SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — This weekend was the Women’s National Football Conference Western Conference Semifinals, with four teams battling to be crowned the Best in the West and clinch a spot in Texas for the Championships.
WNFC Western Conference Semifinals — June 5, 2026
San Diego Rebellion 30, Los Angeles Legends 0
The San Diego Rebellion came to Salt Lake City with something to prove, and they wasted no time proving it. The semifinal match was against the Los Angeles Legends on Friday, and this wasn't the first time these two teams had met this season. Back on April 4, the Rebellion handed the Legends a 28-13 defeat in the regular season, and Los Angeles hasn't found any answers since.
Running back Kez Wesley (#24) struck first in the opening quarter, punching in a touchdown to put the Rebellion on the board. Jocelyn Charette (#84) converted the extra point, and just like that, the tone was set: 7-0.
The second quarter was all San Diego. Charette drilled a field goal to extend the lead to 10-0, and then wide receiver Alicia Zappia-Neely (#25) turned a catch on the opposing 13-yard line into a touchdown, racing down the field to make it 16-0. Charette tacked on the extra point to bring it to 17-0 heading into the half.
The Rebellion kept their foot on the gas in the third. Quarterback Danny Trainor (#17) connected with wide receiver Taranisha Taylor (#14) on a pinpoint pass that Taylor hauled in for six. Another Charette extra point pushed the lead to 24-0. Then, in the waning moments of the quarter, Tynisha Dossman (#19) crossed the goal line, only to see a flag on the field freeze the celebration. After review, the call was overturned. The points stood. The Rebellion had their 30.
The final score, confirmed in a post-broadcast ruling, was 30-0. A playoff shutout. San Diego didn't just advance. They sent a message to the rest of the Western Conference.
Jocelyn Charette had six successful kicks this weekend. Miguel Mejia/Her Sports San Diego
WNFC Western Conference Championship — June 7, 2026
San Diego Rebellion 20, Utah Falconz 0
The Utah Falconz knew what was coming. On May 16, the Rebellion had rolled into this same matchup and left with a 55-0 blowout, one of the most lopsided results of the regular season. Utah had two weeks to figure out how to slow San Diego down. Although the Rebellion didn’t score as many points as in the first contest, the Falconz still could not find their way to the score board.
The first quarter was a grinding, scoreless standoff. Utah refused to fold early and forced San Diego to be patient. It didn't last.
Charette opened the scoring in the second quarter with a field goal, finally breaking the deadlock and putting the Rebellion up 3-0. With 30 seconds left in the half, Trainor found the end zone herself, sneaking the ball over on a play where both teams were pressed together at the one-yard line, a mass of bodies with the refs watching every inch. The call came down in San Diego's favor: touchdown, 9-0. With Charette’s kick, they were up by ten.
With only seconds remaining in the first half came the moment that stopped the stadium cold. Linebacker Katie Claxton (#10) read the Falconz quarterback, stepped in front of the throw, and didn't stop running for 40 yards. As the buzzer sounded to end the half, she crossed into the end zone. Under WNFC's Pick IX rule, a defensive score is worth nine points, not six. In a single play, the lead became 19-0. Charette converted an extra point to close out the half at 20-0.
The Falconz never found an answer. Two meetings, two shutouts in the postseason. The Western Conference title is theirs. And they didn’t even break a sweat.
The San Diego Rebellion will face the Eastern Conference champion in the IX Cup Championship on June 21 at 3:00 PM CT in Frisco, Texas, streaming live and free on Victory+.
Top Photo Credit: Miguel Mejia, Her Sports San Diego
