February 12, 2026
By Sam Weiger
Games are listed in chronological order.
Week 1: DC Breeze at Boston Glory
Saturday, April 25
While the Boston season opener is packed with storylines, I’m most excited to see Thomas Edmonds face off against his former squad.
The New England native is set for an emotional debut in a Glory jersey, marking a major milestone in his eight-year career. But the real story is the firepower: with Edmonds joining forces with UFA MVPs Tobe Decreane and Jeff Babbitt, the Breeze face a daunting challenge just to stay competitive.
After failing to reach Championship Weekend last season, some are beginning to wonder if DC’s best days are behind them. The narrative is shifting from 'when' they will win a title to 'if' they still can in the coming years. With a relatively quiet offseason on the roster front, much of the pressure shifts to new head coach Xavier Maxstadt.
While most will focus on the defending champs, I’m looking past the rings and focusing on the Breeze for this specific game. We could find out very quickly if DC is a true contender in 2026. With a coaching staff that knows this roster inside and out and a healthy lineup, the 'transition period' excuse doesn't apply. Anything less than a competitive showing against Boston should be a cause for concern.
Week 2: Salt Lake Shred at Oakland Spiders
Saturday, May 2
Is this the year the Oakland Spiders finally break their losing streak against the Shred?
Oakland has lost all eight of their meetings with Salt Lake, but the Spiders are knocking on the door. Last season proved they’ve closed the gap, with two nailbiting one-goal losses suggesting the tide is ready to turn. With a roster of returning stars already locked in, the 2026 Spiders look like the most lethal iteration of the team in over a decade.
The X-factor in this game? Home-field advantage. Oakland is a different beast at home, where they went 6-1 last year and dismantled heavyweights like New York and Colorado.
With a potential West Division Championship rematch on the horizon, the stakes for the top seed couldn't be higher. If Oakland can use their home-court advantage to topple Salt Lake in the regular season, they might just force the Shred to travel to Oakland once again in a win-or-go-home playoff quarterfinal.
Week 4: Minnesota Wind Chill at Indianapolis AlleyCats
Friday, May 15
For years, Minnesota has effectively owned this rivalry, putting the AlleyCats through a grueling 12-game losing streak. However, Indy executed a franchise-altering offseason overhaul, making the 2026 team potentially the strongest they’ve ever had. With the "new-look" Cats finally boasting the depth to match Minnesota, could they finally turn the tables and get their first win over the Wind Chill since 2019?
With home-field advantage and the Wind Chill likely adjusting to the AlleyCats' reinvented identity, this isn't just a golden opportunity for Indy to snap their losing streak—it's a critical chance to boost their playoff seeding when it’s all said and done.
While the 'Cats are widely expected to lock up a playoff spot in 2026, their final seeding will likely be decided by their heavyweight head-to-head battles with Minnesota and Chicago. A win here wouldn't just be historic; it would prove that Indy is no longer just a playoff team, but a legitimate threat in the Central Division.
Week 4: Colorado Apex at New York Empire
Saturday, May 16
The spotlight shines brightest on Alex Atkins in Week 4, as he headlines one of the most mouthwatering revenge games of the 2026 season. Before an injury sidelined him last year, Atkins was a superstar in Colorado—one of the first players fans looked for when the pull went up. After being the heartbeat of the franchise since its 2022 inception, seeing him in another uniform is nothing short of surreal.
For his new team, the New York Empire, this game feels very important due to their unforgiving 2026 schedule. With the East Division becoming a shark tank featuring Boston, DC, and a surging Philadelphia, the Empire cannot afford to drop winnable games like this.
While the Apex still boast elite veterans and young stars like Quinn Finer and Nanda Min-Fink, their roster underwent a significant exodus this winter. With Atkins (NY), Noah Coolman (MIN), Tobias Brooks (CAR), and Elliot Hawkins (IND) all gone, can the Apex remain relevant this year? Unless their next generation of talent takes a monumental leap by Week 4, this matchup stands as a golden opportunity for Atkins and the Empire to secure a meaningful win.
Week 8: Minnesota Wind Chill at Oakland Spiders
Friday, June 12
It’s hard to believe Minnesota and Oakland will face off for the first time ever; both franchises are entering their twelfth season.
This matchup promises to be a classic "unstoppable force meets immovable object" scenario, pitting one of the league’s most potent offenses against one of its most elite defenses.
