2026 PLL playoffs preview: Players to watch, biggest concerns, X-factors
The longest regular season in PLL history is complete. Now comes the fun part. On Saturday, Aug. 29, the Denver Outlaws and California Redwoods will square off in the first game of the quarterfinal round, followed by a matchup between the Boston Cannons and Maryland Whipsnakes. The winners of those games in Minneapolis will advance to face the top-seeded Utah Archers and Philadelphia Waterdogs on Monday, Sept. 7 in Salt Lake City. The two winning semifinalists will then head to New Jersey, where the 2026 PLL season will culminate in the U.S. Bank Championship on Sunday, Sept. 20. Which of those six remaining teams will hoist the trophy? Our beat writersOne-sentence regular-season recapZach Carey, Utah Archers beat writer: The Archers’ elite defense kept the team competitive until its new, young core of offensive players found their footing in the second half of the season and brought Utah back to championship contention. Micheal Bolger, Philadelphia Waterdogs beat writer: The duo of Michael Sowers and CJ Kirst, coupled with key development from the rookie class, powered the Waterdogs to the No. 1 seed. Noel D’Amico, Boston Cannons beat writer: A young Cannons roster anchored by 35-year-old veteran Marcus Holman found its footing as the season progressed, showing Boston could compete with the league’s best. Phil Shore, California Redwoods beat writer: There were moments the Redwoods looked like one of the more dangerous teams in the league, but they struggled to sustain it for full games. Topher Adams, Denver Outlaws beat writer: Through a sea of injuries and a midseason slump, the Outlaws’ all-in roster is all together for the games that really matter as the postseason begins. Zak Wolf, Maryland Whipsnakes beat writer: A young team that’s flashed its potential but hasn’t played its best lacrosse the second half of the season, the Whipsnakes enter the playoffs on a four-game losing streak.Your team can win the Championship if…Zach Carey, Archers: Their offense can win close games. The defense, spearheaded by Brett Dobson and Brendan Lavelle, sets the Archers’ floor incredibly high. But who will be the go-to guy on offense in the clutch? Could it be Tom Schreiber, should he return from injury in time for the postseason? Maybe one of Sam King or Ryan Stines, who’ve emerged this season. If the Archers’ offense plays at its best for two games, it’ll take a special performance to prevent them from winning a third championship in four years. Micheal Bolger, Waterdogs: Their rookie midfield continues to click. The Waterdogs’ midfield production hit a rough patch during June and early July as the rookies settled in under the mentorship of Jack Hannah. Hannah is now on injured reserve and could miss the rest of the season, but the group has succeeded without him, except for the third quarter of Sunday’s game against the Whipsnakes when the offense was shutout for the first time since their second game of the season. If the ball movement dies, like it did in that fluke of a quarter, the greatest weapons on this team could be silenced. Noel D’Amico, Cannons: They continue to find ways to win outside of their stars. The Cannons have shown they don’t need one player to carry the offense. Coulter Mackesy was held without a goal against the Whipsnakes, and Holman didn’t score against the Archers. Boston won both games, showing the depth and adaptability that could be critical in the playoffs. Offensive coordinator Will Manny has praised Andrew McMeekin’s ability beyond the stripe to make in-game adjustments and identify open lanes for the offense. If Boston can continue to adapt and get contributions from across the roster, it will be much harder for opponents to take them out of a game. Phil Shore, Redwoods: They get everyone involved and finish. Head coach Anthony Kelly said on multiple occasions that the Redwoods’ offense is at its best when it moves the ball. It was a major focus in the offseason, training camp and throughout the year. California improved its assists-per-game average from 4.9 to 6.4 this season. Almost 60% of its 77 assists on the year have come in wins, however. When the ball is hot, the team gets higher-percentage shots. The Redwoods increased their shooting percentage from 26.1% to 28.1%, and that number jumped to 32.4% in victories. The offense has the capability to score fast and score in bunches. Topher Adams, Outlaws:Logan McNaney plays like Logan McNaney. Denver’s Jekyll-and-Hyde act is a direct result of McNaney’s sudden slump. The 2025 Oren Lyons Goalie of the Year saved at least 50% of shots in six of the first seven games this season. He’s been under 43% in each of the last four, including a career-low 18.2% against the Whipsnakes, and sat behind Owen McElroy for one game during that span. McNaney is seemingly