For the first time since 2019, the Carolina Flyers will not be playing at Championship Weekend. The Austin Sol held strong at home this past weekend in round one of the playoffs, taking down the Flyers 19-18 in Texas. The game marked Austin's first playoff win in franchise history and the second time the Sol have defeated the Flyers in the past two seasons (six meetings total in that span). Next, the Sol will face the Atlanta Hustle in Atlanta on Friday, August 11 at 8:00 PM/ET in the South Division Championship Game. Both teams will be looking to make it to their first Championship Weekend in franchise history.
—August 2—
Austin Eliminates Carolina From Postseason
LA Aviators Pull Off Upset Over Colorado
The Los Angeles Aviators traveled up to Colorado and took down the Summit 22-21 this past weekend, eliminating the reigning West Division champions in the first round of the playoffs. Handler Pawel Janas and DPOY favorite Lukas Ambrose earned "Honor Roll" mentions, as the Aviators overcame the tough road environment to advance to the West Division Championship Game. Following their first playoff win since 2018, the Aviators will take on the 11-1 Shred next Friday, August 11 at 9:00 EM/CT for a shot at representing the West at Championship Weekend.
DC Breeze Hold Strong at Home
The DC Breeze took down Boston 19-12 this past weekend in the first round of the playoffs, advancing to the East Division Championship Game for the second straight season. Including the 2021 season which featured the one-hit-wonder "Atlantic Division," DC has now made it to the quarterfinals each of the past three seasons, but has still yet to make it to their first Championship Weekend. The Breeze will have another shot against the New York Empire next Saturday, August 12 at 7:00 PM/ET in the East Division Championship Game.
AlleyCats Knock Chicago Off Their Throne
The Indianapolis AlleyCats defeated the Chicago Union 23-15 in the first round of the playoffs this past weekend, eliminating the two-time reigning Central Division champions from the postseason. With their first playoff win since 2019, the AlleyCats advance to face the Minnesota Wind Chill in Minnesota on Saturday, August 12 at 6:00 PM/CT in the Central Division Championship Game.
—July 26—
Boston Glory to Make Postseason Debut
Boston will be making its first ever playoff appearance as a franchise, taking on the DC Breeze this Saturday, July 29 at 7:00 PM/ET. After finishing 5-7 in their inaugural season followed by 4-8 last year, Glory finished the 2023 regular season with a 7-5 record, their first winning season in franchise history. They're playing their most efficient ultimate ever, and as Evan Lepler noted in the Tuesday Toss, "Not only did Boston clinch its first ever playoff berth, but the Glory also won with the fewest turnovers in any game ever," referring to Boston's three-turnover game* against Montreal in Week 13.
*Game was called at halftime due to weather, but still impressive!
Landesman and Stoughton Bring Colorado Offense to Full Strength
Danny Landesman and Calvin Stoughton played a combined four regular season games this year for Colorado, and they were each featured almost exclusively on the O-line in each game. Landesman was integral to Colorado's success last season working in the backfield alongside Jonathan Nethercutt, while Stoughton has flashed as a playmaking rookie in limited action. They each recorded four total scores in the one game they played together this season, Colorado's 27-22 win over Oakland, which also happens to mark Colorado's highest single-game point total of the season.
Joe White Returns to Carolina Lineup
Joe White is listed on Carolina's active roster for the first time since Week 6. White's last weekend of action featured a 13-score, nearly 800-yard performance in the Flyers' 20-19 win over DC followed by a six-score, nearly 500-yard performance in the Flyers 20-17 loss to Philadelphia. White played three playoff games for Chicago in his 2022 rookie season and compiled just under 1,000 total yards with 14 total scores. He had three turnovers in the 2022 AUDL Championship Game against New York.
Chicago Looking to Continue Recent Playoff Success
The Chicago Union have made it to Championship Weekend each of the past two seasons and have improved their final season standing every year since 2017; they went from a 3-11 team in 2017, to 5-9 in 2018, to 7-5 in 2019 (lost in round one of the playoffs), to 10-2 in 2021 (lost in OT in semifinals at Championship Weekend), to 11-1 in 2022 (lost in the AUDL Championship Game). Saturday will mark the first time the Union and AlleyCats have met in the playoffs, with Indianapolis looking for their first playoff win since 2019, when they represented the Central Division at Championship Weekend.
Carolina and Austin Set for Playoff Rematch
The Carolina Flyers will head to Austin for their playoff game against the Sol this Saturday, July 29 at 8:00 PM/ET. The game is a rematch of last year's South Division Championship Game hosted by the Flyers, in which Carolina came away with a 22-20 victory to advance to Championship Weekend. Austin has one win over Carolina in the last two seasons, which came at home in their Week 6 meeting last year.
