May 14, 2025
By Adam Ruffner
24. Detroit Mechanix (-)
Record: 0-1
Last result: 22-17 (L) vs Pittsburgh
Next game: May 24 at Indianapolis
Detroit finished their 2025 home opener with the fewest turnovers in a Mechanix season debut in four years, and held the Pittsburgh deep attack to just a 33 percent mark on huck attempts, which shows signs of improvement on both sides of the disc. And Jake Felton picked up right where he left off his rookie season: Trying to throw a frisbee a country mile every time he touches plastic. The sophomore slinger has seven straight starts of at least two assists and two huck completions, and is top 40 all-time in most completions per game through just his first 12 starts as a pro. But it’s impossible to ignore Felton’s throwaways—six straight starts with at least five turnovers—and the 83 percent career completion mark, which underpin the dazzling talent he continues to show.
23. Vegas Bighorns (-)
Record: 0-3
Last result: 23-13 (L) vs Seattle
Next game: May 23 vs Oregon
The Bighorns are very much a work in progress, and still searching for their first game with more than 13 goals after their first three outings. But stacked against proven playoff-level competition to begin their franchise, Vegas is getting a steep education that could be of benefit to the team in the long run. They’ve improved both their red zone efficiency and their defensive break rate in each of their first three games, and now they have an upcoming opponent that could present an opportunity for a tight match against the Steel.
22. Oregon Steel (-)
Record: 0-2
Last result: 28-13 (L) vs Oakland
Next game: May 17 vs Seattle
After a year away from the team, veteran thrower Austin Kelly has returned to the Steel as the offense’s QB1 through their first two games. The only Oregon player to complete multiple hucks so far this season, Kelly already has over 700 throwing yards in 2025 owing to his massive forehand throws and confident decision making from the backfield. Defenses have been able to key in on Kelly because he is the single dimension to Oregon’s deep game, but the Steel have some potential if they can develop any depth at the handler position.
21. Indianapolis AlleyCats (-1)
Record: 0-2
Last result: 32-17 (L) vs Minnesota
Next game: May 24 vs Detroit
Indy was overwhelmed from the start against the reigning champs, surrendering nine first quarter scores to the Wind Chill en route to their 15-goal defeat at home. The ‘Cats offense couldn’t get any footing against a formidable Minnesota front, and the numerous backfield turnovers for Indianapolis resulted in a whopping 16 break scores for the opposition. With Seth Gudeman and Nicholas Betsch operating as hybrid attackers in the midfield, the AlleyCats have some success when they get into continuation looks and can take shots downfield. The trouble is that there is no consistency in establishing drives, so oftentimes the O-line sputters before they can get the disc to the right players.
20. Los Angeles Aviators (+1)
Record: 0-3
Last result: 26-18 (L) vs Atlanta
Next game: May 16 at San Diego
Much like Indy, the Aviators struggled to get their offense off the field to start the game against Atlanta in Week 3, sinking into a 4-0 hole before eventually losing by eight in the final tally. And yet it was the O-line’s most efficient performance of the young season, and LA scored a season high 18 against the Hustle while completing 11 hucks. The Aviators defense has yet to establish any semblance of a gameplan for the counterattack, and is tied for second to last in the league for fewest break scores per game at two.
19. Houston Havoc (-1)
Record: 0-3
Last result: 28-19 (L) at Austin
Next game: May 16 vs Colorado
In two games against the Sol so far this season, the Havoc have given up 58 total goals to their Texas counterparts, 24 of which came on Austin break scores. There’s more throwing and playmaking on the Havoc O-line on the attack, but there seems to be a lack of coverage in transition following turnovers, leading to an onslaught of easy scores for the opposition. Opponents have the third highest break rate against Houston after the first three weeks of the season.
18. Montreal Royal (+1)
Record: 0-3
Last result: 17-11 (L) at Boston
Next game: May 17 vs New York
Despite the near monsoon conditions the Royal were greeted with in New York last Friday night, Montreal went 10-of-10 from deep and came just two goals short of the Empire in a nailbiter. Royal veterans Christophe Tremblay-Joncas, Jakob Brissette, and Kevin Quinlan were all throwing ropes through the sheets of rain downfield, and Quentin Bonnaud continually demonstrated why he is still one of the most feared one-on-one matchups downfield; Jeremy Hill coming back from a season lost to injury and getting diving goals is a great thing to see. But swamped with one of the league’s toughest schedules, and with no signs of slowing, it’s going to be another rough road for the plucky Royal.