back at 100% after a medical issue led to his slump, and he looked closer to his best self behind a patchwork defense in the season finale. For all of Denver’s other personnel questions, there is no chance of a championship without elite goaltending. The Outlaws have one of the best in the league. Can he deliver to his level? Zak Wolf, Whipsnakes: They execute in the fourth quarter. Not being able to finish games has been the Whipsnakes’ biggest issue. They’re 1-5 in games decided by three goals or fewer, and much of that has resulted from poor execution in the fourth quarter. It’s no secret to Jim Stagnitta’s players, who’ve talked ad nauseum about playing a full four quarters, but it’s now or never. The offense has to remain sharp in crunch time, and the defense can’t be careless moving forward.Biggest concernZach Carey, Archers: The potential for the Archers’ offense to sputter when defensive game plans are specialized in the postseason. The Utah offense has had dominant performances this season. It’s capable of winning games. But scoring in the playoffs is harder. Defenses concoct individual game plans that are meant to abuse an offense’s pressure points. The Chaos did so successfully against the Archers for years before they got over the hump in 2023. Can this new-look Utah offense continue to put the ball in the back of the net when opponents throw the kitchen sink at them in a do-or-die matchup? Micheal Bolger, Waterdogs: Can Philly’s defensive midfield hold down the fort? It’s no secret the Waterdogs’ SSDM room hasn’t played up to its standards in the absence of Dylan Hess. The weight has fallen on Zach Currier, who has filled the void for the Dogs up until this point. The question is, can he keep doing it? Outside of Currier, the Waterdogs have been rotating Matt Whitcher, Charlie Hayes and Nakeie Montgomery. Overall, the group has nine caused turnovers and, without help from long poles, is a matchup problem. Noel D’Amico, Cannons: Can JC Higginbotham carry his regular-season success into the playoffs? The Cannons turned to Higginbotham as the starter in net for the last three regular-season games, benching Colin Kirst after he averaged below 50% this season. Higginbotham has been excellent since taking over, posting a 67% save percentage, but three games is a small sample size heading into the playoffs. The postseason will be a different test, with every possession carrying more weight and little room for an off night. Boston will need Higginbotham to maintain the level he has shown while adjusting to the pressure of playoff lacrosse. Phil Shore, Redwoods: Consistency on offense. The Redwoods ended the first quarter with a lead six times this season, but thanks to long scoring droughts and turnovers, they wound up losing four of those games. A particularly dreadful example was in Boston when the Redwoods had a 3-2 lead over the Cannons, only to commit seven turnovers and get outscored 5-0 in the second quarter. California had a scoreless quarter in four different games and went 1-3 in those contests. It also scored one or fewer goals in at least one quarter in eight different games. Those extended periods of poor execution allowed the opponent to jump in front and get the Redwoods chasing the game. Without a reliable two-point threat, the Redwoods then struggled to close those gaps. Topher Adams, Outlaws: The offensive pieces not gelling together. With an honorable mention to the defense not being healthy enough by Aug. 29, Denver needs to build a championship offense basically on the fly. The Outlaws haven’t had Pat Kavanagh or Jared Bernhardt on the field since July 25. Brennan O’Neill, Logan Wisnauskas and a promising group of supporting pieces have steadied the ship, but what does this look like when everyone is healthy? It will be almost a month since two of the most important pieces of this offense have touched the field. Meshing them with this group with no game reps is a massive concern with everything on the line. Zak Wolf, Whipsnakes: Lack of midfield dodging threat. Aidan Carroll is one of the premier dodgers in PLL, as shown by his 25 goals, the most of any midfielder. Outside of him, the Whipsnakes don’t pose enough of a dodging threat from the midfield. Adam Poitras (24 goals) has had a career year, but he primarily scores on catch-and-shoot chances. Matt Brandau and Colin Heacock are solid veterans, but the Whipsnakes need to be more explosive on the perimeter. Maryland has been accustomed to scoring droughts, and although the midfield shouldn’t shoulder all the blame, not having multiple dodging threats hasn’t helped.Most important playerZach Carey, Archers: Brett Dobson Dobson is a two-time championship MVP who has played the best games of his career in the biggest moments. His career postseason save percentage is 73.3%. That’s the highest of all time, and it’s not particularly