February 5, 2026
By Sam Weiger
As we look toward 2026, the league is in a state of flux. Half the teams have new coaches, and several rosters have been overhauled. Looking at the top UFA teams, we’re identifying the one specific thing—whether it's a new strategy or a mental shift—that should be a top priority this year.
Boston Glory: Anticipate the counter-punch
The Boston Glory don't need a tactical revolution, their formula works: they boasted the league's second-fewest goals against per game and second-lowest turnover rate last year. With reigning MVP Tobe Decreane leading a returning core of elite playmakers, the foundation is rock solid.
However, dominance breeds scrutiny. Opponents will likely look to swarm Decreane with double teams and clog his favorite throwing lanes to exploit his tendencies. To keep their offense fluid, Boston must diversify.
Getting high-accuracy playmaker Simon Carapella (97.44 percent completion rate last year) and developing talent Calvin Stoughton (24 assists last year) more involved as primary playmaking handlers could disrupt defensive schemes and pull attention off Decreane.
Minnesota Wind Chill: Become more disciplined offensively
Minnesota’s O-line needs to cut down on mistakes and play more patiently rather than panicking.
We continue to see overeager and poorly thrown hucks from Josh Klane, and that absolutely needs to be addressed this season. Despite limiting Klane to just 16 completions, he still ended up throwing two incomplete hucks and committing four total turnovers in last year’s UFA title game.
It’s no question that Noah Coolman will add to Minnesota’s offense no matter which line he’s on, and he could help reduce incompletions as a playmaking receiver. He was excellent on the receiving end of hucks last year, so if Klane continues to play the same role, their chemistry could be vital to boosting the Wind Chill O-line completion percentage (92.54 in 2025, the lowest of any playoff team.)
Salt Lake Shred: Unlocking MVP-caliber dominance from their top stars
Identifying Salt Lake’s shortcomings is a challenge, especially considering how narrowly they missed the mark against Boston in last year’s Championship Weekend semifinal.
Their exit wasn't due to a lack of effort, but there was certainly a lack of "hero" moments. While teams like Boston and Minnesota got game-breaking performances from Decraene and Paul Krenik, the Shred lacked those same singular, dominant surges when the stakes were highest.
Tony Mounga proved he could reach that "god-mode" level in the West Division final, but we didn’t see that individual MVP-caliber performance from any Shred player in the Boston matchup—and their red zone (64 percent) and break rates (26 percent) suffered as a result.
It will be interesting to see if head coach Bryce Merrill attempts to find the formula to extract out-of-this-world performances from stars like Mounga, Jordan Kerr, Will Selfridge, Jace Duennebeil, or Kyle Weinberg when the season is on the line.
Atlanta Hustle: Cultivate a culture of late-game poise
From high-stakes Divisional Championship exits in '23 and '24 to a string of heartbreakers against Chicago and Minnesota in '25, Atlanta has repeatedly stumbled at the finish line. Between uncharacteristic drops and telegraphed passes, the most frustrating part is seeing the team's top stars blinking in the clutch.
So, how does Coach Tuba Benson-Jaja break this cycle?
Realistically, the fix lies in preparation. The Hustle sometimes look aimless in the closing minutes; by designing and relentlessly drilling a specific "clutch package," Benson-Jaja can replace late-game panic with muscle memory.
It’ll be interesting to see if they utilize Alec Wilson Holliday more in these moments. He had quite a statistical dip last year (38 goals compared to his previous 60), and he’s shown that he can make clutch plays late in games.
Chicago Union: Cut down on turnovers
Turnovers halted Chicago’s Central Division campaign last year. When you watch their loss to Minnesota, you felt like they needed another player like Andrew Roy or Austin Taylor, an efficient and reliable O-line anchor who can facilitate upfield movement while minimizing turnovers.
The roster is currently thin on efficient, full-time O-line anchors outside of Brandon Van Deusen. Newcomer Alexander Wilcox has the potential to contribute, ranking third in completions for Carolina in 2024. But he had two-plus turnovers per game in his only full season with the Flyers, making him a risky solution.
If Wilcox can’t clean up his game and Pawel Janas doesn’t return to an elite level as an O-line anchor, Chicago’s path to Championship Weekend looks steep, regardless of Daan De Marrée's status.