17. Madison Radicals (-)
Record: 1-1
Last result: 22-17 (L) at Austin
Next game: May 17 vs Pittsburgh
With pro stints in Oregon and Philadelphia already under his belt, Radicals first year player Kainoa Chun-Moy will be making his native city debut this coming Saturday in Madison’s home opener. A smooth thrower, Chun-Moy was deployed as a D-line asset during the Radicals road trip through Texas in Week 2, but did see 10 points of offense over two games; he had one of the more underrated, back-shoulder-read defensive plays from that weekend. With their well documented offensive woes, it will be interesting to see if Madison utilizes Chun-Moy on O-line at all, facing a virtual must-win against Pittsburgh.
16. Pittsburgh Thunderbirds (-)
Record: 2-0
Last result: 22-17 (W) at Detroit
Next game: May 17 at Madison
So far, so good with the T-Birds taking care of must-win matchups early in their schedule. The spread style offense and fast tempo disc movement has yielded good results early against questionable defenses, and despite captain Jimmy Towle missing from the lineup due to an injury. Second year striker Marcel Oliart has stepped up in Towle’s absence, and has almost as many goals this year (10) in two starts as he did in seven games as a rookie. Now a true test for the Thunderbirds: Week 4 at Madison to face the Radicals at Breese Stevens Field, the site of 2025 Championship Weekend and a venue Pittsburgh has never won at in 10 seasons of play.
15. Toronto Rush (-)
Record: 0-3
Last result: 24-21 (L) vs Philadelphia
Next game: May 30 vs DC
James Lewis, Arvids Karklins, and Tom Blasman have been three of the most exciting playmakers in the early going, with Blasman showcasing a full throwing repertoire against Philly last Saturday. But without a positive result in the win column, the Rush reboot has stalled after their first three games, and they unfortunately face a familiar predicament at the bottom of the East Division standings looking up at the competition. Toronto attempted 20 hucks in Week 3 and connected on only eight, which really showcases the lack of connectivity between the Rush’s many talented parts.
14. Seattle Cascades (-2)
Record: 1-2
Last result: 23-13 (W) at Vegas
Next game: May 17 at Oregon
Before the Cascades cashed in on 13 breaks against an expansion team last Saturday, the reigning division champs had just five break scores combined in their first two losses of the season. It’s a major departure for a Seattle team that finished 2024 second in the league in D-line scores per game, and a trend the ‘Scades need to reverse if they want to stay in the playoff hunt in a suddenly ferocious West Division. Of note: Garrett Martin is on pace to finish with 70 or more scores for the third straight season. Only one other player in the league, Travis Dunn, has a shot at matching Martin’s three-season scoring run.
13. San Diego Growlers (-)
Record: 2-1
Last result: 20-19 (L) vs Atlanta
Next game: May 16 vs Los Angeles
Before the final buzzer sounded and the dust settled with Atlanta’s Dean Ramsey clutching the frisbee in triumph, the Growlers took every punch the Hustle could dish and kept right on coming. There is toughness and execution across both lines, as evidenced by the team’s sterling red zone efficiency. With just two missed opportunities on 38 chances in 2025, San Diego ranks second in the league with a nearly 95 percent conversion rate inside the 20 yard line. Travis Dunn is obviously and once again a central reason for the Growlers’ scoring success, but Khalif El-Salaam was downright dominant near the goal line on numerous occasions against his former Hustle teammates last Friday night. The Growlers showed a lot of bark, but can they bite back in the revenge matchup in just under two weeks in Atlanta?
12. Austin Sol (-)
Record: 3-0
Last result: 28-19 (W) vs Houston
Next game: May 17 vs Colorado
The Sol have finished in the league’s top eight in breaks per game in each of the past four seasons, and are on pace to be a top three team in 2025 after their first three matchups. But the Havoc and Radicals don’t exactly feature the most threatening offensive lineups, and now Austin must figure out how to slow down a Summit O-line in Week 4 that has the potential to be a top five unit. Dallas transplants Connor DeLuna and Owen Johnson have been bigtime additions in the counterattack for the defense, and Jake Reinhardt’s booming pulls often pin the opposition deep in their own half of the field, which allows Austin’s athletic defenders to blitz opposing backfields on early possession throws.
