The Frost look really sharp! The drop shadow really makes the logo feel stronger and I love the Polar Bear logo & updated wordmarks.

Hey folks, and welcome to another NDL Recap! I did one of these 5 in-universe years ago, which was, uhhh … 4 actual years ago, so I figured it was about time for another one. This one is gonna look a little bit different, though. Since it’s been so long, this is gonna be a deeper dive, going into each team’s branding and history just as much as their roster. If you’re new here, this will help get you up to speed on the teams in the league, the players on each team, and the story that’s gone down so far. It’s also designed to help you pick a team to root for, if you’re into that kind of thing. If you’ve read the league before but forgot everything you knew when I went on hiatus for *almost* a year, this’ll help you get back on your feet, and it’ll help you get a little bit more of an in-depth look at each team than I usually feel bothered to write up.

Feel free to dive in as deep or as shallow as you want! I’ve organized each team’s section in a series of spoiler blocks, both to make it easy for you to find what you’re looking for and to keep this one post from taking up 90% of the page. Here’s a list of what you can expect for each team:

Fast Facts
Stats about the team, including when they were founded, their results from last season, and their championships (if they’ve got any).

Identity
Links to the team’s current logos and uniforms, with a brief explanation to give you the gist of what you’re looking at.

History
A quick glance at what the team’s been up to over the years. If you want to get more in-depth on this, you can check out *gestures at entire thread*

Outlook
A preview of what you should be expecting from the team in the upcoming season - and beyond.

Key Players
Short and sweet bios of 3-5 top players from the team, to give you an idea of their playstyle and general vibes.

Alright! Without further ado, let’s just jump into it:

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Fast Facts

Founded: 2025
Division: South
Home Arena: State Farm Arena
NDDL Affiliate: Charlotte Records (Charlotte, NC)

All-Time Record: 228-382
2034 Record: 7-59 (missed playoffs)
Championships: 0

Identity

Logos
Uniforms

The Records are named after Atlanta’s storied music history, and more specifically, its hip-hop scene, with elements of the brand inspired by OutKast and Migos. Their uniforms are some of the boldest in the league, emulating a ‘90s rapper getup of T-shirt, basketball jersey, and giant gold chain. They’ve also got a couple of alternate jerseys that make heavy use of shiny metallic gold (the ones themed after the Parental Advisory sticker have become fan favorites).

History

Atlanta was born out of the ashes of the Colorado Pinnacles, who had folded after going 0-50 two years prior. They quickly set themselves apart from their predecessors, however, as they won 16 games in their first season, enough to make the playoffs as the 8th-best team out of 12. While they continued to make the postseason for a few years after that, they have exactly one playoff win in their entire history. In fact, that impetus to compete immediately, rather than grow over time, probably set them back. This past year was their worst yet, so there’s nowhere to go but up … probably.

Outlook

The Records are deep in a rebuild and are expected to bring up the rear of the South Division once again. The plus side is that they’ve got one of the youngest rosters in the league, and have quite a few exciting youngsters waiting to break out. Of course, a lot of eyes will be on first overall pick W/ZB Phil Jones, who will be starting his career with the minor league Records in Charlotte, but has looked really impressive in training camp thus far.

Key Players

Luis Kelly
Age 26; back/zone back; #46
A brilliant defender who can stick with just about anybody, Kelly would be a franchise-caliber player if only he could get the offensive side of the ball figured out.

Evan Simon
Age 27; back/center; #21
Simon is tall and lanky, making him a natural center. He can be overaggressive at times, which can lead to him forcing a turnover about as often as it leads to him getting beat.

Stu Abbott
Age 24; forward/zone back; #20
Abbott is an elite receiving option, with ankle-breaking moves that give defenders fits, but unfortunately, he seems to have the same fits when covering opposing attackers.

Eliut Martin
Age 24; back/keeper; #8
Like Kelly, Martin is a bit of a liability on offense, but makes up for it with strong play in goal. A strong positional keeper, Martin has already developed an above-average ability to read and predict opponents.

Isaiah Russell
Age 25; wing/zone back; #13
Russell is a great zone back with a lot of range, but is most known for his inconsistency on offense, sometimes ping-ponging between hot and cold on a week-to-week basis.

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Fast Facts

Founded: 2028
Division: East
Home Arena: TD Garden
NDDL Affiliate: Manchester Cannons (Manchester, NH)

All-Time Record: 91-369
2034 Record: 34-32 (missed playoffs)
Championships: 0

Identity

Logos
Uniforms

Named in honor of the legendary USS Constitution, the Commodores lean into a Naval theme, represented by Old Ironsides herself, as well as the four stripes of the historical Commodore rank. The uniforms include an all-white “Dress Whites” set that they wear both on the road and occasionally at home. Boston unveiled an update to their uniforms this year, opting for a more consistent striping motif and plenty of drop shadow.