Indianapolis AlleyCats: Focus on team synergy
While Chicago’s 2025 overhaul focused on reunions and international signings, the AlleyCats took a more high-variance approach to their "supercharged" offseason.
By blending returning veterans with stars from across the league and a fresh crop of rookies, Indy has built a roster that is as talented as it is unpredictable. This "chaotic" construction may lead to more early-season growing pains than we saw from Chicago last year.
While the defensive core of William Wettengel, Nate Little, James Pollard, and Xavier Payne looks like an unstoppable force, the real test for new head coach Nathan Bussberg lies in developing synergy on the offensive side on both lines. If Bussberg can mold this diverse talent into a cohesive unit by the postseason, the AlleyCats will be a dangerous force—one capable of turning a deep playoff run into a long-term recruiting tool.
Oakland Spiders: Keep sharpening their loaded O-line
Regardless of the final roster, Oakland’s O-line possesses arguably the highest ceiling in the UFA. With Walker Frankenberg, Evan Magsig, and Leo Gordon already locked in—and the potential for stars like Adam Rees, Jason Vallee, Saul Wildavsky, Raekwon Adkins, or Dexter Clyburn to join them—this unit is guaranteed to be stacked.
Last season was merely the beginning for this revamped squad; expect their chemistry and efficiency to skyrocket with more UFA experience. While their performance against Salt Lake in the West Division title game (17 goals, 40 percent O-line conversion rate) was uncharacteristically low, that growing pain will hopefully fuel a breakout in 2026.
DC Breeze: Figure out the deep attack
DC’s commitment to a patient, short-game philosophy is facing renewed scrutiny following a season that saw them take a huge step back from the year prior.
While the team has historically prioritized high-volume passing over deep looks, last season’s stats tell a cautionary tale: they exceeded ten hucks in only five games and finished with a mediocre 58.18 percent completion rate.
Unlike championship-caliber squads that keep defenses honest with a balanced deep attack, DC’s tendency to move horizontally often leads to stagnation. The solution may lie with Jacques Nissen; Ultiworld’s 2024 D-I Player of the Year converted 70 percent of his 14 deep shots last year, so wouldn’t it be wise for the Breeze to let him stretch the field more often?
San Diego Growlers: Recruit and retain as much talent as possible
Last season was a step in the right direction for the Growlers, yet they remained a clear step behind the league’s elite, evidenced by a winless record against Oakland (0-2) and Atlanta (0-3).
With a veteran core including Travis Dunn (35), Khalif El-Salaam (32), and Jesse Cohen (33), San Diego is in danger of hitting a performance ceiling.
Luckily, the Aviators shutting down operations provides a golden opportunity for a roster overhaul. While the signing of LA’s leading scorer, Jonathan Lyle, is a great start, more moves are needed to balance the aging roster. So while adding a star like Sean McDougall would be huge, acquiring more young talent like Max Combs will be the real key to ensuring this window stays open for years to come.
Carolina Flyers: Improve offensive balance
Carolina missed the playoffs despite Allan Laviolette’s historic individual season, proving he can't carry the team alone. Opposing defenses often exposed the Flyers' lack of secondary offensive threats.
Tobias Brooks and Rutledge Smith are players that could step up, with Brooks expected to play the biggest role in helping them achieve offensive balance. His transition to QB last year means that he can provide much-needed throwing relief, but his one-month absence at the start of this season creates an immediate void. This is problematic for a Flyers team that historically struggles at the start of the season.
Despite 29 goals last season, the Flyers could use a sophomore leap from Smith, the former D-I All-American First Team standout. He needs to use his slippery cutting ability to snag more hucks and get open in the red zone more often to punish defenses.
New York Empire: Revitalize the huck defense
New York’s defense has been sliding.
Last season, they surrendered 19.69 goals per game, their poorest average since 2018. Although the Empire actually recorded more blocks than they did in 2024, they faltered significantly in other areas. Most notably, they allowed opponents to complete 63.16 percent of their hucks, a step back from the 60.48 percent allowed in 2024.
Can Alex Atkins, an elite defender with a knack for erasing hucks, be a big part of the solution? While it remains to be seen how he is deployed, New York could give him heavy minutes on the D-line given their recent struggles against the long game.
I suspect the playoff blowout against DC is still on Anthony Nuñez’s mind; in that 23-12 defeat, the Breeze connected on nine of 11 deep shots (82 percent).
