July 15, 2026
By Adam Ruffner

THE BACK 12

• Now officially eliminated from the playoffs for the first time since 2022, the reigning South Division champs from Atlanta will have a long offseason filling out the autopsy report on this campaign. And despite having fresh legs, the Hustle mustered just four takeaways in their Week 12 home loss to Austin and fell to 1-4 on the season in games decided by three goals or fewer. The defense has just not been showing up against playoff-caliber competition, and has averaged just over five break scores per game in their seven combined matchups against Austin, Carolina, and San Diego; the Hustle would rank 16th in breaks if they averaged that rate for a full season, just above Colorado and just below Montreal.

• Since scoring a season-high 33 goals at home on June 13, upstart Toronto has dropped three of their last four games, and is officially out of the playoffs for the fifth straight season. Max Pettenuzzo still maintains an eight-score gap between himself and second place for the rookie scoring title entering the final weekend of the regular season. Fellow rookie Justin Podnar shined in his first offensive start as a pro last Sunday, and tallied season highs in goals (5) and receiving yards (358). If the Rush can keep their young core intact, they could transform into a true contender in 2027.

• Madison flipped the scoreboard from their week-prior beating at Breese Stevens Field, and in the process clinched their third straight playoff berth and ninth as a franchise. Pieran Robert, Nico Ranabhat, and Eric Sjostrom continue to be the primary movers on offense in 2026, but this Radicals team’s playoff successes (or lack thereof) will come down to how their “other pieces” play down the stretch. Anthony Gutowsky will make spot appearances on the offense due to his scoring abilities, but he has solidified a starting spot on defense this season. That means players like Gabe Vordick, Ian McCosky, Jack Nelson, and Sam Stark are going to have larger roles than anticipated; Nelson has been the team’s best deep receiving threat through 11 games, while Vordick and McCosky are instrumental in the midrange for keeping flow and orchestrating scoring plays; Stark’s big forehand throws could be an x-factor in any game going forward. 

• According to Colorado announcer Ian Toner's reporting, UFA legend Jay Froude will be making his last pro start this coming Saturday against Oakland. The 36-year-old, 11-year vet has suited up for three different franchises over his career—Madison, Dallas, and Colorado—and made six different Championship Weekend appearances, notably without a title, which is the only thing lacking from his undeniable Hall Of Fame resume. Froude will retire 11th in blocks and top 20 in scores, with two different First Team All-UFA selections (2017 and 2018), as well as an All-Star nod in 2019; Froude was the number one overall selection in the player draft at the inaugural All-Star event. 

22.Vegas Bighorns (-)
Record: 0-11
Last result: 28-18 (L) at San Diego
Next game: July 18 at San Diego

21. Houston Havoc (-)
Record: 2-8
Last result: 25-15 (L) at San Diego
Next game: July 17 vs Austin

20. Philadelphia Phoenix (-)
Record: 1-10
Last result: 28-17 (L) at DC
Next game: July 17 at New York

19. Oregon Steel (-)
Record: 1-10
Last result: 20-18 (L) at Seattle
Next game: July 10 vs Seattle

18. Chicago Union (-)
Record: 1-9
Last result: 31-18 (L) vs New York
Next game: July 17 at Madison

17. Colorado Apex (-)
Record: 3-8
Last result: 18-11 (L) vs Seattle
Next game: July 18 vs Oakland

16. Pittsburgh Thunderbirds (-)
Record: 2-8
Last result: 24-14 (L) at Indianapolis
Next game: July 17 vs Indianapolis

15. Montreal Royal (-)
Record: 3-8
Last result: 18-17 (W) vs Toronto
Next game: July 18 at Boston

14. Toronto Rush (-)
Record: 5-6
Last result: 30-24 (L) vs New York
Next game: July 18 vs Indianapolis

13. Madison Radicals (-)
Record: 6-4
Last result: 31-19 (W) vs Pittsburgh
Next game: July 17 vs Chicago

12. San Diego Growlers (-)
Record: 6-5
Last result: 28-18 (W) vs Vegas
Next game: July 18 vs Vegas

11. Atlanta Hustle (-2)
Record: 5-6
Last result: 22-20 (L) vs Austin
Next game: July 18 vs DC

THE TOP 10

10. Indianapolis AlleyCats (+1)
Record: 5-5
Last result: 24-14 (W) vs Pittsburgh
Next game: July 17 at Pittsburgh

They AlleyCats continue to be one of the most ferocious teams from deep this year, and are one of just two teams averaging better than 9.5 huck completions per game. But what’s even more encouraging is that after registering a season-low 10 red zone attempts in their June 27 loss to Madison, Indianapolis has averaged 18 red zone looks in their three games since, all ‘Cats wins. The balance of short and long range attacks is the sign of a maturing Indy offense, and a big reason why they’ve crashed back into the top 10. And major congratulations to Cameron Brock for his mind-boggling 1000th career score. The astronomical grand total number is impressive, no doubt. But how about this: Brock has never failed to register at least one score in all 168 starts he’s made as a member of the AlleyCats. 

9. Salt Lake Shred (+1)
Record: 5-6
Last result: 23-22 (L, OT) vs Seattle
Next game: July 17 vs Oakland (Friday Night Frisbee)

Now in his fifth year as a pro, Chad Yorgason has collected enough season accolades to fill an awards shelf, with 2026 being his greatest effort yet. The middle Yorgason brother already has two different All Defense First Team nods (2022 and 2024) to go alongside his Second Team All-UFA selection last year, and he’s surpassed virtually all his 2025 regular season totals with a game left on the schedule. Explosive playmaking is still the bedrock for his superstardom, but Yorgason’s evolution as a deep thrower (52-of-65 since the start of last season) is what makes him so valuable for this still feisty Shred lineup. 

