2019 MLL season | |
---|---|
League | Major League Lacrosse |
Sport | Field lacrosse |
Duration | May 31 – October 6, 2019 |
Number of teams | 6 |
Season [[1]] | Lyle Thompson |
[scorer] | Lyle Thompson |
Steinfeld Cup | |
Champions | Chesapeake Bayhawks |
Runners-up | Denver Outlaws |
Finals [[2]] | Steele Stanwick |
The 2019 Major League Lacrosse season was the 19th season of Major League Lacrosse. The regular season began on Friday, May 31 and ended on Sunday, September 22. It was the first time the league would ever begin its season after Memorial Day, allowing all players selected in the collegiate draft to play a full season. 2019 also marks the first time each team would play 16 games. The league has played a 14-game schedule since 2012. Additionally, the league returned to a Championship Weekend format instead of a two-week postseason for the first time since 2013. Championship Weekend was hosted in Denver with two semifinal games on Friday, October 4 and the 19th Steinfeld Cup was hosted at Dick's Sporting Goods Park October 6 on ESPN2.[1]
For the third time in five years, the Denver Outlaws enter the season as defending Steinfeld Cup champions. They defeated the Dallas Rattlers 16–12 in the 2018 championship game in Charleston, South Carolina.
On April 1, the league announced that the Charlotte Hounds, Florida Launch, and Ohio Machine would not be participating in the 2019 season, with Charlotte set to return in 2021 and Florida and Ohio folding.[2] An updated league schedule was released April 3.[3] The league competed with only six teams, the fewest since 2011.