close (the next-closest is Brett Queener at 61.6%). He averages 18.5 saves per game in the playoffs. He allowed just one goal – the fewest in professional lacrosse history – in the 2024 semifinals. If Dobson plays to that standard again, he’ll collect a third ring and a third championship MVP in September. Micheal Bolger, Waterdogs: Michael Sowers The Waterdogs have arguably the hottest offense headed into the postseason, tallying the second-most scores and second-fewest of turnovers in the league. Since the All-Star break, they’ve put up double digits on the scoreboard in six of seven games. Across that stretch, Sowers has seven straight hat tricks and 11 assists. The quarterback of the offense has orchestrated plays with four rookies at midfield, a fellow MVP front-runner at attack and two veteran players. That amount of talent would make anyone’s head spin. But not Sowers. He has run the unit with little to no flaws during the Dogs’ five-game winning streak. Even when it goes wrong, he’s creating opportunities or scoring with little to no time left on the shot clock. Noel D’Amico, Cannons: Marcus Holman The 35-year-old captain is having one of the best seasons of his 14-year professional career, leading the Cannons with 41 points and setting a career high with six two-point goals. He delivers when Boston needs him most, including the game-winning overtime two-pointer against the Whipsnakes in front of Boston’s home crowd. But Holman’s impact extends beyond what shows up on the scoresheet. As the veteran presence on a young Cannons offense, he’s embraced the youth movement, helping guide Boston’s rookies while continuing to be the player his teammates can rely on when the game is on the line. Phil Shore, Redwoods:Chris Kavanagh While the Redwoods have several talented dodgers and goal-scoring threats, the offense flows through Kavanagh. He seems to score when the team needs it most. The Chaos game during Homecoming Weekend provided a perfect example. With Carolina on a 4-0 run that tied the score in the fourth quarter, Kavanagh scored two goals to stop the skid and push the Redwoods back out in front in a game they eventually won. It’s not just the statistics, though Kavanagh tied for the team lead in points. Offensive coordinator Chris Bocklet called Kavanagh the “heart and soul” of California’s offense. Dylan Molloy said Kavanagh’s ability to shoot takes attention and pressure off him and makes his life easier. Kavanagh might not be an MVP candidate this season, but he’s someone on the cusp of playing at that level. Topher Adams, Outlaws: Brennan O’Neill McNaney is an obvious shout here because goaltending is the most important thing in the postseason. However, O’Neill is Denver’s talisman and sparkplug to whom the Outlaws will look to carry them to postseason glory. O’Neill had six points (4G, 1T, 1A) in Denver’s playoff win over the Redwoods last season. He had three points in the 2025 U.S. Bank Championship. When the spotlight is at its brightest, O’Neill is the man who steps up. Amid all of Denver’s injuries, he’s been this offense’s rock, turning in a career-high 35 points and 19 assists in the regular season. The Outlaws can go as far as their Superman can take them. Zak Wolf, Whipsnakes: Emmet Carroll It feels like Carroll’s season has gone a little under the radar, but he’s been the Whipsnakes’ most consistent player. He leads the league in saves per game (13.8), and only Dobson (59%) has saved a higher percentage of shots (56.7%) among goalies who’ve played at least eight games. Since the Whipsnakes might play the two highest-scoring offenses in the league (Boston and Philadelphia) this postseason, Carroll’s presence in net is massive. If he has an off night, the Whipsnakes will likely get eliminated. That can apply to every team’s goalie, but Carroll’s been so steady this year that the Whips can’t afford a drop-off. He’s reached double-digit saves in every game and has recorded at least 15 in four of his last five.X-factorZach Carey, Archers: Tom Schreiber The three-time MVP practiced for the first time in over a year ahead of the club’s regular-season finale in Boston. He’s been attacking his rehab since undergoing double knee surgery last fall. If the Archers’ time off thanks to their bye to the semifinals allows him to return, he could be what pushes the two-time champs over the top. The last time Schreiber played in a postseason game, he scored the goal of his professional career with the game-winner in the 2023 Championship. He could bring postseason gravitas and a go-to option for a relatively young Archers offense. Micheal Bolger, Waterdogs: Sean Byrne Philadelphia’s defense has played some of its best ball of the season in August. Some of that credit goes to the quality of shots defenders have given Byrne in net. But an even larger portion goes to the undrafted rookie goalie