History

In their short time in the NDL, the Commodores have been pretty miserable, for the most part. Their low point was 2030, their third year of existence, where they won just one of their 66 games. The team was in danger of folding or moving for a few years after that, but luckily, the team has turned things around, and fans in Boston seem to be on board. The club clinched their first winning record in 2034, though they remain the only team to have never made the postseason.

Outlook

Boston has certainly turned the ship around, and some experts even believe they have the best roster in the East on paper. Their depth is certainly some of the best in the league, which will help out during the regular season, but the top-tier talent is a bit lacking outside of star B/C Ryan Alamos. Most predictions have the Commodores finishing second in the division, but probably not making it very far in the playoffs. A division win isn’t out of the question, though. Either way, the future looks bright in Boston.

Key Players

Ryan Alamos
Age 28; back/center; #12
Sometimes brash and outspoken (making him a perfect fit for Boston), the 6’7” Chilean-American has developed into one of the best centers in the league thanks to his huge reach.

Jerry Miller
Age 38; forward/zone back; #38
The Commodores are the seventh team Miller has played for, and he already has six rings under his belt. He’s slowed down a little bit, but still has the good hands he’s known for on both sides of the ball.

Matt White
Age 25; back/keeper; #10
White is a little bit small for a keeper, but he’s come into his own; his lightning-quick reflexes and good lateral speed often lead to him making highlight-reel saves.

Nkem Carter
Age 25; wing/zone back; #3
Having just arrived from DC this offseason, Carter is a strong all-around player on offense with a huge wingspan and polished soccer skills.

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Fast Facts

Founded: 2017
Division: West
Home Arena: SAP Center
NDDL Affiliate: Fresno Grapes (Fresno, CA)

All-Time Record: 565-397
2034 Record: 43-23 (lost in quarterfinals)
Championships: 3 (‘17, ‘18, ‘33)

Identity

Logos
Uniforms

Zalophus californianus, the California sea lion, is a Bay Area icon, especially at San Francisco’s Pier 39. The team takes its name directly from the animal, and uses a unique purple and blue color scheme. The logo is a sea lion forming the letter C, while the uniforms feature a baseball-esque script and sublimated pinstripes, a callback to their original uniforms. A more direct callback is their fourth jersey, which is a one-to-one recreation of their original cream pinstriped uniforms, except for the new logo.

History

The Sea Lions won the NDL’s first two championships, including a legendary 3-1 comeback over rival LA in 2017. They remained a consistent contender, reaching the NDLCS every other year between 2019 and 2025, but couldn’t finish the job. After an atrocious 2027, they entered a rebuild phase. In their return to the playoffs in 2032, they made an incredible run from the #7 seed, earning a huge upset over the defending champion Redbacks before taking the top-seeded Orbits to 7 games. The next year, they entered as the #2 seed and defeated the Lights in the Finals to earn their third title. Minnesota got their revenge in 2034, though, by reverse-sweeping the Lions in the first round.

Outlook

California may just be the team to beat this year. The front office didn’t overreact to the team blowing a 3-0 lead, and the team still features nearly every starter from their 2033 First Trophy-winning team. Like in 2034, their defense is projected to be the best in the league, and their offense should once again be in the top 5. Most of their stars are in their primes, and as you’ll see below, a couple of them probably still have room to get even better. The next few years are gonna be a good time to be a Sea Lions fan.

Key Players

Michael Basch
Age 29; forward/zone back; #6
Basch is an elite all-around forward, racking up points in each of the sport’s diverse skillsets, and is one of the most clutch players in the league, including an NDLCS-winning kick in Game 5 of 2033. He’s not quite as well-known for his defense, but he should be, as his coverage is among the best in the league.

Matt Powers
Age 26; wing/zone back; #26
Powers can pretty much do it all. He can play the contributor, especially when he’s tossing to Basch, he can score it himself any way you ask him to do it, and he’s also an elite end zone defender to top it off.

Isaiah Graves
Age 26; wing/zone back; #20
As if the Sea Lions needed a third elite zone back. Graves might even be the best of the three, with the ability to seemingly come out of nowhere to knock a pass away. He isn’t the same offensive talent that Basch or Powers is, though.

Kyle Zorya
Age 31; back/keeper; #31
Lest you think all of California’s defense is in the end zone, Zorya is a great keeper with incredibly quick hands, while also getting it done as a primary swingman on offense.

Adamo Zorrilla
Age 32; back/center; #16
Not to be confused for the man he often shares the paint with, Zorrilla is a lockdown center, pairing his 6’3” frame with a brilliant boot on offense. He’s also known for an extremely effective slide tackle, especially when he breaks it out in the defensive zone.

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Fast Facts

Founded: 2017
Division: North
Home Arena: United Center
NDDL Affiliate: Utah Flamingos (Salt Lake City, UT)

All-Time Record: 594-368
2034 Record: 34-32 (missed playoffs)
Championships: 1 (‘19)

Identity

Logos
Uniforms

Chicago’s six-pointed star naturally lends itself to a snowflake logo, and the Frost identity has always been heavily themed around six-sided shapes, with a double blue color scheme for that icy feel. They even have a hexagonal font that they use for their wordmark and uniforms. Their new primary uniforms this year feature a heavy dose of drop shadow and a shimmery effect across most of the jersey and shorts. They’ll also continue to wear all-white as their primary look.

