Strength bids to Nationals are on the line in Indy!
August 19, 2026 by Aidan Thomas, Zack Davis and Asa Lee in Preview
Ultiworld’s coverage of the 2026 club ultimate season is presented by Spin Ultimate; all opinions are those of the author(s). Find out how Spin can get you, and your team, looking your best this season.
Arguably the most meaningful tournament on the club regular season calendar, the Elite-Select Challenge takes center stage this weekend. Featuring the bottom half of Nationals teams from 2025 and the best of the teams that didn’t make it to Nationals, regional strength bids are on the line in Indianapolis. For some teams, this is their best-ever shot to open a path for themselves to the Club Championships.
We’ve got you covered for all the exciting action this weekend. Read on for the tournament preview, and follow along on the Elite-Select Challenge Event Page for livestreams and updates throughout the weekend. It all starts Saturday, August 22nd, live on Ultiworld!
Tournament Profile
- Date: August 22-23
- Location: Indianapolis, IN
- Weather: Highs near 80, Scattered thunderstorms on Saturday.
- Scores & Schedules
- Ultiworld Event Page
- Streaming Schedule
Mixed Division
Who’s the Favorite?
The questionable tournament seeding at Elite-Select Challenge1 only underlines a larger problem existing throughout the mixed division: establishing a clear tier of title contenders. With WUCC underway, and other top teams (Boston Slow, San Francisco Polar Bears) sitting out, ESC provides an opportunity for one of the many worthy teams in attendance to launch themselves into the upper echelon of true contenders.
As it stands, #4 Philadelphia AMP, #6 Seattle BFG, #7 Washington DC Rally, and #8 Durham Toro all figure to be early favorites, though their proximity in the rankings makes picking one to win a difficult task.
Playing in their second tournament of the season, Philadelphia AMP hope to follow up a third place finish at Pro-Elite Challenge East with another strong performance at ESC. Wins over New York XIST and Austin Disco Club prove they can hang with the best, and as offseason additions James Pollard and Grace Maroon continue to integrate with AMP’s veteran core, look to see even better results.
Despite being seeded fifth, Seattle BFG are just as dangerous as ever. They’ve made the final in both of their previous tournaments, and it’s hard to believe they can’t do it a third time. Able to weather surprise pool play upsets and play without fear, it’s no surprise BFG’s greatest asset is their super-charged deep game. If they’re clicking, they’re one of the most dangerous teams in the division.
The first seed overall at ESC, Washington DC Rally have proven to be a threat all season long, most recently playing in the US Open where they took down Fort Collins shame., Minneapolis Drag’n Thrust, and fellow ESC participants Durham Toro. That doesn’t mean Toro should be underestimated either: they played close to both XIST and Ann Arbor Hybrid, as well as beating Disco Club and Boston Sprocket. Both teams are favored to win their pools at ESC, and have strong chances of making semis — or further.
Mix-ing Up the Bid Picture
According to USAU’s algorithm, #14 Seattle Mixtape enter ESC sitting just outside bid-earning range, roughly 40 points behind #18 California Burrito, who are also playing this weekend. A strong weekend from Mixtape could mean a second bid for the Northwest, which would help them avoid a situation similar to last year’s regionals2. While perhaps disappointing for the fans, it would provide a much more secure path for Mixtape to qualify for Nationals again.
Burrito, for their part, desperately want to hold on to their own bid in a highly competitive Southwest region, especially with the recent emergence of Los Angeles Lotus as a Nationals contender. Last year, the region only had two bids, and Burrito missed out on qualifying for Nationals, losing twice to fall to third place. A solid PEC West and an undefeated SFI West are promising results, but a slip at ESC this weekend could mean added pressure come regionals.
Both Pittsburgh Port Authority and #24 Denver Mile High Trash are ranked within USAU’s top 25, although both teams are unlikely to earn additional bids for their regions, needing around 200 algorithmic points to reach bid-earning range. Save a truly transcendent performance that would likely require a run to the final at least, look instead to see these teams hunting for upsets in preparation for regionals.
“D” Stands for Depth (or Death)
Easily the deepest Pool at ESC, Pool D once again stands as the “Pool of Death,” even despite avoiding the traditional four/five matchup. While top seeded Philadelphia AMP are still favored to win the pool, their main challenge will be overcoming a hot California Burrito team that went unbeaten at SFI West. Burrito also have the indomitable Khalif El-Salaam on their side, who is still capable of warping games in his team’s favor should they ask him to. And don’t count out a ranked #23 Brooklyn Grand Army team that’s looked solid so far despite already losing to AMP earlier, or a Nashville ‘Shine squad that’s had a rough season so far but remains dangerous, especially with previous Nationals experience.
Women’s Division
The Bid Horizon
According to the immutable Projected Rankings, there are no fewer than nine teams traveling to Indianapolis this weekend who are clustered in the narrow ten slot window in the bid rankings from 13th to 22nd. Three of them are above the cutoff line and six are below it. The only team missing is Phoenix, who currently hold the 16th and final ticket to Nationals and occupy the Southeast 1 position.
