June 23, 2026
By Evan Lepler
“Seven On The Line” is part two of The Tuesday Toss, highlighting seven more important storylines around the UFA. Read part one here.
1. Salt Lake Stymies Madison
In retrospect, with just three full days to prepare following their Sunday evening win over Indy, the Madison Radicals might not have been fully ready for the Shred, who sliced and diced their way to an 18-11 lead before hanging on for a 23-19 Thursday night victory.
“Film sessions can only get you so far,” said Madison’s Pieran Robert. “Facing a new team is always going to come with some challenges, and I think Salt Lake did a great job at pushing us mentally and physically.”
The Shred steadily built their lead by consistently outrunning the Radicals, using their speed and skill to stay in front wire-to-wire. Chad Yorgason tossed six assists, Matt Russnogle caught six goals, and the Madison D-line produced three of their four breaks in the game’s final 13 minutes. Far too little and too late, as Salt Lake bounced back from its recent one-goal loss in Seattle.
“When we connect all our pieces together, we bring out the best version of everyone,” said Russnogle. “And that’s when we play our best.”
Oscar Brown’s 2026 debut was also significant for the Shred, as the 21-year-old produced two blocks, threw one assist, and anchored the D-line’s brain train alongside Reed Browning, Eugene L’Heureux, and Luke Yorgason. Robert led the Radicals with four goals while Max Sample and Anthony Gutowsky each found the end zone three times, but Madison had plenty to learn from the loss.
“One of the big questions for our defense this year is ‘how do we generate more pressure around the disc?’” said Robert. “Salt Lake was great at utilizing the entire width of the field, and as we look to future Indy and Minnesota matchups, we really want to focus on covering more ground and putting more pressure on our marks to disrupt these great swinging offenses. We definitely do not like taking a loss, especially at home in front of the wonderful Breeze crowd, but with about half of our season left, it’s important to recognize the gaps in our play that Salt Lake was able to exploit. Being able to take these insights and move forward instead of living in the past will be the biggest key to success to finish out our season.”
2. But the Shred Fall Short in Minnesota
While the Radicals had two days off before Sunday’s trip to Chicago, the Shred had a quick turnaround against the undefeated Wind Chill, where Minnesota’s strong opening quarter on Friday night might have been the difference in the game.
“Our confidence wavered just a bit, and it showed in the first quarter,” said Russnogle. “If that first quarter goes differently, or [we get] just one or two more holds, I think that game feels much different.”
Certainly, the conditions were a factor, as the game began amidst steady rain and a significant wind, but as they’ve historically done in recent years, the Wind Chill found a way to control the game even in tough conditions. Minnesota produced five breaks in the opening quarter to build a 9-4 lead.
“That’s the start we needed,” Wind Chill Coach Ben Feldman told Ryan Baker. “Tactically, I feel really good about our ability to hold a lead.”
By halftime, it was 13-6. Like Madison the night before, Salt Lake clawed back down the stretch, but still fell by four, with the Wind Chill prevailing 20-16.
“It sometimes can feel like one night we have it, and the next night we’re trying to find the rhythm again,” said Russnogle, who only scored one goal on Friday after finding the end zone six times on Thursday. “I think a lot of it comes down to using the entire width of the field. When we can attack horizontally confidently, then we can open up bigger lanes and attack more vertically. [We’ve] got to be better about quick adjustments in games based upon what the opponents are taking away.”
Meanwhile, Minnesota improved to 8-0 for the first time in franchise history with an incredibly balanced team effort. Will Brandt, Noah Coolman, and Micah Davis led the Wind Chill with three assists apiece, while Coolman, Greg Cousins, and Nate De Morgan paced the squad with three goals each.
For Davis, who just finished his junior year at University of Pittsburgh and only made his UFA debut against Vegas in Week 8, it was an incredibly special night in front of a record Wind Chill crowd.
“The Vegas game was fun, but there’s nothing like Sea Foam,” Davis told Baker. “I was just trying to play within myself. I know my game, so I feel confident in what I’m comfortable with.”
Just a few minutes before Austin became the 15th team in UFA history to start a season 8-0, Minnesota became the 14th to reach this achievement. Both the Wind Chill and Sol will try to match what Boston did last season, when the Glory started 8-0 and went on to win the title.