History

Chicago started out strong, making the playoffs each of the league’s first three seasons and winning it all in 2019. Immediately after, though, they were knocked out of the playoffs by injury and settled into mediocrity for a while. They were able to put together a good run in the back half of the 2020s, but just could not get past Texas, who eliminated them in four straight seasons from 2027 to 2030. In the last four years, they’ve returned to being just barely above .500, and in that time, they’ve earned two 8 seeds and missed the postseason twice.

Outlook

After four straight seasons mired in the den of mediocrity, the Frost look to be in about that same spot again. With three-time MVP Tony Bennett having retired and a new look on the court, it’s a new era in Chicago, and if the team falls off, or even just misses the playoffs again, it might be time for heads to roll. On the other hand, they do have some solid young role players, so they might be able to turn things back around if they can play their cards right.

Key Players

Dhakiy Akbar
Age 32; wing/zone back; #97
Since signing with the Frost in 2033 and returning to the wing, Akbar has blossomed into an elite all-around threat on offense and a top-3 defender in the league thanks to his incredible quickness and tenacity.

Al Eaton
Age 35; back/zone back; #47
Eaton has some of the best dashball knowledge in the league, always seeming to find the soft spot in a defense to catch and shoot from distance, or being able to get to a ball in the end zone before the attacker does.

Greg Bauer
Age 32; forward/center; #24
The 6’9” Bauer is an ideal center and a great end zone target, though don’t discount his offensive play near the nets either. He’s frequently come through in clutch moments for the Frost, making him a fan favorite.

Jon Benefield
Age 26; wing/zone back; #26
Benefield has made himself known as a physical player, especially in the end zone, where he’s elite at boxing out, no matter if he’s on offense or defense.

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Fast Facts

Founded: 2029
Division: East
Home Arena: Capital One Arena
NDDL Affiliate: Hampton Roads Mermen (Norfolk, VA)

All-Time Record: 166-230
2034 Record: 46-20 (lost in semifinals)
Championships: 0

Identity

Logos
Uniforms

The Statesmen are named for the men who founded the United States, but also to honor DC becoming a state in 2029, the year the team was founded. They rely on the state flag and its red and white, with purple accents to stand out among other teams in the area. The logo is based on the original shape of the district, but features a quill cutting through along the path of the Potomac River to form the current shape of the state in the top right. The “DC” in the name is not only short for “Douglas Commonwealth,” but also for “Dashball Club.”

History

DC actually got out to the strongest start of any expansion team, being pretty aggressive in pursuing well-known staff and players to try to not suck. It worked, as they won a third of their games in their inaugural season. Unfortunately, the Statesmen were stuck in neutral for the next several years, not really being able to make any progress. Finally, though, they’ve been able to pick up some momentum, and not only did they make their first postseason last year, they finished as the top seed and dispatched of the fearsome Redbacks in the first round before bowing out to their expansion brethren in Minnesota.

Outlook

Last year, the Statesmen paired the league’s top offense with a below-average defense and made it all the way to the #1 seed. They’re staying the course this year, with their offense projected to be best in the league and their defense projected to be mid at best. It probably won’t earn them the top seed again, but they should still be a playoff contender for at least a couple years, though some would argue that they won’t be a true championship contender until their D improves. Most pundits see them repeating their second-round exit in 2035, but they’ll have more experience under their belt this time around.

Key Players

Ethan Keller
Age 31; back/zone back; #41
Keller has been a Statesman from their first opening tip, and has become a fan favorite thanks to his elite passing skills and court vision on offense and his ball-hawk abilities on D.

Paul Gartside
Age 25; back/keeper; #28
Similarly, Gartside is a great passer when he has the ball in his hands, but coming from a primarily soccer background, the Englishman has some of the best footwork in the league, and is solid in net as well.

Michael Cochran
Age 30; wing/zone back; #32
Cochran is a prototypical two-way winger, and a great one at that. With W/ZB Nkem Carter gone, Cochran projects as their top receiving option in the end zone, but also has the scoring touch to do it himself.

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Fast Facts

Founded: 2017
Division: West
Home Arena: Staples Center
NDDL Affiliate: Las Vegas Bombshells (Las Vegas, NV)

All-Time Record: 353-609
2034 Record: 33-33 (missed playoffs)
Championships: 0

Identity

Logos
Uniforms

The Sabertooths are named for the prehistoric beasts fossilized in the La Brea Tar Pits, which also happen to be California’s state fossil. Their identity is very inspired by tigers and stripes, using orange, not-quite-black, and not-quite-white, which they call “Sunset”, “Tar”, and “Saber”, respectively. The Tooths have worn orange-and-black hoops in the past, a look fans seem to prefer, but currently rock a stripey yoke design on all three jerseys, with similar striping on the shorts.