11. Salt Lake Shred (-1)
Record: 1-1
Last result: 22-12 (W) vs Vegas
Next game: May 23 vs Seattle
This spot is, frankly, a little too low for the Shred. But with a sole win against Vegas to show for their first two games, there’s still some proving to be done for a newly reformatted Salt Lake roster. A main area of concern coming into the season was at handler, where the team lost two of their top huckers in Sean Connole and Grant Lindsley coming into 2025. But in their absence and with a new offensive system, the Shred deep attack has flourished. Salt Lake is 12-of-13 (92 percent) on huck attempts this season, and there’s more depth in who engages the deep ball than ever before. Third year thrower McKay Yorgason had just one huck completion in his first two seasons in the pros, but is already 4-of-4 from deep so far this year slotted alongside brother Chad Yorgason.
10. Philadelphia Phoenix (+1)
Record: 3-0
Last result: 24-21 (W) at Toronto
Next game: May 23 vs New York
Speaking of tough: the Phoenix’s rally to begin the second quarter last weekend in Toronto, and reverse a first frame deficit, might come to define their season. Sean Mott and Scott Heyman continue to be the best one-two throwing punch in the UFA through the first three weeks of the season, while Paul Owens, Nate Little, and the rest of the Philly defense seem to get stops at the most opportune times. Little gives Philly one of the best end-of-quarter eliminators on opposing buzzer beater attempts, and Owens produces more turnovers in the reset space than anyone else in the league; Mott mentioned in the post game interview following their win against the Rush that Owens was the best defender in the league, and right now it’s hard to argue given his importance to this Phoenix team.
9. Colorado Summit (-)
Record: 1-0
Last result: 24-12
Next game: May 16 at Houston
The Summit will descend from elevation this coming weekend for a challenging and heat-drenched Week 4 road trip through Texas that could determine Colorado’s playoff chances. Similar to last season’s Central Division back-to-back, the upcoming interdivisional slate for the Summit offers first-time matchups against unfamiliar foes, and a chance to change Colorado’s 2-4 all-time record against interdivisional competition. Former Spiders star Keenan Laurence is set to make his Summit debut, and a healthy Quinn Finer is a gamechanger that Colorado didn’t have available in Madison or Minnesota in 2024. With their upcoming injection of collegiate talent on the horizon, the Summit getting a strong start would go a long way to challenging Oakland for the top spot in the West standings.
8. Carolina Flyers (-2)
Record: 0-1
Last result: 20-18 (L) vs DC
Next game: May 17 at Atlanta (2x)
The Flyers lost by just two goals in their home opener to an extremely tough DC team, and yet it felt like much more. The exodus of star talent and a coaching change over the offseason are certainly at the core of the vibes shift in Carolina. But outside of Grayson Sanner making electric plays, there's just a visible lack of energy from the 2024 runner ups. But Rutledge Smith and John McDonnell are weapons inside the red zone, and Jacob Fairfax plus Allan Laviolette are still two of the best in the business at working the continuation game in space. Carolina could somewhat afford slow starts in the past, but that may not be the case in 2025 with upcoming games all against playoff contenders; San Diego is the only team the Flyers play between now and June 20 with a blemish on their record.
7. New York Empire (+1)
Record: 2-1
Last result: 22-20 (W) vs Montreal
Next game: May 16 at Boston (Friday Night Frisbee)
Calvin Brown undoubtedly added a much-needed deep dimension to the New York offensive attack in his 2025 debut. The fourth-year standout completed three hucks on his own, and assisted the Empire to their highest huck total (9) of their last seven outings dating back to last season. Big man Ben Jagt was the most obvious individual beneficiary in Week 3, but Brown’s presence and the renewed deep game allowed Jack Williams more freedom to roam and pick his spots as a dual threat; Williams was in rhythm against Montreal and tallied a season-high six hockey assists, compared to just two combined in his first two games of the season. Now the Empire look for revenge on the road in Boston after last year’s playoff thriller.