UFA TEAMS THAT HAVE STARTED 8-0
| TEAM | YEAR | CHAMP WEEKEND? | TITLE? |
| Toronto | 2013 | YES | YES |
| Toronto | 2014 | YES | NO |
| Dallas | 2016 | YES | YES |
| Madison | 2016 | YES | NO |
| San Fransisco | 2016 | NO | NO |
| Toronto | 2018 | NO | NO |
| New York | 2019 | YES | YES |
| Colorado | 2022 | YES | NO |
| New York | 2022 | YES | YES |
| New York | 2023 | YES | YES |
| Salt Lake | 2023 | YES | NO |
| Boston | 2025 | YES | YES |
| Chicago | 2025 | NO | NO |
| Austin | 2026 | ??? | ??? |
| Minnesota | 2026 | ??? | ??? |
Through 2025, 10 of 13 teams that started 8-0 made Championship Weekend.
Six of the 13 teams that started 8-0 won the title.
3. Indy Sneaks Past Chicago on Saturday
Both of Salt Lake’s Central Division games were decided by four, but arguably neither one felt quite that close. Ironically, Indianapolis prevailed over Chicago by five, but the AlleyCats’ 18-13 result featured more fourth quarter uncertainty.
The AlleyCats were only up 12-11 after three, and the Union scored with 4:06 remaining to inch within one at 14-13, but Chicago could not create the equalizer and stumbled down the stretch, as Indy closed the day on a 4-0 spurt. With six seconds left, Elliot Hawkins tossed his seventh and final assist of the night to give the AlleyCats a five-goal victory.
Indy’s D-line struggled to punch in breaks consistently, but the opportunities were plentiful. Overall, the AlleyCats went 6-for-18 on break chances, while the Union only went 1-for-4. Pawel Janas paced Chicago with six assists and 741 total yards, but once again the Union D struggled to create meaningful resistance against the AlleyCats’ offense. Whereas Indy finished the game with 13 blocks, Chicago mustered just two.
It was a solid victory for the AlleyCats, especially after Coach Nate Bussberg said ‘We have to learn how to win in close games’ following the previous week’s one-goal loss against Madison. But at the same time, Indianapolis still only has wins against Chicago. Sure, the AlleyCats have one more opportunity against the Union—in Chicago on July 5—but they first need to figure out how to surpass the Radicals.
4. Radicals Outlast Union on Soggy Sunday
Chicago had a chance to create a confusing competition triangle in the Central on Sunday. The Union had already beaten Madison once, and Madison had beaten Indy twice, and Indy had beaten Chicago twice. So there was a genuine path to—at the very least—leave all UFA analysts befuddled.
But in windy and wet conditions, the Union could not quite complete their portion of the puzzle. After the lowest scoring first half of the season—the two teams were tied 4-4 through 24 minutes—Madison opened the second half with a 9-4 spurt en route to the Radicals’ 14-11 road win.
“It took everyone on both teams a couple of quarters to get acclimated to the rain in Chicago on Sunday,” said Robert, who finished the game with three goals, two blocks, and one assist. “Both teams coming off games shortly before and the rainy conditions made clear that this game would be about grit and decision making. In the first couple of quarters, we had some silly mistakes that come with the conditions, but were able to stick through and play four solid quarters…Gabe Vordick, Ian McCosky, and Nico Ranabhat played extremely solid games and made great choices that can be fatiguing in the third and fourth quarters.”
Once again, Janas led the Union with three assists, along with 48 completions in just one throwaway, but one day after producing over 700 yards, he only compiled 328 in Sunday’s slower and sloppier game. And for the second straight day, no one in a Chicago jersey produced multiple blocks.
One year after leading the UFA with 13.6 blocks per game, the Union are currently averaging just 5.4 blocks per contest, the second-fewest in the league. At 1-6, and with upcoming games against Minnesota and New York looming, a late surge into the playoffs feels unlikely.
On the flip-side, Sunday’s result was absolutely massive for the Radicals, who stayed above .500 at 4-3 heading into their next two games against the AlleyCats.
