August 17, 2026
By Ryan Baker

The stage is set for Championship Weekend. After 15 weeks of grueling frisbee, the Austin Sol, Minnesota Wind Chill, New York Empire, and Oakland Spiders remain to reach the pinnacle of the 2026 season. The Sol and Wind Chill will battle on one side of the bracket, while the Empire and Spiders face off on the other.

In the last five years, the Empire have made three Championship Weekend appearances, including back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023; the Sol have made just one appearance; the Spiders have made none; and the Wind Chill are riding four straight appearances, including a title in 2024 and two straight championships appearances.

The grind of Championship Weekend is the toughest stretch any team faces all season. These are the hardest matchups against the best teams, and players and coaches must prepare for two games in two days if they win the semifinals. Here is how each team could hoist the trophy in Madison at the end of August:

Austin Sol

Why they could win the championship: Pure grit, defensive athleticism, and lineup changes

As Kyle Henke said after their one-point victory in the divisional championship last week, where the Sol didn’t take their first lead until the fourth quarter, “We’ve been playing from behind all year, and there’s nothing we can’t do when playing from behind.” 

The Sol simply don’t quit. They’ve had many overtime and one-to-two point finishes, so when pressure builds in the last 12 minutes, the Sol are no stranger to it. They had just one turn and converted four breaks in the nine-score fourth quarter comeback against Carolina. It’s scary to face a team that plays its best when the lights are brightest, and that’s a big reason the Sol could be champions in 2026.

Between George Gust, Cole Chanler, and Joey Wylie, the Sol’s defense is full of athletic disc-hunting specialists. One of their leading block getters, Connor DeLuna, didn’t play in the Divisional Championship, so if he returns, it adds to Austin’s depth. Wylie’s swing pass block last weekend was the reason the Sol were able to take their first lead of the game in the fourth quarter. On the next point, Aaron Barcio, who has become a dependable defensive presence of late, raced down the field to block a scoober throw in the end zone, leading to another break for Austin. These are the type plays that greatly affect momentum and energize the team, which will be crucial during the exhausting weekend.

The final reason the Sol could win it all is their lineup changes. It was nearly the reason they won last week. Key names are Jackson Potts, Matthew Armour, and Duncan Fitzgerald. Potts played his first 2026 game against Carolina and immediately showed impact, throwing four assists and catching a clutch goal. He posted 28 assists and 21 goals in eight games last season. He is a game changer. Armour’s switch to O-line last week was pivotal. He played 17 offensive points all season, was asked to play 18 last week, and delivered. Fitzgerald is a dynamic thrower that adds levels to the Sol’s offense, but has played only seven games this season. His presence clearly boosts the Sol’s offense, so getting him back was massive. Having these three and their versatility spoils game plans and gives the Sol an edge.

Minnesota Wind Chill

Why they could win the championship: The big dogs come to play, depth, and coaching pedigree

The Minnesota Wind Chill are one of the few teams without a consistent MVP candidate. Instead, they impact the league with one of the best-rounded teams. However, during Championship Weekend, their biggest stars must play their best. It was a good sign that Lukas Ambrose, Zach Morton, and Noah Coolman had their best games in the Divisional Championship. But their heavy hitters—Nathan De Morgan, Will Brandt, and Gordon Larson, the three highest scorers this season—combined for just six assists and three goals in the win. Those players must step up for Minnesota to make it three championship game appearances in a row.

The Wind Chill have the deepest roster in the league. Players like Micah Davis and Morton have risen from practice status to key roles on a championship team. Often, Minnesota’s 20th player would start on most other teams. They are best equipped among the four teams to maintain their game plan and style if injuries occur. This pairs with their stars showing up. Players like Kristian Johnson, Greg Cousins, and Blake Krapfl continue their strong play. Combined with their stars performing well, it makes a dangerous mix. This excludes Justin Burnett, Paul Krenik, and others who will also play major roles during Championship Weekend.

