2016 LFL US season explained

2016 LFL United States
Conf1:Eastern Champions
Conf1 Champ:Chicago Bliss
Conf2:Western Champions
Conf2 Champ:Seattle Mist
Finals:Legends Cup
Finals Venue:Scottsdale, AZ
Finals Champ:Chicago Bliss
Prevseason Year:2015 US
Nextseason Year:2017 US

The 2016 LFL US season was the seventh season of the Legends Football League in the United States. The season featured eight teams from across the US in two four team conference. During the regular season each team played each other team in their conference once, and a single cross conference game.[1] The top two teams from each conference then played a single elimination game to qualify for the Legends Cup final in Scottsdale, Arizona.[2]

Developments

The Las Vegas Sin did not participate in the 2016 LFL season, citing an inability to find a suitable home venue.[3] Three teams joined the LFL, the Austin Acoustic, Dallas Desire, and New England Liberty. The Acoustic and Liberty were newcomers to the LFL while the Desire had played in Lingerie Bowls II and III and in the league between 2009 and 2012.

Schedule

DateVisitorHomeVenueScore
Regular Season
Saturday, April 9Austin AcousticSeattle MistShoWare CenterSeattle 44
Austin 8[4]
Friday, April 15New England LibertyOmaha HeartRalston ArenaOmaha 26
New England 6
Sunday, April 24Seattle MistLos Angeles TemptationCitizens Business Bank ArenaSeattle 20
Los Angeles 12
Saturday, April 30New England LibertyAustin AcousticCedar Park CenterAustin 42
New England 21
Saturday, May 7Dallas DesireLos Angeles TemptationCitizens Business Bank ArenaLos Angeles 33
Dallas 32
Friday, May 13Chicago BlissSeattle MistShoWare CenterSeattle 40
Chicago 28
Saturday, May 21Austin AcousticDallas DesireDr Pepper ArenaDallas 46
Austin 6
Friday, June 3Omaha HeartAtlanta SteamArena at Gwinnett CenterAtlanta 77
Omaha 0
Saturday, June 11Los Angeles TemptationAustin AcousticCedar Park CenterLos Angeles 49
Austin 32
Saturday, June 18Seattle MistDallas DesireDr Pepper ArenaDallas 26
Seattle 21
Friday, June 24Chicago BlissNew England LibertyVerizon Wireless ArenaChicago 70
New England 7
Saturday, July 2Omaha HeartChicago BlissToyota ParkChicago 66
Omaha 0
Saturday, July 9Los Angeles TemptationAtlanta SteamArena at Gwinnett CenterLos Angeles 33
Atlanta 26
Saturday, July 23Atlanta SteamNew England LibertyVerizon Wireless ArenaCancelled
Saturday, July 30Dallas DesireOmaha HeartRalston ArenaDallas 87
Omaha 12
Saturday, August 6Atlanta SteamChicago BlissToyota ParkChicago 39
Atlanta 32

Playoffs

DateVisitorHomeVenueCityScore
Conference Championships
Saturday, August 20Atlanta SteamChicago BlissShoWare CenterKent, WashingtonChicago 30
Atlanta 25
Saturday, August 20Dallas DesireSeattle MistShoWare CenterKent, WashingtonSeattle 44
Dallas 6
Legends Cup
Saturday, August 27Chicago BlissSeattle MistWestWorldScottsdale, ArizonaChicago 31
Seattle 26

Standings

Eastern Conference

Team WinsLossTiesPctPFPANet PtsTD'sHome RecordHome PctRoad RecordRoad Pct
Chicago Bliss3100.75020379124302-01.0003-10.750
Atlanta Steam121 0.2501357243201-1.5000-10.000
Omaha Heart1300.25038236-19861-10.5000-20.000
New England Liberty031 0.00034138-10450-10.0000-20.000

Western Conference

Team WinsLossTiesPctPFPANet PtsTD'sHome RecordHome PctRoad RecordRoad Pct
Dallas Desire3100.75019172119292-01.0001-10.500
Seattle Mist3100.7501257451192-01.0001-10.500
Los Angeles Temptation3100.75012711017191-10.5002-01.000
Austin Acoustic1300.25088160-72131-10.5000-20.000

Playoffs

The Conference Championship games were held on Saturday, August 20 at the ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington. The hometown Seattle Mist won the Western Conference title, defeating the expansion Dallas Desire 44-6 in a rematch of an earlier game at Dallas in which the Desire prevailed. The Eastern Conference title game featured the Chicago Bliss versus the Atlanta Steam. Atlanta took a commanding 25-8 lead into the half but Chicago rallied, shutting out Atlanta in the second half to earn their fourth straight appearance in the Legends Cup with a 30-25 victory.

The 2016 Legends Cup was held on Saturday, August 27 at WestWorld in Scottsdale, Arizona between the defending champion Seattle Mist and the previous two-time champion Chicago Bliss, a rematch of an early season game which was won by the Mist. Seattle scored on the opening drive to take a 6-0 lead. Chicago tied the game but the Mist scored again to close the opening quarter and then once more to go up 18-6. As they did in the playoffs against Atlanta, Chicago rallied, closing the gap and taking the lead 19-18 just before the half. Chicago scored again near the end of the third period to extend their lead to 25-18. Seattle opened the fourth quarter with a score to retake the lead 26-25 but Chicago responded with a touchdown of their own. Chicago's defense then stopped Seattle and claimed the victory 31-26 to win their third Legends Cup championship in four years. Chicago quarterback Jacinda Barclay captured her first LFL championship in the United States, her second overall having won the title in the 2013-2014 inaugural season of LFL Australia.

Notes

1. New England was forced to forfeit their final game of the season, due to being unable to field a team.[5]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2016 Schedule. LFL. 2017-03-06. 2017-03-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20170307125308/http://www.lflus.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/LFL2016Schedule.pdf. dead.
  2. News: Legends Cup 2016: Women's Football League Finals Hit Scottsdale on August 27. Cusimano. Lauren. 2016-08-25. Phoenix New Times. 2017-03-06.
  3. Web site: AMERICA'S FASTEST-EMERGING SPORT, NAMES DALLAS, TEXAS FOR 2016 EXPANSION - LFL360. www.lfl360.com. en-US. 2017-03-06. 2016-04-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20160422143234/http://www.lfl360.com/lfl-north-america/usa/americas-fastest-emerging-sport-names-dallas-texas-for-2016-expansion/. dead.
  4. Web site: On The Road With Jonas // Week 2 . LFL360.com . April 14, 2016.
  5. Web site: NEW ENGLAND LIBERTY: OFF-SEASON NEEDS AND QUESTIONS - LFL360. www.lfl360.com. en-US. 2017-03-06.