“This was an important one for us,” said Robert. “Not only in the standings, but to show us that we can put together four quarters of gritty play and be the team dictating the outcome rather than letting the game play around us.”
5. Glory Rise to 9-1, Dominating Philly
The reigning champs became the league’s first nine-win team in 2026 by bludgeoning Philadelphia 30-14 on Saturday evening in Medford. The Phoenix actually broke the Boston offense on the opening point of the game and led 6-5 late in the first, but the Glory rediscovered its championship look midway through the second, paving the way for the lopsided final score.
After Philly scored with 7:46 left in the second quarter to tie the game at 9-all, Boston ran off 10 consecutive goals, a run that spanned the two halves, as part of a 21-5 rampage to close out the contest.
“Saturday was what happened when we come together as a unit,” said Glory Captain Brendan McCann. “Contributions up and down the roster. Having Tannor [Johnson-Go] back in the lineup was a nice bonus. But having two D-lines worth of elite defenders means that when we get that first break, there’s another line just as strong coming out. We are capable of big runs for that reason.”
Lander Decraene, who was dealing with a nagging injury, only played one point before deciding to shut it down, but the Glory had plenty of firepower to dominate the Phoenix. Tobe Decraene finished with four assists, one goal, two blocks, and a team-high 496 total yards, while Oscar Graff paced the D-line with five assists, two goals, and two blocks. Roan Dunkerley added four goals and two assists.
Boston is now off until July 11, when the Glory travel to Minnesota for a rematch of last year’s championship game against the Wind Chill.
“Super excited for that game,” said McCann, who played one season for the Wind Chill in 2019. “Really, the stage couldn’t be set any better. Hoping for a huge crowd and a strong game from both of us.”
6. Hustle and Flyers Bombard Bighorns
One week after Atlanta and Carolina hammered Houston by the combined score of 61-25, the Hustle and Flyers also eviscerated Vegas 54-31. Atlanta rolled by 11 on Friday, while Carolina cruised by 12 on Saturday.
Truthfully, the most suspenseful part of these two games had to be when members of the Hustle were avidly following the Growlers-Sol score on Friday evening. With San Diego’s loss, that opened the door for Atlanta to once again control its destiny.
“We had some people following the San Diego-Austin game and got to watch the last few points of overtime and double OT,” said Atlanta’s Brett Hulsmeyer. “[Hustle Coach] Tuba [Benson-Jaja] and I looked at each other after and just said, ‘we have a line; all we can ask for.’”
If the Hustle can qualify for the playoffs, they’ll have earned it. Barring a San Diego stumble against Houston or Vegas, Atlanta knows it has to win at Carolina this weekend, then at home against both Austin and DC.
“Tough gauntlet for us, but basically the playoffs start now,” said Hulsmeyer. “Seven wins from a championship is what I talked about on Saturday practice. At this point, it’s win-or-go-home in every game, so we’ll prove if we deserve it or not.”
The Hustle’s journey starts this Friday against the Flyers, a team that has outscored them 44-33 in the last two meetings, both Carolina victories. Atlanta will also have to try to corral Allan Laviolette, who returned to the Flyers lineup against Vegas after missing the previous five and a half games with an injury.
“I’m feeling great physically,” said Laviolette, who played 16 points and completed all 22 of his throws in Carolina’s 27-15 win. “Still trying to get myself back up to full speed in terms of processing the game. But that just comes with a few more live reps.”
While Tobias Brooks did not play in the game, Zeke Thoreson led the Flyers attack against the Bighorns, completing all four of his hucks and accumulating 498 total yards.
“Zeke’s a star,” said Laviolette. “I mean, he’s just got such a great game sense for such a young player. While we didn’t sync up for many scoring opportunities together, he was always in the right space or making the right read on the field. That type of chess match on field against a defense is the thing I love so much about the game, and it felt really easy playing alongside him. I’m excited to see where it goes when we add Tobi back in.”
For the first time all season, Brooks, Laviolette, and Thoreson are all expected to be active together this Friday night against the Hustle.
