Chicago Union v. Atlanta Hustle Game Preview
May 30th, 2025
Article by Weldon Genies
Photography by Norman TImonera
CHICAGO—The Chicago Union hosts the Chicago Classic at De La Salle Institute against the 6-0 Atlanta Hustle on Saturday at 6 P.M. CT.
Coming off their 23-19 victory against the San Diego Growlers this past Saturday, the Hustle have gotten off to a flawless start, thanks to their impeccable completion percentage and minimal turnovers. The Hustle is leading the entire UFA in completion percentage at 95.6% and also leading the UFA as a whole in huck percentage at 79.7%, showcasing high offensive efficiency with minimal errors with three single-digit turnover games all ready to begin the 2025 season.
However, with the stout D-line that the Union has, this poses a significant challenge for the Hustle to truly see where their offense measures up against another division favorite. The Union leads the UFA in break percentage at 61.1%, as they can generate stops at a high clip and capitalize on offense afterward. Six Union players had two blocks in their last match against the Minnesota Wind Chill, which shows the heavy emphasis placed on getting stops and making it uncomfortable for opposing offenses.
Two players to watch for the Atlanta Hustle are Hayden Austin-Knab and cutter Austin Taylor, who are off to phenomenal starts to the year. In his ninth season with the Hustle, Taylor has been a highly impactful player throughout his tenure, serving as a model of consistency for newcomers to follow as a good example. Consistently among the top of the UFA in throwing yards, Taylor provides stability in handling the disk and is always decisive in making pivotal plays for the Hustle. Taylor is currently third in the UFA in passing yards, with 2,220, so he is a player that the Union's defense line must contain and pressure during stalls to make it uncomfortable for their offense. This is Austin-Knab's sixth season with the Hustle, and he's currently on pace to nearly double his throwing yards from last season, as he is already at 1,718 yards in six games, compared to 1,911 yards in twelve games played in the previous year. Austin-Knab has been a key contributor to Atlanta's efficient offensive attack, boasting a 94% completion percentage and an impressive 87% huck percentage on 14 attempts. Austin-Knab is currently sixth in throwing yards, so it is vital that the Union also pay attention to him, as he is also among the top UFA receivers in receiving yards, showcasing a lot of versatility.
A player to watch on the Union is Xavier Payne, who had impressive debut with the Union in the 16-11 victory against the Wind Chill. He was a blur in his Union debut, making plays all over, tallying two assists, two blocks, and a goal against the Wind Chill. Providing defensive stability is pivotal against a high-flying offense like the Hustle, and Payne provides that with his knack for pressuring handlers and generating stops. The Union gave the UFA just a glimpse of what they have to offer in their first game of the season, and with Payne being only just two of the many pieces to this Union squad, the sky's the limit for Chicago. With another match against a UFA powerhouse, this provides another opportunity for the Union to show that they are among the league's best.
This week's UFA Friday Night Frisbee matchup is a must-see event, with the Atlanta Hustle heading to Sea Foam Stadium to face the Minnesota Wind Chill at 7:00 P.M. CT on YouTube and watch TV. This is an exciting matchup for Union fans as they get to see how the Wind Chill performs against the squad they will face on Saturday. Also, something to watch out for is how the Hustle responds on Saturday after a grueling matchup the night before, as that may have lingering effects on the lineups on the field. There's still time to grab tickets to the game, including a $49 all-you-can-eat and drink special, available in our online shop! The opening pull is at 6:00 P.M. CT and will stream live on WatchUFA.tv.