History

LA was just one win away from claiming the first NDL championship, going up 3-1 on rival California in the 2017 Finals before blowing it. Since then, it’s been all downhill for the Tooths. They made the playoffs a few more times, but never made it out of the first round, and soon dropped into the worst stretch in NDL history. Between 2024 and 2029, the Sabertooths went an astonishing 25-307, finishing with the worst record in the league four times. They’ve been on an upswing recently, even upsetting the Redbacks in 2033 for their first playoff series win since 2017, but fell back to .500 last season.

Outlook

Losing star B/ZB Roy Lalanne is a huge blow to the Tooths, but they’ve done their best to fill that very large gap with players like F/ZB Joseph Kirtland and B/C Ben Elkins. Obviously, those guys aren’t going to be a perfect replacement, but the hope is that with them in the fold, many of their young depth pieces continuing to improve, and a new face at head coach, it may be enough to get them back into the playoffs. Ultimately, LA’s future is pretty uncertain, and this year may go a long way in determining which direction they go.

Key Players

Joseph Kirtland
Age 28; forward/zone back; #3
Kirtland comes from Minnesota, where he has experience as a leading scorer, especially after he started playing alongside MVP W/K Richard Singh. His top-tier speed, and the guys he has throwing to him here in LA, should keep him busy in the scoring department.

Ben Elkins
Age 35; back/center; #22
Elkins, meanwhile, is coming off a championship over Kirtland in Miami, serving as a strong, physical defender on both sides of the switch.

Christian Casey
Age 33; wing/zone back; #76
Probably the best player returning from the 2034 team, Casey is best known as a hustle player with great coverage on D, though he’s got a pretty solid jumper too.

Christopher Strine
Age 28; back/zone back; #19
The first overall pick in 2029, Strine hasn’t panned out to be the game-altering superstar the Tooths hoped he would be, but he’s become an elite offensive option with some flashy skills in all areas of the game.

Jase Manley
Age 29; wing/zone back; #41
Manley is another well-rounded offensive weapon, with shifty feet that help him get past defenders in the soccer game and get open in the end zone.

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Fast Facts

Founded: 2017
Division: South
Home Arena: Amerant Bank Arena
NDDL Affiliate: Phoenix Fronds (Phoenix, AZ)

All-Time Record: 467-495
2034 Record: 38-28 (won NDLCS)
Championships: 1 (‘34)

Identity

Logos
Uniforms

As other teams in the city were flirting around it, the Palms dove headfirst into the Miami Vice aesthetic, taking it in a neon sign direction, with heavy doses of black to allow the blue and pink to really pop. Their clash is a half-and-half jersey with the pink and blue, while they also have a very popular third jersey which incorporates navy blue. They’re also notable for their court design, because they’ve chosen to paint the entire surface black.

History

The Palms started out in Phoenix as an emergency replacement for a New York team that had fallen through. After a rough start, the team was put up for sale, and after a 35-15 season in 2023, they moved to Miami in 2024. They were hit hard with injuries that season, but rebounded to return to the playoffs in ‘25 and made a run to the Finals in ‘26, though they were swept by Texas. Since then, they’ve dipped a few times, but have by-and-large been good, but not elite. Last year, they were just that, coming into the playoffs as a 6 seed, but made an improbable run all the way to a championship.

Outlook

It’s hard to be in a better position coming into a season than being the defending champions. There is a bit of concern for Miami this year, as Finals MVP B/ZB Gerald Hartline is now 38, and B/C Ben Elkins left for LA in free agency. Realistically, though, they should be fine, as most of their starters outside of those two are 27 or younger, and now they’ve all got a title under their belt. The Palms are projected to win their first-ever division title this year, and should be back in the NDLCS conversation as well.

Key Players

Gerald Hartline
Age 38; back/zone back; #26
The 2026 MVP is still making a big impact, as he just took home NDLCS MVP as well. Hartline made a name for himself as a high-volume outside jump shooter, and while he can still hit deep fives, he’s become more of a distributor lately. He’s also a brilliant defender with great end zone coverage skills.

Angel Camacho
Age 25; back/keeper; #29
Right now, Camacho is best known for the incident in Game 1 of last year’s Finals, and while that’s not fair to him, it is fairly emblematic of his playstyle, as he’s often aggressive, and likes intercept passes through the paint. On offense, Camacho shines particularly bright with the ball at his feet.

Jacob Babinec
Age 26; wing/zone back; #2
Picked two spots ahead of Camacho in 2029, the muscular Babinec has developed into a strong all-around winger who plays with a lot of physicality.

Jimmy May
Age 25; forward/zone back; #61
May is a great offensive option no matter where he is on the court, but he’s really excelled as a receiving threat since arriving in Sunrise, particularly when playing with Hartline.