7. Guay’s Big Day Carries Royal to Revenge over Phoenix
One week after Montreal’s comeback fell one-goal short in Philadelphia, the Royal roared to a 9-5 lead by the end of the first quarter on Friday evening in Quebec. Led by Charles Guay’s defense and steady offense from Malik Auger-Semmar and Victor Sauvé, Montreal maintained its comfortable cushion throughout the game, prevailing 25-18 in the battle between one-win teams.
“We came into the game wanting to build on the way we finished in Philly, particularly the energy we showed in the fourth quarter,” said Royal Coach Jean-Levy Champagne. “I thought the group did a good job carrying that momentum forward straight from the start. Charles was outstanding. His stats speak for themselves, but what impressed me most was the impact he had on both sides of the disc. He brought relentless energy, made big plays when we needed them, and set the tone defensively.”
Guay finished with six goals, five blocks, and one assist, and at least one teammate saw something different in warmups suggesting that a huge game was imminent.
“Charles was super hyped up in the warmup,” said Christophe Tremblay-Joncas, who contributed two goals, two assists, and two blocks in the Royal victory. “He looked unstoppable in warmup mini. When that guy decides he has enough, he is one of the most dominant players I’ve ever seen.”
Over the course of the 2026 season, no team in the league has lost as many close games as Montreal. The Royal have dropped four games by three goals or fewer, one more than San Diego, who’s the only other team with more than two of these particularly painful defeats. But as the season winds down, the Royal remain motivated, hoping to set the stage for a stronger 2027.
“While the playoffs are no longer a possibility, there’s still a strong sense of purpose within the group for building for next season and getting better as a group,” said Champagne. “We’re disappointed with where we stand in the standings, but we’re focused on finishing the season the right way.”
The Hammer
While the upcoming Week 10 slate reveals a relatively light seven-game schedule, there are three games—Atlanta-Carolina, Madison-Indy, and Oakland-Salt Lake—that feel like potential playoff previews. Additionally, Colorado is trying to keep its fading playoff hopes alive against the first-place Spiders on Friday Night Frisbee, and the Oregon-Seattle game, following the Steel’s first win over Toronto, certainly looks a lot juicier today than it did a week ago.
But let’s be honest, the frisbee sickos—a term I truly use with tremendous affection—are probably pretty pumped for Friday night in Vegas.
It’s the 1-7 Havoc against the 0-9 Bighorns, and for Vegas, it’s certainly the team’s best chance to avoid a second straight winless season.
Houston is also expected to be without a slew of its best players, as Matt Bennett, Ben Lewis, Jimmy Zuraw, and Mark Turner are all listed as “Out.”
“We are going to have to rely on guys like Steven [Kelly], Isaac [Baker], and X[avier Fuzat],” said Bennett. “People are going to be asked to step up in roles they haven’t had all year.”
Fuzat is coming off his biggest game as a pro, erupting for seven goals, three assists, and over 800 total yards in Saturday’s 23-20 loss against San Diego. There’ll be even more responsibility on the young Texas standout’s shoulders on Friday in Vegas, as the Bighorns strive to get off the schneid.
Earlier this season, Vegas lost 15-13 in Houston, the only loss by fewer than nine all year for the Bighorns. Their other eight losses have come by a combined 119 goals. But considering the Havoc lost their two recent games at Atlanta and Carolina by 36, perhaps there’s a sense of optimism after Vegas was only outscored by 23 this weekend.
Is any of this significant? Probably not.
And I’m not suggesting that you need to watch all 48 minutes of the Havoc-Bighorns battle this Friday night.
But after tuning in for the Hustle-Flyers at 7 PM Eastern and then catching Friday Night Frisbee from Colorado a couple hours later, the timing should work out nicely to also see the second half in Vegas.
If the Bighorns can’t win on Friday, it’s gonna be another long and lonely offseason. On the other hand, if Vegas can somehow topple the 1-7 Havoc for the franchise’s first victory, it’ll absolutely make the Bighorns’ season.
Either way, I’d expect plenty of drama, emotion, and fight. The playoffs begin a month from tomorrow, and while neither Houston nor Vegas will be among the dozen teams that will be dancing, the final four weeks of the regular season should be filled with intensity, passion, and unpredictability.
All around the league, the road to Championship Weekend is narrowing, heating up, and full of twists and turns.
Hang on tight, everybody.