for singlehandedly stalling out offenses during important stretches of the game. Especially when the Dogs’ can’t find the back of the net and the opposing team smells blood in the water.If Byrne can continue going on those runs like he did late in regulation during the Waterdogs’ Homecoming, this team is set up for a clear path to its second championship. Noel D’Amico, Cannons: Andrew McMeekin Coming off a national championship at Princeton, McMeekin has literally changed the game – and head coach Brian Holman’s entire perspective on the faceoff position – since joining the Cannons in June. McMeekin won a league-best 62.5% of his faceoffs this season – including several crucial ones late in Boston’s OT win over Maryland – and his impact extends beyond the stripe. He has the ability to play both sides of the ball and score, finishing the regular season with nine points – third-most in a single season by a faceoff specialist in PLL history. But what makes him unique is everything he does that doesn’t show up in the stat sheet. He helps design the Cannons’ wing play, understands where the ball is going and gives Boston a chance to control possessions before the offense even gets on the field. You can’t underestimate his impact. Phil Shore, Redwoods:Finn ThomsonWhile the Redwoods have their share of dodging threats, Thomson gives them the off-ball crease presence that was missing from the offense. In four games since his debut, the undrafted rookie has seven goals and the best goal rate in the league. Ryder Garnsey remarked about how Thomson “catches everything” and that his presence means defenders are slower to slide off of him to the team’s dodgers. Sam English, who also played with Thomson at Syracuse, said he believes Thomson can have a similar effect that Xander Dickson had for the New York Atlas en route to the 2025 PLL Championship. Thomson’s presence has also improved California’s power play. Since his debut, the Redwoods have scored on 56% of their man-up opportunities, and Thomson has two power-play goals. Topher Adams, Outlaws: Dalton Young Even with all the big names and flashy stars on Denver’s offense, few players are as reliable as Young. When Kavanagh and Bernhardt went down injured, he filled in as an ace righty attackman. When those guys come back into the lineup, Young will find his role as an ace midfielder. Young quietly finished the season with 26 points, ranking in the top 25 in the league. In his last four games, he’s averaging three points per game. With all of the moving pieces on this offense, count on Young to deliver no matter what. Zak Wolf, Whipsnakes: Nathan Kapp With only one career game under his belt, the Whipsnakes are putting a lot of faith in Kapp. Petey LaSalla was Maryland’s primary faceoff specialist this season, but he won just 49% of his attempts, prompting the change to Kapp last week. The undrafted rookie won 58.8% of his draws in his final season at Jacksonville and was 13-for-23 in his pro debut against Alec Stathakis. Stagnitta said postgame that he wanted someone who could make the faceoff a ground ball and utilize Poitras and Blake Eiland more than the Whipsnakes have this season. Kapp will have a lot on his plate against McMeekin — who’s been a revelation for the Cannons — but Maryland needs a good performance from him to advance.Stat to knowZach Carey, Archers: 15.4% – Utah’s defensive efficiency during its 2023 and 2024 championship runs. In an ode to one of the most well-known sports clichés, the Archers defense’s incredible performance en route to the team’s 2023 and 2024 championships is the team’s stat to know. Utah’s 21.8% defensive efficiency this season was the second-best of any team since 2022, just behind its own from 2025 (21.3%). Tony Resch’s defenses have a tendency to step up their level of play in the postseason. That’s what the Archers will be hoping to ride. Micheal Bolger, Waterdogs: 66 — clean save totalOne of the areas head coach Bill Tierney and general manager Dave Cottle wanted to see improvement in at the beginning of the season was the Dogs’ transition game. That started in net with getting the ball out of the goalie’s stick and down field. Since Byrne took over, he’s recorded 35 clean saves in his five starts. Like a quarterback, the rookie always has his eyes downfield in the face of pressure. Getting the ball across midfield has bought the offense not only time but opportunities, including more two-point looks. Philly has made 12 twos this season, double what it had last year. Noel D’Amico, Cannons: 62.5% – McMeekin’s faceoff percentage this season. He’s the only faceoff specialist in the league above 60%. Against the Whipsnakes in Boston, McMeekin won 71% of his faceoffs. If that’s any indication of what he can do in this quarterfinal rematch, that’s a huge advantage for Boston. His entire approach to the stripe is a