6. DC Breeze (+1)
Record: 2-1
Last result: 20-18 (W) at Carolina
Next game: May 18 vs Boston
A fully functional DC offense produced the fewest turnovers in a single game this season last Saturday, and showcased its ability to operate and solve seemingly every coverage thrown at it. Carolina tried everything from sideline traps and roller pulls to stunt the Breeze flow, but it was all to no avail as Jacques Nissen, Cole Jurek, and Christian Boxley led an attack that stayed in motion all game long and converted on a scintillating 16-of-20 (80 percent) of their O-line possessions. Jurek continues to play like a top 20 player in this league following his All-UFA selection in 2024. He is one of just two players in the UFA with over 1,000 receiving yards already tallied in 2025, currently paces the team with 11 goals, and has just one turnover in over 80 touches through three starts.
5. Oakland Spiders (-)
Record: 4-0
Last result: 26-21 (W) vs Seattle
Next game: May 24 vs Seattle
Undefeated. Home opener win against the three-time league champion Empire. Back-to-back wins against last year’s West Division champs from Seattle. The Spiders have been the league’s most opportunistic success story through the first three weeks, and it feels like they’re only just tapping into their potential. The Oakland offense scored on nearly 70 percent of their possessions last Friday, and the team as a whole registered the third fewest turnovers (12) in a single game in Spiders franchise history. Evan Magsig, Leo Gordon, and Jason Vallee are the most mobile trio of handlers in the league, and their whirling dervish routine of weaves and handoffs near the end zone is a flurry to watch unfold. And now Oakland has a chance for a clean sweep of Seattle after a bye week.
4. Atlanta Hustle (-)
Record: 3-0
Last result: 26-18 (W) at Los Angeles
Next game: May 17 vs Carolina (2x)
All six of the Hustle’s top throwers so far this season have a completion rating of 94 percent or better, with that “floor” position being occupied by the team’s leading deep passer Hayden Austin-Knab, who is by-the-way 8-for-10 on hucks in 2025. Suffice it to say this Atlanta attack is firing on all cylinders, and given the theatrics in San Diego, it looks like it might take more than just an opponent's best effort to bring this Hustle team to heel. Last week I mentioned Heyman as the early season MVP frontrunner, and I think Brett Hulsmeyer absolutely deserves to be side-by-side in that discussion for his all around play. With more talent on the Atlanta roster this year, Hulsmeyer can flex more readily between offensive and defensive rotations—he already has 21 points on D-line this year compared to 24 total in 2024—and be an impact on both sides of the disc.
3. Chicago Union (-)
Record: 0-0
Last result: N/A
Next game: May 17 at Minnesota (Game Of The Week)
It’s been teased all offseason that Pawel Janas may not return to his role as the central O-line distributor for this Union offense, and may instead shore up a role in coverage on defense. But if number 55 isn’t receiving the opening center pass for the Chicago offense this coming Saturday, likely from former LA Brandon Van Deusen, I’d be a little shocked, personally. For all the hype and change associated with the Union this season, it’s hard to imagine Janas—who has never completed fewer than 593 passes in a single season in his seven-year pro career—not being a league leader in throwing once again by the end of the schedule.
2. Boston Glory (-)
Record: 2-0
Last result: 17-11 (W) vs Montreal
Next game: May 16 vs New York (Friday Night Frisbee)
Boston continues to bully opponents between a rock and a hard place, making few mistakes and playing tough-nosed defense. The tandem of Jeff Babbitt and Tobe Decraene might be the most lethal playmaking duo in the league in 2025, and Glory are sporting a league-best 85 percent O-line hold rate after their first two games of the season; Boston isn’t always pretty on offense, and they don’t have to be with Babbitt and Decraene patrolling space following turnovers. Boston has bettered New York in each of their past two meetings, and could really start a trend with a third straight win over the Empire this Friday.
1. Minnesota Wind Chill (-)
Record: 1-0
Last result: 32-17 (W) at Indianapolis
Next game: May 17 vs Chicago (Game Of The Week)
The shellacking the Wind Chill handed out in Indiana last Saturday is the kind of showing you like to see from a team defending its throne. But Minnesota has always excelled at dispatching the cellar dwellers of the Central, and now welcome a much improved Chicago squad that already beat the Wind Chill at Sea Foam Stadium in their last matchup. The past two years at home have had drastically different results for the Chill, with Minnesota going a perfect 7-0 in 2023 before stumbling to a 4-3 record last year. Justin Burnett finished with a team-high four blocks in his team debut last weekend, and could draw a must-see matchup with the Union’s Daan De Marrée in the coming “Game Of The Week”.