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Fast Facts

Founded: 2029
Division: North
Home Arena: Xcel Energy Center
NDDL Affiliate: Iowa Lights (Des Moines, IA)

All-Time Record: 195-201
2034 Record: 38-28 (lost in Finals)
Championships: 0

Identity

Logos
Uniforms

Minnesota distills the Northern Lights into the three cool colors, and features them in a swooping S pattern that is the highlight of the set, appearing in the primary logo and the two main uniforms. A four-pointed North Star is also heavily featured, and they have a unique script built from the aurora stripe. Their white clash kit features a massive yoke encapsulating the aurora pattern, while their lone alternate uniform features a gradient between navy and aurora green.

History

The Lights won just 8 games in their inaugural season, but soon started shooting up the standings. They nearly made the playoffs in just their third season, and broke through the next year by rocketing up to the 3 seed and winning their first ever playoff series. The year after that, they did even better, finishing with the regular season title and making it to the NDLCS, though they couldn’t finish the deal. Then, last year, they really struggled out of the gate, but made a run, managed to grab the 7 seed, dug themselves out of an 0-3 hole in the first round, and made it all the way back to the Finals again, only to get swept.

Outlook

Minnesota is the favorite to take back the North Division crown this season, and if they can avoid the NDLCS hangover they suffered last year, they’re pretty much a lock for a top-3 seed. The biggest question will be can they finally finish the job, or will they be doomed to be yet another chapter of Minnesota heartbreak. They’re not the favorites this year, but they’ve proven that they can contend year in and year out, and they should continue that trend for the next couple seasons at least.

Key Players

Richard Singh
Age 30; wing/keeper; #22
The reigning MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, and Defensive Player of the Year is, naturally, elite on both sides of the ball. His presence in net is second-to-none, with the length and agility to stop nearly everything that comes his way, and he’s got the skill to beat you in every facet of the offensive game.

Kevin Simmons
Age 31; forward/zone back; #76
If Singh doesn’t win MVP this year, Simmons probably will. Traditionally a pass-catcher on offense, he’s also cultivated a killer jump shot (even from deep, which is unusual for a forward) and is pretty deft with the feet. On D, he’s so good that he’s often entrusted with guarding half the end zone by himself.

Isiah DeJesus
Age 29; wing/zone back; #13
DeJesus, like pretty much every other Light, lives in the shadow of the team’s two stars, but he’s a solid player in his own right, with an especially good kick shot and great reach in the defensive end zone.

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Fast Facts

Founded: 2028
Division: North
Home Arena: Bell Centre
NDDL Affiliate: Laval Rapides (Laval, QC)

All-Time Record: 114-346
2034 Record: 38-28 (lost in quarterfinals)
Championships: 0

Identity

Logos
Uniforms

This one may be a bit confusing, but the hills on which Montréal is situated are a result of ancient geological activity in the area. Plus, Magma is also what it’s called in French. The club’s primary logo is based on a shape from the city’s logo, with the Mount Royal Cross sitting on top. The uniforms feature a three-tone magma gradient of orange, red, and maroon, found in the numbers and the unique magma chamber stripe on the shorts. They also have a relatively new patriotic alternate in bleu, blanc et rouge.

History

The Magma had a rocky start, seeming to have an improvement one year only to take a step back the next. They finished with the worst record in the league in 2032, but since then, things have only gone up. They hit 20 wins for the first time in ‘33, and last season, they made the playoffs for the first time. Not only that, they earned the third overall seed, despite a point differential of -19. While they put up a good fight, they ultimately bowed out to the eventual champion Palms in the first round.

Outlook

Last year’s result might have been an overperformance, but they’ve taken steps to make sure they can maintain that level, mainly the signing of B/ZB Roy Lalanne. With Minnesota not predicted to take half the year off, they’re projected to finish behind them, but certainly could challenge for the North this year, and maybe into the future. Plus, most of their top players behind Lalanne are pretty young, so they should stick around for a while.

Key Players

Roy Lalanne
Age 32; back/zone back; #8
Lalanne was the biggest free agent this past offseason, leaving LA to come to Québec. He’s immediately become the face of the Magma, not only for his elite passing, brilliant ground game, and superb defense, but also in no small part because the Haitian will be the first Francophone star Montréal has ever had.

Travis Hauser
Age 25; back/keeper; #13
Before Lalanne arrived, Hauser had been the team’s top player, and in a similar role, at least on offense. He really shines in net, where he has great lateral quickness and solid hands.

Alex Rennie
Age 25; back/keeper; #7
Likewise, Rennie had played the point role while Hauser was on D, so it’ll be interesting to see how the Magma reconcile that. He’s not as strong in goal as Hauser is, but does have excellent technical footwork from his days growing up in Scotland.

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Fast Facts

Founded: 2022
Division: South
Home Arena: Bridgestone Arena
NDDL Affiliate: Kansas City Riff (Kansas City, MO)

All-Time Record: 489-273
2034 Record: 39-27 (lost in semifinals)
Championships: 0

Identity

Logos
Uniforms

Nashville takes the Fugitives name from a group of poets at Vanderbilt that predate the team by a century, but use the name as an opportunity to highlight Tennessee’s state wild animal, the raccoon. Somewhat controversially, the team’s well-known raccoon logo was replaced last year with a minimalist rendering of its signature mask and tuft of fur. The uniforms lean into the raccoon’s stripy gray and black tail, with five stripes highlighted to elicit the idea of a musical staff.