science. In a game that could come down to a handful of possessions, having McMeekin at the stripe could be a difference-maker. Phil Shore, Redwoods: California coaches and players have stressed the importance of getting hot at the right time. Bouncing back from a four-game losing streak after the All-Star break, the Redwoods ended the regular season with wins in two of their final three games. In those victories, they tallied 39 scores, including a PLL regular-season record 21 against the Atlas. The coaches seem to have settled on their core group, particularly on offense, and the continuity is helping the group peak heading into the playoffs. Topher Adams, Outlaws: 11.5 scores per game – the lowest average of any playoff team. There are plenty of nuanced analytics and stats that can paint a portrait of this Denver team, but the fact of the matter is no team in the 2026 postseason scored fewer goals than the Outlaws. There are reasons to be bullish about an offensive upswing, especially with Kavanagh and Bernhardt back in the fold. But every other team in the dance other than Utah (the best scoring defense in the league) is averaging a full score per game more than Denver. Whether it’s elite defense or improved offense, something has to change for Tim Soudan’s club to make a postseason run. Zak Wolf, Whipsnakes: 44.1% — The Whipsnakes’ power-play percentage. The Whips have the most efficient power-play unit in the league by a wide margin, sitting nearly eight percentage points above the second-place Archers (36.6%). With more space, Maryland’s ball-movement-centric offense thrives with feeders like Joey Spallina and TJ Malone. Having an inside finisher as good as Poitras helps, as well, while Aidan Carroll can stretch the field.Player on another team you’re most excited to watchZach Carey, Archers: Sean Byrne Byrne has been incredible in his late-season ascension for the Waterdogs. He’s stopped 62% of the shots he’s faced in around six games of action. He’s 5-0 as a starter. The Army West Point product’s 39-save performance during Philadelphia’s Homecoming Weekend doubleheader stamped him as a potential postseason game-changer in my book. The biggest question for the Waterdogs this season has been their goalie play. If Byrne continues to stop around 60% of the shots he faces, they’re the championship favorite. Micheal Bolger, Waterdogs: Joey SpallinaAnyone who watched Spallina at Syracuse knew he was going to be something special. To watch him average 40-plus touches as a rookie on a team with guys like Malone and Aidan Carroll is pretty special. He’s a creative dodger and passer who likes to initiate offense and isn’t afraid to draw a defender. The No. 3 overall pick has lived up to the hype. Noel D’Amico, Cannons: CJ Kirst All season, the narrative has been Kirst chasing Holman’s single-season goals record. He finally did it this past weekend, finishing the regular season with 34 goals. He’s been on a tear, emerging as one of the league’s most dangerous offensive players and a standout MVP candidate. If the Cannons advance to the semifinals, it’ll be an especially interesting matchup to watch. Boston’s defense will have the challenge of slowing him down, while midfielder Connor Kirst could find himself going head-to-head with his younger brother. Phil Shore, Redwoods: Coulter Mackesy Cannons head coach Brian Holman had great expectations for Mackesy this season, and the second-year pro delivered. The lefty attackman built off his strong rookie season and finished fourth in the league in points (37). He executes in all facets of the game — as a ball-carrier, in the two-man game and finishing off-ball — he improved as a feeder and he showed off increased range. He’s not only a big part of Boston’s championship aspirations, but he could be in the running for a spot on Team USA in the 2028 Olympics. Topher Adams, Outlaws: Michael Sowers Sowers is box office. There is no more dynamic or exciting player to watch in the league, not even his record-setting young teammate, CJ Kirst. The league’s leading point producer has reached the peak of his powers and now will look to add a second championship to his future Hall of Fame resume. Sowers isn’t always talked about in those terms, but he’s a generation-defining player. If he can lead Philadelphia back to the promised land, that’s rarefied air. Zak Wolf, Whipsnakes: Marcus Holman Holman is having one of his best-ever PLL seasons at 35 years old. What’s not to like about that? He stole the show a few weeks ago in Boston with his heads-up game-winner against the Whipsnakes and is one of the most exciting players in the league. What’s impressive about Holman is how he’ll go from having a quiet game to completely shifting momentum with juice plays. The Whips will have their hands full with the veteran next week.
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