August 4, 2026
By Daniel Cohen

The 2026 season has been filled with compelling storylines throughout the summer, and now just four games remain to determine the four teams that will advance to Championship Weekend. With the stakes continuing to reach their high point, here are five storylines to watch in the Divisional Championship Round.

Tobe Decraene vs. Daan De Marrée | Boston vs. New York

One of the great sports city rivalries of all time, the Boston vs. New York East Division Championship could be the game of the year. Led by their respective Belgian stars and arguably the top two players in the world, Tobe Decraene and Daan De Marrée, this rivalry really began to take shape following Jeff Babbitt’s 2024 decision to sign with Boston after seven seasons, three UFA titles, and a league MVP award with New York. Since that turning point, Glory has a 4-3 record against the Empire after New York won the first six meetings from 2021 to 2023.

While Babbitt is expected to be out this Saturday, the Belgians are active as the top-billing headline of this must-watch rivalry. First and second in MVP voting last year, Decraene and De Marrée have been exceptional in 2026, with Decraene leading the league in scoring with 96 combined goals and assists, and De Marrée ranking third in scores per game (6.7; minimum three games played) and second in receiving yards per game (330). Both guys are capable of taking over games and should be heavily leaned on by their respective teams. Decraene feels like the current favorite to win a second straight MVP award, but could fall short if he’s not able to bring Boston back to Championship Weekend.

20-year-old Elliot Hawkins having an MVP season

The first player in UFA history to lead the league in both assists (65) and receiving yards (3,378) in the regular season, 20-year-old college star Elliot Hawkins has single-handedly changed the narrative around the Indianapolis AlleyCats, a team that looked super shaky early on despite all the talent they brought in this offseason. Equally deadly with the disc in his hands as he is without, the ‘Cats have a fearless quarterback, a dominant downfield receiver, and a pure offensive playmaker that can change the game from anywhere on the field. He’s the most entertaining player to watch in the league right now and already has a strong case for 2026 MVP, despite missing three games in the regular season. Another elite performance against one of the league’s best defenses, especially if it allows Indy to pull off the upset, would likely force the oddsmakers to consider him the MVP favorite.

Minnesota goes for fourth straight division title

While they’d still be two division titles away from tying Madison’s record of six consecutive, a fourth straight division championship for Minnesota would cement them as one of the great powerhouses in league history. Madison (six; 2013-2018), New York (five; 2018-2023), Toronto (five; 2013-2017), and Dallas (four; 2016-2019) are the only other teams that have claimed four or more consecutive division championships. Similar to Madison during their reign at the top of the Central, Minnesota’s success has been defined by their defense. They’ve been top five in break rate every year since 2021 (currently number two this year), and their ability to consistently field D-lines that both generate turnovers and capitalize on scoring opportunities has been unmatched. A strong defensive system paired with optimized personnel and effective game planning is a clear recipe for success, and it’s what has vaulted Minnesota to contender status over the past several seasons. 

Youth movement in the South Division takes center stage

The offseason additions of college teammates Tobias Brooks and Zeke Thoreson have taken the Flyers offense to new heights; it feels like this team is hitting the exact sweet spot of a changing-of-the-guard situation. Allan Laviolette is still an elite distributor, Jacob Fairfax remains one of the league’s top receivers, and Carolina’s got countless role players capable of rising to the occasion. But really it’s the energy, usage, and production of Brooks and Thoreson that make this year’s Flyers team feel like a true contender; on a per-game basis, the duo leads the team in both total yards (nearly 1,000 combined) and scores (over 11 combined).

On the other end of Friday’s matchup, Austin’s in the midst of a youth movement of their own, countering Carolina’s offensive additions on the defensive side. 18-year-old rookie George Gust has played more D-points than anyone on the team this year and is tied for the team lead in blocks (12), third year Sol defender Owen Johnson is right behind him with 11, and rookie defender Cole Chanler most recently notched four assists and three blocks on Austin’s Carolina–Atlanta double header road trip. Like Carolina, Austin’s got a great mix of young playmakers and veteran leaders, though they’ll have their work cut out for them against the number three most efficient Flyers offense.

Oakland looks to make it back to Championship Weekend for first time in 11 years

The longest gap in league history between Championship Weekend appearances is eight seasons, held by the Chicago Union (made it in 2013, didn’t make it again until 2021). It’s been 10 seasons since the Spiders were last at Championship Weekend. They’ve come a long way since the Beau Kittredge-led championship teams of 2014 and 2015. After four straight losing seasons from 2018 to 2022, the Spiders have been on the ascent since 2023, when they went 7-5 and narrowly missed the playoffs. In 2024, they went 8-4 and made the playoffs. Last year they went 9-3 and won a playoff game. This year, they’re 11-1 and hosting the West Division Championship Game.

With a roster chock full of young playmakers, this has been the most successful Spiders team we’ve seen since their first two years in the league, and there’s reason to believe they could remain towards the top of the league’s power rankings for several more seasons. Still, playoff experience matters—the Spiders have just three players on the roster that have played at Championship Weekend—and they’ll be up against a Salt Lake team that has played in the West Division Championship Game every year of their five-year existence.