Chicago Bliss

The Chicago Bliss were a women's American football team based in the Chicago area. The Bliss were one for 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 of the conclusion of the 2019 season, the Bliss had a league-best 40–14–1 all-time record and four Legends Cup wins.

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

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 4Miami CalienteSears Centre ArenaWon, 29–19
October 2New York MajestyNassau Veterans Memorial ColiseumNo contest
December 4Tampa BreezeSt. Pete Times ForumWon, 27–18
December 18Philadelphia PassionSears Centre ArenaWon, 46–19
Eastern Conference Championship
February 4Miami CalienteSeminole Hard Rock Live ArenaWon, 20–7
Lingerie Bowl VII
February 6Los Angeles TemptationSeminole Hard Rock Live ArenaLost, 14–27

2010–11 schedule
DateOpponentLocationResult
September 10Dallas DesireSears Centre ArenaWon, 14–10
October 2Seattle MistShoWare CenterWon, 41–12
November 14San Diego SeductionSears Centre ArenaWon, 50–12
December 18Los Angeles TemptationLos Angeles Memorial ColiseumLost, 12–18
Western Conference Championship
January 29Los Angeles TemptationVeterans Memorial ArenaLost, 14–31

2011–12 schedule
DateOpponentLocationResult
September 2Las Vegas SinToyota ParkLost, 20–32
October 7Green Bay ChillToyota ParkLost, 34–36
November 19Minnesota ValkyrieTarget CenterWon, 40–33
January 20Los Angeles TemptationCitizens Business Bank ArenaLost, 26–42

2013 schedule
DateOpponentLocationResult
April 19Los Angeles TemptationSears Centre ArenaLost, 18–31
May 10Las Vegas SinSears Centre ArenaWon, 34–12
July 26Minnesota ValkyrieTarget CenterWon, 25–12
August 10Green Bay ChillResch CenterWon, 27–18
Divisional Playoffs
August 17Los Angeles TemptationSears Centre ArenaWon, 19–12
Conference Championship
August 24Seattle MistCitizens Business Bank ArenaWon, 31–14
Legends Cup
September 1Philadelphia PassionOrleans ArenaWon, 38–14

2014 schedule
DateOpponentLocationResult
May 9Los Angeles TemptationSears Centre ArenaWon, 25–21
June 13Seattle MistSears Centre ArenaTie, 34–34
July 3Las Vegas SinThomas & Mack CenterWon, 27–18
July 12Green Bay ChillUS Cellular ArenaWon, 32–7
Western Conference Championship
August 24Los Angeles TemptationCitizens Business Bank ArenaWon, 40–12
Legends Cup
September 1Atlanta SteamCitizens Business Bank ArenaWon, 24–18

2015 schedule
DateOpponentLocationResult
April 11Atlanta SteamArena at Gwinnett CenterWon, 27–24
April 25Omaha HeartToyota ParkWon, 49–0
May 10Atlanta SteamToyota ParkWon, 29–13
June 13Omaha HeartRalston ArenaWon, 40–0
August 8Omaha HeartRalston ArenaWon, 26–0
Eastern Conference Championship
August 15Atlanta SteamToyota ParkWon, 41–6
Legends Cup
August 23Seattle MistAwayLost, 21–27[7]

2016 schedule
DateOpponentLocationResult
May 14Seattle MistShoWare CenterLost, 28–40
June 25New England LibertyVerizon Wireless ArenaWon, 70–7
July 2Omaha HeartToyota ParkWon, 66–0
August 6Atlanta SteamToyota ParkWon, 39–32
Eastern Conference Championship
August 20Atlanta SteamShoWare CenterWon, 30–25
Legends Cup
August 27Seattle MistWestWorldWon, 31–26[7]

2017 schedule
DateOpponentLocationResult
April 29Denver DreamBudweiser Events CenterWon, 93–6
June 3Atlanta SteamToyota ParkWon, 34–27
July 22Omaha HeartRalston ArenaWon, 60–0
July 29Denver DreamToyota ParkWon, 66–0
Eastern Conference Championship
August 20Atlanta SteamSears Centre ArenaLost, 6–14

2018 schedule
DateOpponentLocationResult
April 14Los Angeles TemptationSears Centre ArenaWon, 28–6
May 11Los Angeles TemptationCitizens Business Bank ArenaWon, 34–18
July 14Atlanta SteamInfinite Energy ArenaWon, 52–34
August 11Omaha HeartSears Centre ArenaWon, 76–0
Eastern Conference Championship
August 25Nashville KnightsToyota ParkWon, 18–6
Legends Cup
September 8Austin AcousticH-E-B CenterWon, 28–20[7]

2019 schedule
DateOpponentLocationResult
April 20Los Angeles TemptationSears Centre ArenaLost, 8–30
May 4Austin AcousticH-E-B CenterLost, 8–38
June 15Atlanta SteamInfinite Energy ArenaLost, 25–30
July 20Nashville KnightsSears Centre ArenaLost, 6–8

References
  1. "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. 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. "Schedule - Garden, Sport & Outdoor Tools".
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