August 23, 2025
By Sam Weiger
“The Wind Chill don't compute, but they find a way!”
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That was Evan Lepler's call on the second semifinal broadcast of Friday night, as the reigning champion Wind Chill made a furious second half rally to protect their throne.
We've seen this Minnesota team pull off one escape act after another, even in sloppy games. But can they really do it one more time against a team like Boston, a punisher of inefficiency and sloppy play?
While several factors will influence the outcome, Boston's ability to manage the pressure of the moment is paramount, given this is the team's inaugural championship game.
But they have already demonstrated their composure by navigating the unfamiliar environment of the Championship Weekend semifinal. Despite a few nervous mistakes and minor issues with handler timing in the semi, the team appeared to be largely unbothered by the high stakes, and committed just nine total turnovers against Salt Lake.
With a scant number of turns and focused play on both sides of the disc, Boston looked like the best team at Championship Weekend on Friday night. It's reasonable to expect them to play at that same level—or even better—on Saturday. If they do, Minnesota will have to pull another miracle—quite possibly the most unfathomable game the UFA has ever seen—out of thin air to win this one.
Two factors could prevent Boston from maintaining their exceptional level of play, starting with Minnesota's rowdy home crowd.
I expected Minnesota to have the advantage over Atlanta, but I have to say, this was one of the most passionate Wind Chill crowds I've ever seen away from Sea Foam Stadium. They absolutely drained the energy from Atlanta at key moments, and I truly felt like this was one of the most impactful 'eighth man' situations I’ve ever seen in this league. There were times when the Hustle players couldn't even hear each other, and I believe it led to a handful of their errors.
It makes you wonder: Has Boston ever had to face a crowd this loud?
From what I’ve seen, I would say no. So I believe that Minnesota’s crowd could be the biggest obstacle for Boston.
A second obstacle for the Glory, though less significant, is player health. I'll be watching Jeff Babbitt closely, as he appeared to have a lower-body issue in the second half against the Shred. While a limited Babbitt would be a notable advantage for the Wind Chill, I don't see it as a dealbreaker for Boston.
Despite battling injuries on multiple occasions this year, Babbitt has consistently delivered game-changing plays, so I would expect him to do so again. As long as he’s on the field playing at a decent level, the Wind Chill may be tempted to overcommit to covering him, which would leave valuable space for Boston's other skilled O-line players to dominate.
One of those players is Simon Carapella, who sustained a leg injury in the second half against Salt Lake. His health will be another factor to watch in the final.
However, the most significant injury from Friday night is Minnesota's Dylan DeClerck. I believe his injury is more impactful because, unlike Babbitt who is expected to play, I cannot imagine DeClerck will be able to. Upon close review of his injury at the end of the second quarter (during the buzzer beater), you’ll notice he displayed a fencing response after a hard fall. This involuntary reaction is a strong indicator of a concussion, making it highly unlikely that he will be cleared to play on Saturday.
Losing DeClerck, the team's second-highest player in plus/minus and their only player with at least 20 goals and 10 blocks, will sting. However, Minnesota proved they can win without him, as they completed their comeback against Atlanta after his injury.
Players stepped up, particularly Paul Krenik, who had the best game of his career with two assists, two goals, and five blocks. The question is whether Krenik will deliver more two-way magic or if another unexpected hero will emerge. Given the O-line's shaky performance throughout the semifinal and the season, one would expect the hero to likely come from Minnesota's D-line.
The primary concern on offense is Josh Klane, who committed five costly errors against Atlanta, many of which occurred early in the game. His questionable timing on hucks was a major issue, contributing significantly to Minnesota's poor three-for-ten completion rate on deep throws. Adding to the problem, Matthew Rehder, a player expected to step up, instead went in the wrong direction, turning the frisbee over four times on only 13 throws.
Although Minnesota has a history of using miraculous defense to overcome its offensive issues, I see no path to victory against Boston if those issues continue and the Glory manage to play even 80 percent as well as they did in the semifinal.
It's hard to imagine Boston's level dropping over 20 percent, especially on the D-line. Their D-line scored on all eight possessions against Salt Lake, not including the final clock-killing possession. Their knack for quickly capitalizing on opponents' sloppy play and making game-changing plays in end-of-quarter situations is nothing new.
Tobe Decreane, a player who has made a habit of these end-of-quarter plays, going up against Minnesota's D-line and their loud crowd? That's pure box office. Decreane's semifinal performance was so strong that one more MVP-level game—regardless of the outcome—would, in my opinion, make him deserving of the award. We aren't just watching a battle for the championship, but a parallel battle for the MVP title as well.
Decreane, Babbitt, and Justin Burnett are three of my MVP candidates that could make a case for themselves in this game. I personally believe that Burnett would need to have the best game of his life to put himself in serious contention. Decreane and Babbitt, in my opinion, could very well confirm that they belong ahead of Daan de Marreé and Austin Taylor with a memorable performance on Saturday.
While Decreane shouldered a heavy load on offense against Salt Lake, Peter Boerth's role was also notable. Playing a season-high seven O-points, Boerth's inclusion allowed the Glory to increase their tempo and shift from a patient, horizontal offense to a more vertical attack. If Boston’s patient, horizontal offense struggles against the Wind Chill, I bet you will see more of him on the O-line.
Minnesota's offense was anything but horizontal on Friday. However, the question remains whether they will adjust their strategy for the championship. I recall moments of a more patient approach from the Wind Chill this season, particularly in Week 12. If they choose to play more carefully, Will Brandt is likely to be a central figure in that strategy.
Brandt, who was slightly less of a factor overall this season than last, delivered a powerful performance, showing up in a big way at Championship Weekend once again. He now has a proven track record of coming through time after time in the final four, so can he pull off one more?
Brandt's play is a perfect encapsulation of Minnesota’s season-long theme: finding a way to get it done when it counts most. The Wind Chill's ridiculous 6-1 run in the fourth quarter against Atlanta proved their ability to elevate their game. If this matchup stays even moderately close, expect them to hit a new gear that very few UFA teams are capable of reaching.
And if Saturday is windier than Friday, which looks likely at the moment, it just helps Minnesota more. The Glory have struggled in less than ideal conditions this year, but I don’t think the winds will be as dramatic this time around.
Wind or no wind, I couldn’t be more thrilled to see these two teams meet for the first time. Wildly different styles will clash on Saturday night.
One Big Number:
81 - Boston’s D-line has scored on 81 percent of their possessions this postseason. They converted 16 of 19 possessions excluding the final clock-killing possession against Salt Lake.
5 - Minnesota has won its last five games at Breese Stevens Field.