8. Seattle Cascades (-)
Record: 8-3
Last result: 23-18 (W) at Oregon
Next game: July 18 vs Oregon

With 11 blocks in just his last four games, rookie Ricky McLeod has taken over the league leader spot in takeaways. A heat-seeking missile in space, McLeod’s rocket speed is set up by his elite first-read instincts, which are extremely reminiscent of former ‘Scade Lukas Ambrose. Both players love to bait looks in space, and their closing speed transforms would-be open receivers into blocks. And much like their division-crowning season from 2024, Seattle still loves to get out and run the fastbreak off of turnovers, making McLeod particularly valuable for a team preparing to host a playoff game. 

7. Austin Sol (-)
Record: 9-1
Last result: 22-20 (W) at Atlanta
Next game: July 17 at Houston

In his ninth pro season, Kyle Henke has fully evolved into one of the most complete offensive players in the association. He’s a weapon from anywhere on the field, thrower or receiver, and his fluidity/understanding of the Sol offensive system means he’s never a disc stopper; according to Shown Space advanced stats, Henke ranks in the 96th percentile or better in thrower and receiver contribution, and has a virtually equal target distribution among his teammates; seemingly every Austin player is a viable option when Henke has the disc. The Sol are now just two wins away—both against a Houston franchise they’ve never lost to—from securing home field for the South Division final. 

6. DC Breeze (-)
Record: 8-3
Last result: 28-17 (W) vs Philadelphia
Next game: July 18 at Atlanta

The Breeze defense erupted for their fourth double-digit break score performance of the season in Week 12, and look like one of the most dangerous three seeds of all time entering the postseason. DC is assured a road game in the first round of the East Division bracket, but with their playmaking and throwing depth, they’re still going to be one of the hardest outs in the league in 2026. The Boxley-Grovic-Merriman trio on offense can take over games with their speed and constant attacking, while the defense returned standout handler defender Jasper Tom just in time for the playoffs. This team has the longest active playoff streak at nine seasons, but just one Championship Weekend appearance to show for it. Boston and New York have dominated the top of the standings all season, but a Breeze team averaging four more scores per game than a year ago is explosive enough to take down either foe. 

5. Carolina Flyers (-)
Record: 10-2
Last result: 21-20 (W) vs Austin
Next game: N/A

After a shaky start last Friday night, the Flyers deep rotation of athletic defenders took over in the second half and produced another hard fought home win to stay alive for the one seed. Cooper Williams remains the team leader in takeaways, and developing players Dillon Bruer and rookie Owen Stout are making habitual appearances on highlight reels. But it’s journeyman Drew Swanson that is suddenly playing like the team’s best defender. One of the most elite block getters in league history, Swanson has been saddled for several seasons with nagging injuries amid shifting scenery. Now fully healthy, the 6’5” Swanson is both an air marshal in space, but also a hunter underneath, capable of laying out on command in lanes to cause maximum havoc. 

4. New York Empire (-)
Record: 9-2
Last result: 30-24 (W) at Toronto
Next game: July 17 vs Philadelphia

It took almost a month for him to truly settle in, but now Daan De Marrée is really turning up his play as the postseason approaches. The tireless roadrunner is fourth in the league in receiving yards per game (306) through his first six starts with the Empire, and his endless action is basically a human sacrifice for whatever poor defender is tasked with keeping up; for all his highlights, De Marrée is a tactician at heart, and his second-to-none endurance means defenders have no choice but to trail his route running all over the map. This kind of one-on-one domination would be a problem in any offensive system, but it’s particularly dangerous in a New York lineup that is generational at creating space and then attacking it. 

3. Oakland Spiders (-)
Record: 9-1
Last result: 20-19 (W) at Salt Lake
Next game: July 17 at Salt Lake

After registering just 17 or more turnovers in two of their first six games of the season, the Spiders have had three such performances in their last four games, including a three-season high of 25 turns in their last outing against the Shred. Daniel Ritthaler’s return and his finishing ability will be a huge boost for a Spiders offense that can sometimes lack a primary target. Oakland is unquestionably one of the favorites for the title this season, but they are a little reminiscent of recent DC Breeze teams—talented, deep, but without an identifiable QB1 in crunchtime. 

2. Minnesota Wind Chill (-1)
Record: 10-1
Last result: 21-20 (L) vs Boston
Next game: July 19 vs Madison

The Wind Chill offense, quite simply, overheated at home and committed a slew of unforced errors against a B-Team Boston defense. Nate De Morgan displayed the full spectrum of his high-roller style of play, contributing a handful of big scores as well as three costly turnovers, including his third stall of the season; in just seven starts, De Morgan leads the UFA in stalls, with only three other players registering at least two in 2026. Minnesota still looks like the class of the Central, but their constant lineup adjustments and insertions have started to unsettle the rhythm they captured in their win at Oakland. 

1. Boston Glory (+1)
Record: 10-1
Last result: 21-20 (W)
Next game: July 18 vs Montreal

Boston has won five in a row since their home loss to New York, with Tobe Decraene playing like the 2026 MVP award is all but decided. Decraene’s offseason strength training gave him additional weight to deal with the rigors of a long season, and he’s been straight bullying defenders as a result. Opponents can’t deny Decraene his spots, and that’s made the third-year superstar nearly unguardable inside the red zone as he plows around and distributes assists. Thomas Edmonds is having a phenomenal season as a thrower by virtually any measure, and he trails his teammate for the team lead in assists by 36 (!?).