After the first weekend of playoffs, the San Diego Growlers and New York Empire emerged as the respective division champions in the West and East, becoming the first two teams to earn spots at Championship Weekend 8. The Growlers defeated the Los Angeles Aviators 25-21 in the West Division Championship Game, while the Empire defeated the Toronto Rush 19-16.

Championship Weekend 8 will officially play host to the only two-time AUDL MVPs in league history: Jonathan "Goose" Helton of the Growlers and Beau Kittredge of the Empire. Helton, in his first year with the Growlers, returns to Championship Weekend for the first time since 2013. Kittredge makes his return to San Jose after leading the Spiders to back-to-back AUDL titles in 2014 and 2015.