—July 24—
Minnesota to Host Central Division Championship for First Time in Team History
After 10 years, the Wind Chill will finally host the Central Division Championship Game at Sea Foam Stadium. What a great year to do it with the team also hosting AUDL Championship Weekend.
—March 9—
Portland Announces 2022 Roster
The expansion Portland Nitro have announced their roster for their inaugural season. Portland have their first game in Week 1 against Seattle in a regional rivalry matchup on May 1.
All Defense Member Swanson Signs With Seattle
The Seattle Cascades have added a top tier defender in Drew Swanson for the 2022 season. Swanson was a standout part of the Chicago defense the past two seasons, earning 2021 All Defense Team honors and having the second highest blocks per game average in the AUDL.
El-Salaam Sign With Atlanta
Former all-star Khalif El-Salaam has signed with the Atlanta Hustle for the 2022 season. El-Salaam played for San Diego last year, registering 12 blocks in nine games for the Growlers as the team made a semifinals appearance. The Hustle are still looking for their first trip as a franchise to Championship Weekend.
—March 7—
Phoenix Announce 2022 Roster
The Philadelphia Phoenix have announced their full 2022 roster. The Phoenix had a record of 3-9 last season, and finished sixth in the now defunct Atlantic Division; Philly will play their 12-game regular season in the East Division this year. The Phoenix go on the road to face Boston Glory on April 30 in Week 1.
—March 2—
Montreal Re-Sign Quinlan
One of just four players to play in every AUDL season since 2012, Kevin Quinlan returns for his sixth season with the Montreal Royal. Quinlan is currently fifth all-time in assists (312), and is coming off a 2021 season where he averaged four scores (assists plus goals) and over 377 total yards of offense per game.
—March 1—
2022 AUDL Season Starts April 29
The first game of the 2022 AUDL season will feature a South Division rivalry between the Atlanta Hustle and defending champion Carolina Flyers. In their last meeting, the Flyers edged the Hustle 20-18. Be sure to check out the full Week 1 slate of games.
Minnesota Signs Abe Coffin
The Minnesota Wind Chill announced the signing of Abe Coffin for the 2022 season. Coffin played the last three seasons with Dallas, and was an All-AUDL Second Team member in 2019.
—December 6—
Five Teams Change Divisions for 2020
With the addition of the Boston franchise, the AUDL announced a divisional realignment for the 2020 season. The South and Midwest divisions will be renamed the Atlantic and Central, respectively, with five franchises shifting into new placements:
- DC Breeze - Atlantic Division
- Philadelphia Phoenix - Atlantic Division
- Pittsburgh Thunderbirds - Atlantic Division
- Austin Sol - West Division
- Dallas Roughnecks - West Division
AUDL Adds Boston Franchise for 2020
This week the league announced a new Boston franchise set to begin play in 2020. The Boston team (yet to be named) brings the league total to 22 teams, and the move marks the first expansion for the AUDL since 2016. Boston will compete in the East Division alongside the New York Empire, Montreal Royal, Ottawa Outlaws, and Toronto Rush.
Earlier this offseason, the league released an article detailing expansion opportunities for franchises in Kansas City and Portland, as well as Boston. At this time, there are no further developments regarding an expansion to Kansas City or Portland in 2020.
—August 16—
Empire Win AUDL Championship
The New York Empire defeated the Dallas Roughnecks 26-22 in the eighth AUDL Championship Game this past Sunday to complete their undefeated season, finishing with a perfect 15-0 record. The day before, the Empire defeated the Indianapolis AlleyCats 17-15 in the semifinals to advance to the championship.
Beau Kittredge added a fifth AUDL title to one of the most impressive resumes in the history of the sport. His five titles have been won with four different teams: San Jose Spiders (2014, 2015), Dallas Roughnecks (2016), San Francisco Flamethrowers (2017), New York Empire (2019). As AUDL announcer Evan Lepler mentioned prior to the weekend, no professional athlete in the Big Four major sports has ever won a championship with four different teams.
In the championship game, Grant Lindsley, Ben Jagt and Harper Garvey combined for 29 scores (goals plus assists), with Jagt’s five assists and six goals leading the trio. Lindsley finished with nearly 800 yards of total offense (398 receiving, 391 throwing), putting up the highest yardage total of any player this past weekend between the three games played. Garvey threw for nearly 500 yards, while Jagt finished with 358 yards receiving.
