November 19, 2025
By Daniel Cohen
Tryouts are right around the corner and player signings are going to ramp up in the coming months; we’ve already seen notable player movement and it’s only November. The following five teams will have my undivided attention this offseason as rosters start to take shape around the league.
Boston Glory
Can Boston keep their championship core together? After struggling with roster consistency and buy-in in the first couple years as a franchise, this is a team that’s been building and building year after year, and the team-wide commitment level has been rising with their success. Two-time MVP Jeff Babbitt and reigning MVP Tobe Decraene have a lot to do with this positive cultural shift, and the fact they’re already under contract for 2026 bodes well for Boston’s chances at retaining the bulk of their championship roster.
The other question on my mind has to do with the fact that Boston is now the best team in the league, and I imagine there’ll be significant free agency appeal for players looking for a change of scenery. Will we see some additional movement and shuffling around of players in the East? Boston, DC, Philly, and New York are all pretty close geographically, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see a few players jump ship for a chance to play with Babbitt and Decraene in 2026 and help Boston run it back. There’s also Toronto, the team that brought in several international stars last year; if they don’t bring them all back, will we see new Eurostars join Decraene in Boston? All speculation at this point, but I’m excited to see what the reigning champs have in store.
Chicago Union
Chicago had somewhat of a super team last year, so the biggest question is: What sort of roster retention will we see in 2026? We’ve already seen 2025 All Defense selection Xavier Payne is heading back to Indy, it looks like Head Coach Dave Woods is moving on, and with the way this Union roster has fluctuated year-to-year, it’s going to be another interesting offseason to follow. Looking to bounce back from a disappointing loss in the Central Division Championship Game following their undefeated regular season, getting a similar level of buy-in and continuity—particularly from a guy like MVP runner-up Daan De Marrée—is going to be key for their chances of reclaiming the division and making it back to Championship Weekend. The early loss of Payne certainly isn’t a great start, but if they can retain something like 75 percent of their top 20 guys from last year, I’d view it as a positive offseason.
Colorado Summit
Colorado will be undergoing a rebrand after giving the Summit name to the state’s new NWSL team, which has the potential to give this franchise a fresh start and new identity after three straight disappointing finishes in the West. While they made Championship Weekend in their inaugural 2022 season, they’re a long way from the Jonathan Nethercutt and Cody Spicer days and now with the departure of Alex Atkins, Colorado’s going to have a very different feel in 2026 compared to the franchise’s beginnings.
The Summit made plenty of noise last offseason with the signings of Tobias Brooks and Keenan Laurence (not to mention the Rodney Adams false alarm), but the duo suited up for just six games each so the impact felt minimal. They’re still in search of a reliable QB1 to lead the offense for all 12 games, and they really haven’t had an elite lockdown defender since Spicer’s last season in 2023. Last July when the Summit faced Oakland (once) and Salt Lake (twice), they recorded just five total breaks across three games. They’re going to need as much help as they can get against these high-powered offenses, so I’d put defense as their number one priority this offseason.
New York Empire
Jack Williams in 2019, Ryan Osgar in 2021, John Randolph and Antoine Davis in 2022, several notable UFA vets in 2025, the New York Empire love making moves in the offseason and they’re getting going early for 2026; the team officially announced the signing of former Colorado Summit star Alex Atkins, who earned First Team All-UFA honors in his last full season played (2024). Atkins is the type of signing that could reinvigorate a franchise that has struggled to return to its championship form since losing Osgar and Jeff Babbitt prior to the 2024 season, both with his play on the field and potential to draw additional talent towards the Empire. Despite falling behind DC and Boston last season, New York is still a top three team in the East that has the star power and experience necessary to make a run at a title, and there are always going to be players moving into the most populated city in the country. Like every year, keep an eye on the Empire as they look to take back the top spot in the division in 2026.
San Diego Growlers
Last week, the league announced that LA is suspending team operations. That leaves just one team in southern California, and a lot of great players; do we see somewhat of a SoCal all-star team emerge in San Diego? There’s been a ton of movement over the years between LA and San Diego, with players switching teams every year (some multiple times throughout their careers), and there are some notable UFA vets that’ll likely be looking for a new home in 2026.
Michael Kiyoi, while it’s extremely difficult to imagine him in a non-Aviators jersey, has played the last nine seasons with LA, and could fill a nice depth role for San Diego working into the O-line rotation. Sean McDougall previously played for San Diego in 2022 and scored 40 goals as their go-to deep threat. James Franklin, a towering 6’6” cutter that has averaged nearly five scores per game over the last two seasons, could be one of the more exciting new additions in the league with the potential he’s shown. And lastly Jonathan Lyle, who made First Team All-Rookie in 2025, looks like a future star and could become a franchise staple. We’ll see where everyone ends up, but this will definitely be an offseason worth watching for San Diego as they continue to make waves in the South Division.