History

The Fugitives started out surprisingly well for an expansion team, going 21-29 in their first season and making the playoffs in just their third. Since then, they’ve been consistently one of the league’s top regular season teams, and in fact, have made the playoffs every season since their first appearance in 2024. They haven’t been able to find the same level of playoff success, though, as they have never appeared in the NDLCS, and failed to get out of the first round for four straight seasons leading up to last year, where they lost in the semis to division rival (and eventual champion) Miami.

Outlook

This is gonna be an interesting year for Nashville. They re-signed two free agents for north of $10 million/year this offseason, doubling the amount of eight-figure AAVs they have on the books. W/K Will Orleans’ $15 million deal expires at the end of the year, so that shouldn’t be a problem for too long, but it does mean that they couldn’t spend much on their depth this offseason. With several of their starters (Orleans included) well over 30 years old, that might spell trouble. If they make the playoffs, it’ll likely be by the skin of their teeth, and they’ll have some work to do to stay in the picture going forward.

Key Players

Kevin Hur
Age 32; back/center; #4
Hur is one of the smaller centers in the league, but is extremely quick on his within the two-point ring, meaning he is often able to stop a shot before his opponent even gets the ball. On offense, he’s known for his passing, with a particular penchant for no-look deliveries.

Eddie McDonald
Age 33; forward/zone back; #63
McDonald is known as one of the more emotional players in the sport, but has done well in recent years to channel that emotion into his gameplay. He also has a unique ability to operate in very little space.

Arthur Julian
Age 33; wing/zone back; #89
A physical player on either side of the switch, Julian has also developed a cannon of an arm that he can use to both beat keepers and find targets in the end zone.

Will Orleans
Age 39; wing/keeper; #17
In his prime, Orleans was a prolific scorer and equally elite defender. He’s fallen off a bit over the years, and with his contract expiring at the end of the year, may decide to hang it up. Orleans is certainly still a great player, he just isn’t the superstar he once was.

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Fast Facts

Founded: 2019
Division: East
Home Arena: Madison Square Garden
NDDL Affiliate: Long Island Chargers (Uniondale, NY)

All-Time Record: 427-455
2034 Record: 38-28 (lost in quarterfinals)
Championships: 0

Identity

Logos
Uniforms

The Chargers take inspiration from the Charging Bull statue on Wall Street, and lean in even further by using bronze as their primary color. They’ve paired it with cream, a bright shade of green, and a few black accents here and there, for a truly one-of-a-kind color scheme. Their uniforms feature bull horn-inspired stripes over the shoulders and an italicized block number font.

History

The league’s first expansion team, New York naturally struggled out of the gate, but that’s well behind them now. They enter this season on an eight-year streak of playoff appearances, which is third-best in the league, behind only the Texas Redbacks and the Chargers’ unexpected rivals, the Nashville Fugitives. New York always seems to be good-but-not-great, as they’ve entered the postseason as either the 5 or 6 seed in six of the last seven years. They got close in 2033, but blew a 3-1 lead against Minnesota in the semis, and followed it up last year with another first-round loss.

Outlook

New York should still be in the playoff hunt this year, but they’re probably about to start a downward trend. Longtime face of the franchise B/ZB Brandon Walter is 38, too many of their players are on the wrong side of 30, and with the young teams in their division starting to get good, they don’t have as easy of a schedule as they’ve had. It looks like they’re going to be finishing around the middle of the pack in 2035, fighting for one of the last few playoff spots, and then that may be the end of their window.

Key Players

Brandon Walter
Age 38; back/zone back; #55
The first pick in New York’s expansion draft, Walter has been their leader for the past decade-plus. A larger-than-life personality on and off the court, opponents have been known to simply avoid challenging him when he’s on D, though he does have a (somewhat unfair) reputation for not showing up in the clutch.

Jim Pair
Age 33; back/keeper; #12
Pair is mainly known for his rebound control in net, rarely allowing second chance points to his opponents, while being a top-tier point guard on the offensive squad.

David Reinink
Age 27; back/center; #48
Reinink grew up in the Netherlands playing (among other sports) soccer, korfball, and kaatsen, a Frisian form of handball. While he’s not particularly great at any one of those sports, he’s good at all of them, making him a dashball Swiss army knife (or should that be Dutch army knife?).

Isaaq Davis
Age 37; wing/zone back; #23
An elite jump shooter, Davis has often ranked top-5 in the league in shooting percentage, but he’s versatile enough that he can burn you with the pass or occasionally the kick (and he’s got a debilitating fake to facilitate that).

