2016 LFL US season
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox sports season
| title = 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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lflus.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/LFL2016Schedule.pdf|title=2016 Schedule|website=LFL|access-date=2017-03-06|archive-date=2017-03-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307125308/http://www.lflus.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/LFL2016Schedule.pdf|url-status=dead}} The top two teams from each conference then played a single elimination game to qualify for the Legends Cup final in Scottsdale, Arizona.{{Cite news|url=http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/arts/legends-cup-2016-womens-football-league-finals-hit-scottsdale-on-august-27-8576673|title=Legends Cup 2016: Women's Football League Finals Hit Scottsdale on August 27|last=Cusimano|first=Lauren|date=2016-08-25|work=Phoenix New Times|access-date=2017-03-06}}
Developments
The Las Vegas Sin did not participate in the 2016 LFL season, citing an inability to find a suitable home venue.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lfl360.com/lfl-north-america/usa/americas-fastest-emerging-sport-names-dallas-texas-for-2016-expansion/|title=AMERICA'S FASTEST-EMERGING SPORT, NAMES DALLAS, TEXAS FOR 2016 EXPANSION - LFL360|website=www.lfl360.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-03-06|archive-date=2016-04-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422143234/http://www.lfl360.com/lfl-north-america/usa/americas-fastest-emerging-sport-names-dallas-texas-for-2016-expansion/|url-status=dead}} 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
| class="wikitable" |
| Date
! Visitor ! Home ! Venue ! Score |
|---|
| colspan=5 style="text-align:center;" |Regular Season |
| Saturday, April 9
| Seattle 44 |
| Friday, April 15
| Omaha 26 |
| Sunday, April 24
| Citizens Business Bank Arena | Seattle 20 |
| Saturday, April 30
| Austin 42 |
| Saturday, May 7
| Citizens Business Bank Arena | Los Angeles 33 |
| Friday, May 13
| Seattle 40 |
| Saturday, May 21
| Dallas 46 |
| Friday, June 3
| Atlanta 77 |
| Saturday, June 11
| Los Angeles 49 |
| Saturday, June 18
| Dallas 26 |
| Friday, June 24
| Chicago 70 |
| Saturday, July 2
| Chicago 66 |
| Saturday, July 9
| Los Angeles 33 |
| Saturday, July 23
| Cancelled |
| Saturday, July 30
| Dallas 87 |
| Saturday, August 6
| Chicago 39 |
{{Reflist|group=nb}}
Playoffs
| class="wikitable" |
| Date
! Visitor ! Home ! Venue ! City ! Score |
|---|
| colspan=6 style="text-align:center;" |Conference Championships |
| Saturday, August 20
| Chicago 30 |
| Saturday, August 20
| Seattle 44 |
| colspan=6 style="text-align:center;" |Legends Cup |
| Saturday, August 27
| Chicago 31 |
Standings
= Eastern Conference =
| class="wikitable"
! Team ! Wins ! Loss ! Ties ! Pct ! PF ! PA ! Net Pts ! TD's ! Home Record ! Home Pct ! Road Record ! Road Pct |
| bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 0.750 | 203 | 79 | 124 | 30 | 2-0 | 1.000 | 3-1 | 0.750 |
| bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 1 | 2 | 1 {{ref|forfeit1|a}} | 0.250 | 135 | 72 | 43 | 20 | 1-1 | .500 | 0-1 | 0.000 |
| Omaha Heart
| 1 | 3 | 0 | 0.250 | 38 | 236 | -198 | 6 | 1-1 | 0.500 | 0-2 | 0.000 |
| New England Liberty
| 0 | 3 | 1 {{ref|forfeit2|a}} | 0.000 | 34 | 138 | -104 | 5 | 0-1 | 0.000 | 0-2 | 0.000 |
= Western Conference =
| class="wikitable"
! Team ! Wins ! Loss ! Ties ! Pct ! PF ! PA ! Net Pts ! TD's ! Home Record ! Home Pct ! Road Record ! Road Pct |
| bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 0.750 | 191 | 72 | 119 | 29 | 2-0 | 1.000 | 1-1 | 0.500 |
| bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 0.750 | 125 | 74 | 51 | 19 | 2-0 | 1.000 | 1-1 | 0.500 |
| Los Angeles Temptation
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 0.750 | 127 | 110 | 17 | 19 | 1-1 | 0.500 | 2-0 | 1.000 |
| Austin Acoustic
| 1 | 3 | 0 | 0.250 | 88 | 160 | -72 | 13 | 1-1 | 0.500 | 0-2 | 0.000 |
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.
{{4TeamBracket|RD1=Conference Championships
Saturday, August 20|RD2=Legends Cup
Saturday, August 27|RD1-seed1=E1|RD1-team1=Chicago|RD1-seed2=E2|RD1-score1=30|RD1-team2=Atlanta|RD1-score2=25|RD1-seed3=W1|RD1-team3=Dallas|RD1-score3=6|RD1-seed4=W2|RD1-team4=Seattle|RD1-score4=44|RD2-team1=Chicago|RD2-score1=31|RD2-team2=Seattle|RD2-score2=26}}
Notes
:1. {{note|forfeit1}}{{note|forfeit2}} New England was forced to forfeit their final game of the season, due to being unable to field a team.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lfl360.com/lfl-north-america/usa/new-england-liberty-off-season-needs-questions/|title=NEW ENGLAND LIBERTY: OFF-SEASON NEEDS AND QUESTIONS - LFL360|website=www.lfl360.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-03-06}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20160801085707/http://www.lflus.com/ Legends Football League official site]
{{Extreme Football League}}