Breaking down all the need-to-know info from prequarters and quarters!
October 25, 2026 by Alex Rubin in Recap
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.
SAN DIEGO – The semifinals are set after an electric day filled with prequarter and quarterfinal rounds at the 2026 Club Championships. While the women’s division features four familiar faces, the mixed and men’s divisions broke from 2025 and welcomed new teams into the semifinal round. From universe points to shocking upsets to emphatic blowouts, there was something for everyone.
You can watch all of our filmed games and read all of our written recaps on the Ultiworld Event Page and check out the raw scores and statistics on the USA Ultimate site. But for a quicker recap, here’s the nutshell of what happened in the early stages of bracket play.
Mixed Division
Two-time defending champions Ann Arbor Hybrid are still alive after two rounds of bracket play, as are top challengers New York XIST. Joining them in the semifinal round is first-time semifinalist Austin Disco Club and San Francisco Polar Bears, returning to this stage for the first time in over a decade.
The entire quarterfinal round was closely contested. Hybrid used a late game surge to take down Philadelphia AMP 15-12 in a well played quarterfinal. Two blocks from Kai Creed midway through the second half turned the momentum of what had been a mostly tied game.
- Hybrid vs. AMP: Livestream│Recap
XIST found themselves down 6-3 to Oregon Scorch, who were making their first bracket appearance at their first Nationals. The New Yorkers fought back to take half 8-7 and held on for the win, but Scorch gave them a legitimate scare.
- XIST vs. Scorch: Livestream│Recap
Austin Disco Club earned their first ever semifinal appearance with a 14-12 takedown of Minneapolis Drag’n Thrust. A 5-0 second half run turned a three goal deficit into the final two goal winning margin.
- Disco Club vs. Drag’n Thrust: Livestream│Recap
Polar Bears led wire to wire in their quarterfinal win over Boston Slow, but a late game slide allowed Slow to force universe point. In their first Nationals since 2022, Polar Bears made their first semifinal appearance since 2015.
- Polar Bears vs. Slow: Livestream | Recap
The prequarterfinal round was just as exciting. AMP beat Durham Toro in a 15-13 game featuring a single break and lots of great offense. James Pollard got the key block that led to a late game break to put Philadelphia ahead for good, though Ethan Sarles’ 5G/3A performance was notable as well.
- AMP vs. Toro: Livestream | Recap
Each other game featured a team making their first bracket appearance. Disco Club took down Pittsburgh Port Authority 15-7 while Polar Bears knocked off regional rival Los Angeles Lotus 14-10. Scorch were the only debutante to win, defeating Fort Collins shame. 15-12.
- Disco Club vs. Port Authority: Livestream│Recap
- Polar Bears vs. Lotus: Livestream│Recap
- Scorch vs. shame.: Livestream│Recap
Sunday’s 9 AM PT semifinal round will see XIST take on Polar Bears while Hybrid match up against Disco Club in a rematch of the Pro Champs final, which Disco won. The winner of those two games will meet right afterward for the championship game.
Women’s Division
The final four teams remaining are the top four seeds. Scandal, Fury, Brute Squad, and Molly Brown have been building to this moment all season long, and they’ll finally face off for the title. None were challenged in the quarterfinals. Let’s just run down the scores:
- Washington DC Scandal 15-3 Pittsburgh Parcha (Livestream)
- Denver Molly Brown 15-6 Toronto 6ixers (Livestream)
- San Francisco Fury 15-7 New York BENT (Livestream)
- Boston Brute Squad 15-6 Seattle Riot (Livestream)
The prequarterfinal round was far more exciting, highlighted by Parcha outlasting the higher-seeded San Francisco Nightlock on universe. Carolyn Normile’s daring, darting around flick found Sara Liang to close out a scoring drive after Miya Liang’s block gave Parcha the disc. Normile compiled a 4G/2A/2B stat line to lead Parcha farther than they’ve ever gone before as a program.
- Parcha vs. Nightlock: Livestream│Recap
Over on the showcase field, 6ixers survived a test from Northampton Starling. Credit to Starling; making their Nationals debut, they won a game in pool play and pushed the heavily favored 6ixers to a 15-13 game in the bracket.
- 6ixers vs. Starling: Livestream│Recap
The other prequarters were less scintillating as Riot beat Minneapolis Pop 15-9 behind three blocks from Chloe Hakimi and BENT took down Portland Schwa by a 15-6 scoreline thanks in part to four assists from Yina Cartagena.
- Riot vs. Pop: Livestream│Recap
- BENT vs. Schwa: Livestream│Recap
Sunday’s semifinal showdown will feature Fury playing Brute Squad on one side of the bracket, with the winner facing the winner of the Scandal vs. Molly Brown semifinal in the title match at 1:3o PM PT.
Men’s Division
Like yesterday, the most exciting game in the men’s division was the teams’ last game of the day and involved Chicago Machine. Yesterday Machine lost to Ring in that spot, but today they took down New York PoNY 15-14 in a thrilling quarterfinal. After going down 3-0 early, Machine fought back and took a second half lead. PoNY would then push in front only for Machine to come back and break to win on universe.
- PoNY vs. Machine: Livestream│Recap
The other quarterfinals were less competitive. Matt Gouchoe-Hanas and Christian Belus combined for five goals and five assists to lead Raleigh Ring of Fire past Minneapolis Sub Zero 15-9. San Francisco Revolver put away Johnny Bravo 15-11 with four goals from Raekwon Adkins and five assists from Mac Hecht, and Rhino Slam! handled GOAT 15-11 behind a 3G/3A/2B stat line from Mica Glass.
- Ring of Fire vs. Sub Zero: Livestream
- Revolver vs. Johnny Bravo: Livestream│Recap
- Rhino Slam! vs. GOAT: Livestream│Recap
In the prequarter round, again one game stood out among the rest. Sub Zero overturned a multigoal deficit, scoring the final three points in their 15-14 win over Atlanta Chain Lightning. Nate De Morgan tossed the game winner, one of his four assists in the game after an untimely Chain Lightning drop gave Sub Zero the chance to break for the win.
- Sub Zero vs. Chain Lightning: Livestream│Recap
In a bit of possible karmic retribution for knocking out DiG in prequarters last year, Philadelphia Pacmen were upset by Johnny Bravo 15-12. One field over, a former Northeast region grudge match saw Toronto GOAT take down Boston DiG, who have somehow never won a bracket game at Nationals despite their status as a perennial top team in the division. Machine meanwhile crushed Washington DC Truck Stop 15-8 in a game that did not even feel that close.
- Johnny Bravo vs. Pacmen: Livestream│Recap
- GOAT vs. DiG: Livestream│Recap
- Machine vs. Truck Stop: Livestream
Sunday’s morning semifinal round will pit Machine against Rhino Slam! in one game and Ring of Fire against Revolver in the other. The winners will play for the championship in the afternoon.
Ultiworld will be streaming every semifinal and championship game, starting tomorrow live at 9:00 AM PT! Tune in for the culmination of an exciting 2026 club season!
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