta Steam Citizens Business Bank Arena Won, 24–18

2015 schedule

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Date Opponent Location Result
April 11 Atlanta Steam Arena at Gwinnett Center Won, 27–24
April 25 Omaha Heart Toyota Park Won, 49–0
May 10 Atlanta Steam Toyota Park Won, 29–13
June 13 Omaha Heart Ralston Arena Won, 40–0
August 8 Omaha Heart Ralston Arena Won, 26–0
Eastern Conference Championship
August 15 Atlanta Steam Toyota Park Won, 41–6
Legends Cup
August 23 Seattle Mist Away Lost, 21–27[7]

2016 schedule

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Date Opponent Location Result
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 Park Won, 66–0
August 6 Atlanta Steam Toyota Park Won, 39–32
Eastern Conference Championship
August 20 Atlanta Steam ShoWare Center Won, 30–25
Legends Cup
August 27 Seattle Mist WestWorld Won, 31–26[7]

2017 schedule

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

2018 schedule

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Date Opponent Location Result
April 14 Los Angeles Temptation Sears Centre Arena Won, 28–6
May 11 Los Angeles Temptation Citizens Business Bank Arena Won, 34–18
July 14 Atlanta Steam Infinite Energy Arena Won, 52–34
August 11 Omaha Heart Sears Centre Arena Won, 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

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Date Opponent Location Result
April 20 Los Angeles Temptation Sears Centre Arena Lost, 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 Arena Lost, 6–8

References

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  1. ^ a b "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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c "Schedule - Garden, Sport & Outdoor Tools". February 6, 2023.
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