With a lineup featuring Walker Frankenberg, Leo Gordon, Evan Magsig, Justin Burnett, Lukas Ambrose, and Noah Hanson, this game carries the prestige and electricity of an All-Star Game. It is, quite simply, must-see television.
For the standouts on this revitalized Oakland squad, this is more than just another game on the calendar. Most of this roster will play their first game against an elite, championship-caliber opponent from outside of their own division.
Week 9: Salt Lake Shred at Minnesota Wind Chill
Friday, June 19
For the third consecutive season, we’ll get to see Salt Lake and Minnesota square off.
This will be Salt Lake’s first visit to Sea Foam Stadium since their 2023 playoff semifinal meeting - one of the most unforgettable Championship Weekend games in UFA history.
Interestingly, Minnesota might have an overlooked upper hand in preparation. After battling Oakland last week, the Wind Chill have already had somewhat of a "dress rehearsal" for Salt Lake’s brand of West Division ultimate.
But could the real X-factor end up being Nate de Morgan? Now a blossoming talent in Minnesota, de Morgan spent his rookie year in Salt Lake and knows their roster inside out. Between his "insider intel" and the extra motivation of a revenge game, we could be looking at a breakout game for the young star.
Week 12: New York Empire at Chicago Union
Friday, July 10
For the first time since their 2022 title game clash, New York and Chicago are set to lock horns—and by Week 12, the stakes could be massive.
With the sudden rise of Philadelphia and a revamped Indianapolis squad, these two former heavyweights are no longer locks for the postseason. If either of these giants falls short of the playoffs in 2026, it will officially mark the end of an era. Neither franchise has missed the postseason since 2018.
Even if the Empire and Union have their playoff spots secured by late season, this battle could play a huge role in determining playoff seeding—deciding who gets to host a playoff game and who has to travel.
On top of that, we’ve got another revenge game storyline as John Lithio faces off against his former New York squad. As a member of the Empire, he had one of the biggest games of his career, a five-goal and two-block performance in the 2022 championship against Chicago. Lithio is hungry for a comeback following a missed 2025 season. Will seeing the Empire across the field generate another dominant performance?
Week 12: Boston Glory at Minnesota Wind Chill
Saturday, July 11
Minnesota enters this matchup with plenty in their favor: home turf, an unmatched hunger for revenge, and a schedule that will have them battle-tested. After heavyweight bouts with Oakland, Salt Lake, and Indy, the Wind Chill will be prepared as they’ll ever be to face the Glory.
But no amount of early-season preparation can truly simulate the 'Decraene Effect.' In the 2025 title game, Decraene was untouchable, carving up the defense for seven assists and 290 throwing yards with a 97 percent completion rate. All eyes will be on coaching mastermind Ben Feldman to see if he’s cooked up a specific 'Decraene-stopper' scheme or if the reigning MVP and Finals MVP is simply too dynamic to contain.
If any team has the defensive firepower to stifle the Glory’s O-line, it’s Minnesota—and they only got scarier this offseason. While the loss of James Pollard hurts, they more than offset it by hauling in a top-tier takeaway duo: Coolman, the 2025 co-leader in blocks, and Ambrose, the 2024 leader in blocks and Defensive Player of the Year.
Week 13: DC Breeze at Atlanta Hustle
Saturday, July 18
The Breeze and the Hustle have followed eerily similar trajectories over the last few years—dominating the regular season only to face heartbreak in the postseason.
As DC prepares for a daunting path through the East playoffs, this Week 13 clash is their best chance to storm into the playoffs with the momentum they desperately need with Boston potentially looming.
But DC faces a steep uphill battle trying to out-possess an Atlanta team that typically minimizes mistakes. To make matters worse, the Hustle are dominant at Silverback Park, where they went undefeated (7-0) last year with a resume that includes wins over heavy hitters (one win over Salt Lake, two wins over San Diego, two wins over Carolina, and a win over Austin).
The secret weapon for DC could be Aidan Downey. Currently on "breakout watch," Downey returns to familiar territory in Atlanta, where he spent two seasons with the Hustle and competed for the University of Georgia. His intimate knowledge of Atlanta’s system and local conditions might be exactly what DC needs to tip the scales.
The Breeze and Hustle have only met twice in league history, splitting a back-to-back series during their 2021 stint as division rivals, making this Week 13 clash a long-awaited tiebreaker between two of the UFA's most consistent franchises.