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Fast Facts

Founded: 2022
Division: South
Home Arena: Kia Center
NDDL Affiliate: Raleigh Lab Rats (Raleigh, NC)

All-Time Record: 352-410
2034 Record: 33-33 (missed playoffs)
Championships: 0

Identity

Logos
Uniforms

While the name is obviously inspired by Orlando’s connection to space flight, the identity is heavily influenced by the nearby Universal Orlando Resorts theme park, as NBCUniversal owns a minority stake in the club. Their primary logo bears a strong resemblance to Universal’s, and is accompanied by a standalone rocket logo as well as an OO interlock resembling a Saturn-like planet. Their uniforms feature concentric circles as a literal play on the Orbits name.

History

The Orbs got out to a horrible start, going 2-48 in their first season, but were able to turn it around quickly, making the playoffs the next two seasons. They fell back out for another stretch, but in 2029, returned to the playoffs, starting a four-year ascent. 2030 saw them win their first division title (and first playoff game), 2031 their first playoff series win, and in 2032, they soared all the way to the top seed, but lost to the Row in the Finals. A series of devastating injuries in 2033 and a few more tacked on for good measure in 2034 have meant they’ve yet to return to postseason play.

Outlook

Orlando’s biggest key is staying healthy. Star W/ZB Frank St. Peter has missed huge chunks of the last two seasons, and the team has clearly suffered around him. The Orbs made some big pulls in free agency, so if they can keep all, or even most, of their players on the court, they’ll probably be in contention for the division title once again. If things don’t work out this year, they’ve also got almost all of their core players under contract for the next 4 years, so they’re in pretty good shape.

Key Players

Frank St. Peter
Age 33; wing/zone back; #77
St. Peter was a bonafide superstar in the early ‘30s, winning back-to-back MVPs in ‘32 and ‘33 thanks to his dominant scoring ability and clutch streak, but has missed large chunks of the past year and change due to ACL and MCL tears. We’ll see if he’s able to return to his former self.

Abe Gonzales
Age 31; back/zone back; #44
Gonzales was brought in last season to be #2 behind St. Peter, but ended up being a #1 for most of the year. Turns out, he’s pretty good at that, thanks to his long-range shooting with both hands and feet, solid passing, and elite end zone defense.

Mike Mill
Age 32; forward/center; #23
At 6’8”, Mill provides a big target in the end zone or near the rim, but he’s an elite player on defense, where his long reach allows him to gobble up blocked shots and stolen passes.

Andy Lewis
Age 31; back/keeper; #12
Lewis brings consistency in net, something that the Orbits have desperately needed the past few years. He’s also a potent offensive threat, able to make plays for himself and for his teammates.

Joseph Dushkin
Age 28; wing/zone back; #4
Dushkin is extraordinarily fast, but with the ability to stop on a dime if he catches the ball, or to parlay that momentum into a throw that’s pretty difficult to stop.

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Fast Facts

Founded: 2017
Division: East
Home Arena: Wells Fargo Arena
NDDL Affiliate: Atlantic City Waves (Atlantic City, NJ)

All-Time Record: 628-334
2034 Record: 26-40 (missed playoffs)
Championships: 4 (‘23, ‘29, ‘30, ‘32)

Identity

Logos
Uniforms

The Row’s unusual name comes from two different parts of Philly: the city’s long-standing rowing tradition on the Schuylkill River, and its iconic brick rowhouses. The team’s identity leans more into the former, focusing more on the light blue of the water than the brick red of the buildings. They’ve also co-opted the seahorse symbol from the Schuylkill Navy as a secondary logo. The uniforms use a two-stripe motif pulled from the pattern on the oars in the primary logo, and the Row are one of a few teams to wear white at home.

History

The story of the Row is a strange one. Over their 18-year history, Philly has made it to the NDLCS eight times, and they’ve missed the playoffs eight times. Most recently, they established a bit of a dynasty, making it to five consecutive Finals series from 2028 to 2032 and winning three of them. Directly after winning the whole shebang in ‘32, though, they fell out of the playoffs in ‘33 and plummeted all the way to the third overall pick in ‘34.

Outlook

Despite having the third-worst record in the league last season, the Row are refusing to admit that their window is closed. They made a huge deal in acquiring W/ZB Horace Yazzie from Toronto to try to bolster their odds. Obviously, there’s a chance that a new star (and a new head coach) will inspire them to turn things around, but the locker room is still a mess and the team isn’t getting any younger. In any case, they’re likely looking at a rebuild, or at least a retool, fairly soon.

Key Players

Horace Yazzie
Age 36; wing/zone back; #6
Yazzie is one of the top offensive weapons in the game, even at his advanced age, with an innate athletic ability that can punish you in all three aspects of the sport.

Chris Gray
Age 39; forward/keeper; #13
Gray has been the Row’s top scoring threat for a few seasons now, and he’ll still rack up points, but he and Yazzie are projected to play mostly on the same squad, so his role will probably be a little bit smaller.

Benny Ochoa
Age 32; wing/zone back; #19
Ochoa has usually led whichever offense Gray isn’t a part of, and is stellar when the ball’s on the ground, but is perhaps even better known for his incredible range in the end zone.

