Just eight teams remain in the quest for the 2026 UFA title
July 28, 2026 by Alex Rubin in Rankings, Recap
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The first round concluded on Sunday, with Carolina, New York, Indianapolis, and Salt Lake advancing to the final eight. They’ll play in Division Championship games on August 7 and 8, so I’ll preview those games next week. For now, let’s take a look at each first round matchup.
Carolina Crushes
After a successful regular season that saw them sneak past the Atlanta Hustle into the playoffs as an underdog once again, the San Diego Growlers fell short in the playoffs, losing 25-14 to the Carolina Flyers.
Though these two teams played a much closer game earlier this season, with the Flyers at full strength they were simply too difficult to beat. Tobias Brooks (5A/4G on 35/35 throwing) set the standard for the way the Flyers play, and his all-around excellence makes his teammates better by allowing them to lean more into their superpowers on the field. A sharpshooting Allan Laviolette finished with six assists, while dominant downfielder Jacob Fairfax matched with six goals. Carolina never trailed in this game and increased the margin of their lead in every quarter.
After a year out of the playoffs, the Flyers appear to have their flight maps set on a return trip to Madison for Championship Weekend. They’ll face off against the Austin Sol in two weeks time to earn their place.
Evil Empire is Back
Before this season, the Empire were pegged as one of the title favorites in the league and the Breeze were predicted to have to fight their way into the playoffs against resurgent Toronto and Montreal teams. After DC beat New York in early May, the Breeze had a clear shot at the playoffs and proof they could compete at that competitive level.
And yet, when the time came, the Breeze could not. The Empire won this matchup 23-15, and it did not even feel that close. The Breeze scored a single break on only five chances. They hit just three of their nine huck attempts. They only converted 71% of their redzone possessions (compared to New York’s 91%, or the 84% the Breeze managed over the course of the season).
New York finished the game on a five goal run. Daan De Marrée finished with six assists and four goals, leading the game in both categories. As he ramps up and continues to redefine what peak performance looks like, De Marrée could be the next star to carry the Empire to what would be a record-setting fourth title.
The Process is Real
The Indianapolis AlleyCats won a playoff game for the first time since 2023, defeating the Madison Radicals in Madison 17-15. The AlleyCats locked in on offense, matching Madison’s patient approach on that side of the disc. Indianapolis surrendered just 12 turnovers, their second-lowest total of the season. Elliot Hawkins continued his breakout season with four goals and four assists, leading the game in both stats.
Winners of five of their last six games, the AlleyCats head to Minnesota to face off against a Wind Chill team that has made Championship Weekend for three seasons in a row. Earlier this year, Indy overcame a 0-3 series deficit to figure out how to beat Madison. They’re so far 0-2 against Minnesota but have the blueprint to show them how to turn a series around.
While Minnesota will be favored next week, the AlleyCats proved over the last half of the season that they are building a strong program who can take on the best in the league. In other words, they’re accomplishing some of their goals before our very eyes.
Experience Matters
For the first time in UFA history, a team with a losing record won a playoff game. Yes, the Shred crept into the playoffs with a 5-7 record, but they have a chance to get back to .500 with a win next week!
Salt Lake controlled this game throughout, never trailing as they protected a narrow lead. Jordan Kerr (4A/2G) and Chad Yorgason (5A/2G) were every bit the experienced stars and stabilizing forces that Salt Lake needed. With stellar coaching and athleticism up and down the roster, the Shred are a scary playoff team even before considering their history. Salt Lake made Championship Weekend in two of the last four seasons and has never missed the playoffs. Even against an Oakland team that had their number this year,1 Salt Lake can never be counted out.
Despite their successful season, Seattle did end the year without beating another team with a winning record. After Seattle upset Salt Lake on the road in 2024, the Shred returned the favor this year, setting up an intriguing showcase next week against the Spiders.
UFA Power Rankings
| Rank | Team | Change | Prior |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston Glory | - | 1 |
| 2 | Minnesota Wind Chill | - | 2 |
| 3 | Oakland Spiders | - | 3 |
| 4 | New York Empire | - | 4 |
| 5 | Carolina Flyers | +1 | 6 |
| 6 | DC Breeze | -1 | 5 |
| 7 | Austin Sol | - | 7 |
| 8 | Indianapolis AlleyCats | +1 | 9 |
| 9 | Salt Lake Shred | +5 | 14 |
| 10 | San Diego Growlers | -2 | 8 |
| 11 | Madison Radicals | -1 | 10 |
| 12 | Toronto Rush | -1 | 11 |
| 13 | Seattle Cascades | -1 | 12 |
| 14 | Atlanta Hustle | -1 | 13 |
| 15 | Montreal Royal | - | 15 |
| 16 | Colorado Apex | - | 16 |
| 17 | Oregon Steel | - | 17 |
| 18 | Pittsburgh Thunderbirds | - | 18 |
| 19 | Chicago Union | - | 19 |
| 20 | Philadelphia Phoenix | - | 20 |
| 21 | Houston Havoc | - | 21 |
| 22 | Vegas Bighorns | - | 22 |
- There’s a case to be made that the AlleyCats should be higher this late in the season with them actually looking good, but even after last week I struggle to picture them beating DC.
The Oakland Spiders entered the season without a win over the Shred, but beat them in every matchup since. ↩