The Wind Chill holds one of the best coaching staffs in the entire league. They have three of the smartest and longest-tenured minds in the game: Head Coach Ben Feldman and Assistant Coaches Max Longchamp and Carlos Lopez. Feldman has led the team to four straight Championship Weekend appearances, a feat achieved only four other times. He has one of the most prolific coaching minds in the league. Their comeback in last year’s semifinals against Atlanta showed Feldman’s strategy, play calls, and personnel decisions directly influenced the outcome. He will have tricks all weekend and is no stranger to big moments.

New York Empire

Why they could win the championship: Dominating offense, winning in the air, and relying on stars

The Empire’s storyline all season has been their record-breaking offense. They continued this by posting an 82 percent hold rate against Boston Glory last weekend, and according to Shown Space, their 61 percent O-line conversion rate in that game was in the top 21 percent of games this season. Even more impressive, 11 of their 14 turnovers were self-inflicted. With this success, the Empire are nearing a 80 percent hold rate for the season, a feat only their 2022 offense has achieved. They now average just 11.14 turnovers per game, two fewer than the next team and the lowest in UFA history. It’s already hard to get the disc from them, but converting a break chance is another challenge. Thirteen of the 15 top spots in Offensive Efficiency come from Empire players, and they show no sign of slowing down during Championship Weekend.

This team plays big. Between Ben Jagt, Alex Atkins, Daan De Marrée, Jack Williams, and Nicholas Whitlock, there is no team that can compete with them in the air on either side of the disc. Their 77.07 percent huck completion rate is the second-highest since tracking began in 2021. The only better rate was the 2021 Toronto team, which completed 84.21 percent of 80 hucks. The Empire have thrown 121 hucks this year, the second-most in the league. They play bully ball and have made it a nightmare for opponents. If games trend toward shootouts and deep balls, New York will be grinning all weekend.

No team in these playoffs has the names New York does. The aforementioned Jagt, De Marrée, Williams, and Atkins, along with UFA staples John Randolph, Matt LaBar, and Solomon Rueschemeyer-Bailey, make the Empire the team with the most stars. The top five scorers for New York have combined for 315 scores, which is 38 more than any other remaining teams top five scorers. They have relied on these players all season, and that must continue during Championship Weekend. Even more impressive, De Marrée is hitting his stride. Over the last three games, he has 20 assists, 10 goals, and over 1,400 receiving yards. During that time, the offense has not had a hold rate under 82 percent. This excludes Atkins’ MVP season. These players have been New York’s money makers all season, and it will come down to whether they can maintain this production on the biggest stage.

Oakland Spiders

Why they could win the championship: Returning to form, next man up mentality, and speed.

The biggest question for the Spiders heading into Championship Weekend is their health. Daniel Ritthaler has dealt with injuries all season, and Walker Frankenburg didn’t play in the divisional title game. They are two of Oakland’s top offensive producers. Several other key players also missed the showdown with the Shred. Priority one is getting those players back and healthy. If that happens, it gives them a direct path to return to their early-season form. That form generated all the buzz in the first few weeks. Before their first loss, the Spiders dominated, posting a +78-point differential and a 7-0 record. When healthy, this is one of the scariest teams to face.

Whether those key players can suit up or not, the coaching staff will closely monitor their playing time. That’s when the next-man-up mentality must kick in. Ritthaler has played just two games since June 6. During that time, the Spiders didn’t skip a beat, with Dexter Clyburn, Muhammad Awais, and Raekwon Adkins stepping up. Even Stefan McCall and Dylan Villeneuve were instrumental in last week’s win, showcasing the team’s depth and its ability to handle injury adversity. No one wants to expect injuries, but this is the hardest set of games all season. Coaching staffs must keep that in mind, and Oakland has one of the best rosters to face this challenge.

Oakland’s speed is unmatched and a major reason they are in the final four. This applies to both sides of the disc. The quickness of the team has fueled its defense’s ability to score. They get a block, and get off their throws in a matter of seconds, preventing their opponent from slowing down their transition offense. According to Shown Space, Oakland has eight of the top ten Defensive Efficiency marks in the league from players with at least five games. As far as the offense, they utilize the full width of the field consistently, and take their shots from those openings. They move the disc at one of the fastest rates and specialize in wearing down opponents. If they maintain the speed and confidence they’ve shown most of the season, they will be a problem on August 27 and 28.