This is exactly what you want for ESC — the regular season is rapidly coming to a close and Nationals hopefuls are running out of road to secure a bid. These teams will be playing for it all, and any game this weekend could be the one that secures them their chance to earn their way to the big dance in San Diego.
Above the Line:
Dallas Dimes
#13 Dallas Dimes are also ranked 13th in the projected rankings. They put together a spectacular showing at Select Flight Invite with a second place finish, their only loss coming against the #7 Toronto 6ixers. A good showing here wouldn’t just secure the existence of a second bid in the South Central, but would also give Dimes the confidence needed to secure it in the crowded regionals race for that very bid.
Minneapolis Pop
#15 Minneapolis Pop are 14th in the Projected Rankings. Though in times past they’ve had the North Central well in hand, a resurgence from the #18 Madison Heist last year left Pop with the unenviable position of watching Nationals from home. The North Central hasn’t had two bids to Nationals since 2018, but with both Heist and Pop on the cusp this year, this weekend could put them both over the line.
Vancouver Traffic
#21 Vancouver Traffic are ranked 15th currently, and with Dark Sky in disarray, they are the Northwest’s only hope at a third bid. Not securing said bid would leave them with the daunting task of beating out either #11 Portland Schwa or #6 Seattle Riot. Traffic already got into some tough spots at PEC W, losing to the aforementioned Schwa 15-13, but showed some flash by ending their weekend with a 14-13 win over Flipside.
Below the line:
Pittsburgh Parcha
#14 Pittsburgh Parcha are on the edge of their proverbial seats right now. With the SE1, Phoenix, currently ranked 16th, Parcha are only two spots away from securing a bid to Nationals at 17th. The ever-crowded Mid-Atlantic region continues to delight spectators, but must be a headache for competitors. #1 Washington D.C. Scandal are an absolute lock and current Nationals favorites, #9 Philadelphia Flight are fairly comfortable barring disaster, so Parcha must make moves this weekend to secure a third bid, or come up with a game plan to earn a spot against their interstate rival.
Chicago Nemesis
#20 Chicago Nemesis are 18th and have already played twelve games this season, so although they’re only two spots out, they’ll need a very big weekend to make it above the cut off. Nemesis have shown some strength, barreling to a ninals win at SFI after just missing the championship bracket. Their PEC W weekend wasn’t quite so hot, but they did notch a win over Traffic, who are currently above the cut, and played Flipside quite closely. Their destiny is still theirs to control, and Nemesis will need to exercise their will if they want a chance at Nationals.
Colorado Kelp
Another component of the crowded South Central, #23 Colorado Kelp are 19th headed into ESC and will be looking to either find a third bid for their region or knock Dimes down a peg and slot into the second spot. Obviously a third bid would be preferable, since anything can and does happen at regionals, particularly when there are multiple teams circling the same bid. Kelp haven’t had much in the way of success in the win-loss column; an absolutely nauseating strength of schedule has led to an unfortunate 1-11 start. The average rank of their opponents in their losses is seven, and they’ve already played Fury twice. Against some more evenly matched opponents, Kelp might find a higher gear.
Northampton Starling
#16 Northampton Starling are 20th in projected rankings currently, and mark the point where the slider begins to shift from dark horse to long shot. A one point loss to Pop in mid-July at Swamp Seasonal Invite might be the game they want back the most, particularly since the game right before, a 12-10 win over Flight, is their biggest win by far. They clearly have what it takes to beat top 10 teams, but there’s a wide gulf between doing it once and doing it consistently. Starling are in need of a raft, and will have all weekend to build it.
Madison Heist
#18 Madison Heist are 21st in the projected rankings and have to be considering the possibility of a second bid. A game against Pop could go either way, and seeing as there’s a large gap between them and the next-best team in the North Central, earning a second bid would have to feel like punching their ticket to Nationals. ESC, at least for Heist, will be the most impactful tournament of the year.
Austin Vengeance
#24 Austin Vengeance are 22nd in the projected rankings and poised for the perfect Cinderella run. Though they already have a loss to Dallas Dimes at SFI E, it was close at 12-10. Counted out of the South Central triumvirate, muscling their way to contention, a good weekend here could both secure a third bid for the region, or at the very least force them into the conversation for earning it at regionals.
Outside Looking In:
- Flipside are comfortably in the bid earning range, but playing third fiddle has to be a bit grating. They’re going to be focused on finding their groove ahead of the postseason and launching themselves back above regional rival Nightlock, who are ascendant this year.
- Ozone must smell blood in the water with Phoenix in a bit of a rebuild. Though they’re a bit outside of bid earning potential, it’s not completely out of the realm of possibility. They should really be focusing on Phoenix, and this is a good weekend to try some new looks.
Men’s Division
The Field at a Glance
Elite-Select Challenge always plays a massive role in the late-season bid-shaping picture, and the men’s division does not look like it will be different. The current “last four in” among projected bid earners are, in order, #12 Austin Doublewide, #15 Denver Johnny Bravo, #25 Portland Red Tide, and #17 Vancouver Furious George. They are the fourth, fifth, tenth, and seventh seeds at this weekend’s tournament. Among the first four teams “out” are #19 Chicago Haymaker (seeded sixth), and #14 Raleigh-Durham United (seeded ninth). #20 SoCal Condors, #23 Virginia Vault and #24 Madison Mad Men, along with unranked Ottawa Phoenix, also in this weekend’s field, lurk just a little further out. That’s ten teams in the 16-team field that enter with their Nationals bid potentially hanging in the balance.
Meanwhile, another three are jockeying for position amidst the nation’s elite, as #7 Minneapolis Sub Zero, #10 Philadelphia Pacmen and #11 Atlanta Chain Lightning currently sit 200+ rating points clear of the bid-earning bubble and have bigger goals than just making Nationals, although certainly a disastrous weekend could prove fatal. The bottom three seeds, Indianapolis I-69, Phoenix Nighthawk, and Charlotte baNC aren’t exactly bid-earning threats, but they’re certainly capable of playing spoiler in what will be a thrilling six-round weekend in Indiana.
Four Questions That Will Define The Weekend
How Do Young Favorites Handle Pressure?
The rosters of the top two seeds in this tournament are flush with active and recently graduated collegiate talent. Minneapolis Sub Zero and Philadelphia Pacmen are fast-rising squads buoyed by their highly skilled emerging stars, and now they get a chance to notch a high-level TCT victory, but they must do so as the favorites.
One of Pacmen’s biggest stars is Alex Atkins, who is currently playing for Gentle at WUCC. It feels unlikely he’ll be back for this weekend, despite his presence on the tournament roster. We haven’t seen the Philly squad in action since an uneven 3-3 showing at PEC East, and after not playing at U.S. Open, they’ll be eager to show they have similar ceilings as many squads who participated in Aurora.
For Sub Zero, they didn’t bother including Micah Davis, also a participant at WUCC, on the weekend roster. They also will be without the services of Nathan De Morgan and Paul Krenik, so Sub Zero are severely depleted. It’s a massive opportunity for Sub Zero’s depth to shine and carry the team deep into the bracket, which would be a strong indicator for a team hoping to challenge for a semifinals berth at Nationals. However, pool play games versus Furious George and Red Tide, two teams desperate to earn a bid, will not be easy going for Minneapolis, so it’ll be a true test as to the mettle and depth of this top-ten squad.
If either team stumbles, which feels likely with top pieces missing, Chain Lightning and Doublewide are very capable challengers to the throne and should absolutely be in contention.
Are Chicago Haymaker Legitimate?
To this point, Haymaker are an impressive 12-0, and the only team to play them closer than six points are #24 Madison Mad Men, who twice lost in tournament finals to Haymaker, each time by two points. Haymaker, who have lost the Great Lakes game-to-go in consecutive seasons, would remain a longshot to make their first Nationals if they can’t earn a third bid for the Great Lakes, as Machine remain the standard-bearer in the region, and Toronto GOAT are having a strong season of their own. Can Haymaker prove their 12-0 start is more than the product of a relatively weak schedule? A tricky Pool D will provide them opportunities aplenty, with games against Doublewide and the Condors providing their biggest litmus tests against their highest-ranked opponents (per power rankings) to date.
As we learn about Haymaker’s ceilings, we can also learn about the ceiling of Madison Mad Men, who have not earned a ranked win but only dropped their two games to Haymaker. Their clash against Raleigh Durham-United will be an intriguing one, as it is likely to decide the second championship bracket berth out of Pool B.
What Do Bravo Look Like Without Finer and Kerr?
Although Johnny Bravo are not a participant at WUCC, their two biggest stars, Quinn Finer and Jordan Kerr, made the trip to Ireland to play for a pair of international squads. Neither, per the tournament roster on USAU, will be making the trip back in time to play in Indiana. Bravo are heavily reliant on Kerr, who led the team with 17 goals and 10 assists at U.S. Open, and Finer gets involved at a high rate, leading the team with 11 assists. Without their stars, veterans Jonathan Nethercutt and Alex Tatum, alongside youngster Nanda Min-Fink, will need to shoulder much of the load. Bravo are far from a lock to earn a bid, and they hardly want to be in a one-bid region with Doublewide.
Bravo operating without much of their starpower could be to the benefit of Virginia Vault. It would take a miracle tournament for Vault to reach bid-earning territory, but drawing a weakened Bravo in pool play could be the boost they need to get into the championship bracket and hunt upsets that could redefine their season.
Which Red Tide Shows Up?
Red Tide are 12-1 since opening their season with a 1-5 effort at PEC East. A defeat to #22 New York Blueprint is the lone loss in the stretch, but at the same time, a 13-12 win over #20 Quebec Quake is their only ranked win on the year. They took double-game-point losses to Doublewide (twice) and Raleigh-Durham United at PEC East.
After stealing a bid last season and adding Rowan McDonnell in the offseason, the expectations were high for the Maine squad, and Red Tide will need a strong tournament to meet those preseason hopes. Their pool play game against Vancouver Furious George will be crucial to get to the championship bracket and a shot at Sunday games against the top half of the field, which would produce opportunities at meaningful wins in the bid-earning picture.
seriously, Tower over BFG?? ↩
I think we’ve all seen that clip enough times. Editor’s Note: but just in case ↩