Mario Avala
Age 25; back/center; #0
This season, Avala will be Philadelphia’s undisputed #1 center, with extremely quick hands in the two-point ring. At only 25, he should have a bright future.

Tyler Blouse
Age 27; wing/zone back; #48
Perhaps still best known for his blunder with Nashville in the 2033 playoffs, the sharpshooter had a breakout year with the Row last season, though he now finds himself in a crowded W/ZB room.

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Fast Facts

Founded: 2017
Division: West
Home Arena: Climate Pledge Arena
NDDL Affiliate: Colorado Silver Kings (Denver, CO)

All-Time Record: 421-541
2034 Record: 18-48 (missed playoffs)
Championships: 0

Identity

Logos
Uniforms

Named after the many sawmills employed by Seattle’s early lumber industry, the Sawyers have made the unusual decision to make silver their primary color. They’ve paired it with green and brown, for, you know, trees. Their uniforms are meant to evoke a giant circular saw - something they’ve always featured heavily in their identity - with a jagged shoulder yoke on the jerseys and a similar pattern upside down on the bottom of the shorts.

History

The Sawyers were a pretty bad team for their first several years in the league, but burst onto the scene in 2021, making the playoffs for the first time that year and reaching the NDLCS the following season. Unfortunately, they’d get swept by Texas, and it never really got much better for them. They kept winning, extending their playoff streak to nine consecutive years, but won just three playoff series during the entire streak. For the past five years, though, they’ve returned to the league’s basement, and with their majority owner being forced to sell due to legal issues, a move to Colorado is almost certain to happen next year.

Outlook

Sawyers will probably have to endure another rough year in what is shaping up to be their last in Washington State. The plus side (for Coloradoans) is that they’ve got a very young team, with only two members of their starting lineup over the age of 26. The road ahead looks a little rocky, but if their young stars can develop well, they should be able to return to the pinnacle of success they once achieved - and perhaps even climb higher.

Key Players

Deonte Terrell
Age 25; wing/zone back; #26
A first-round pick back in 2032, Terrell has been able to channel his raw speed and athleticism into an upper-echelon offensive ability, though his defense is still a bit behind.

Josh Bradford
Age 23; back/keeper; #15
Bradford also has a lot of good speed, though that tends to lead to him running around in front of the net a bit too much. He has quick reflexes and good fundamentals, so he should continue to develop nicely.

Hunter Jolly
Age 23; wing/zone back; #34
In a classic case of nominative determinism, Jolly is a great guy to be around. He’s got a solid arm and great hands, but his hustle is outstanding, and he often seems to be on the ground more often than he is upright.

Quinn Mongeon
Age 26; back/zone back; #8
Mongeon is a tenacious defender, and if there’s an opposing player in the end zone, you can almost bet he’s trying to mess up that guy’s day. He’s also got a decent outside jumper.

Isaac Stutz, Jr.
Age 25; back/zone back; #22
Stutz tends to play the Mongeon role on the opposite squad, and while he’s less aggressive on defense, he’s a better shooter.

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Fast Facts

Founded: 2017
Division: West
Home Arena: American Airlines Center
NDDL Affiliate: Fort Worth Redbacks (Fort Worth, TX)

All-Time Record: 771-191
2034 Record: 35-31 (lost in quarterfinals)
Championships: 8 (‘21, ‘22, ‘24, ‘25, ‘26, ‘27, ‘28, ‘31)

Identity

Logos
Uniforms

The Texas dollar, the currency used by the erstwhile Republic of Texas, was nicknamed the “redback” due to the back of the bills featuring a red design. The dashball team has taken that idea to its logical extreme, with one of the most polarizing uniforms in the league, and perhaps all of sports: a jersey with a white front, a red back (appropriately), and a star-adorned navy blue yoke, coming together to form the flag of Texas when viewed from the side. Oh, and the shorts and socks are half-and-half too. Their alternate uniforms don’t see much use, but their newest jerseys, featuring a wrinkly paper texture and a brand-new script, are quickly becoming fan favorites.

History

The history of the Redbacks is the history of the NDL at large. After three unassuming, mediocre years, the Redbacks seemed to suddenly decide that they would simply not lose anymore. Over the next twelve years, they made it to the Finals eleven times, winning eight of them, and cementing their status as the most hated team in dashball. Fortunately for those that hate them, they’ve been slipping as of late, with each of their past three seasons coming to an end in a first-round Game 7.

Outlook

It’ll be a long time before it ever truly feels like Texas is gone, but right now, their eighth-seed finish in 2034 is pretty much the bar in 2035. Their defense is projected to be one of the stronger units in the league, though, which could work to their advantage. All of their franchise legends are old, and they still have some great players, but they don’t have the saturation of talent that they once had throughout their lineup. If things go poorly this season and they suffer a bunch of injuries, they may very well miss the playoffs for the first time in a decade and a half. Of course, things rarely tend to go poorly for the Texas Redbacks.

Key Players

Alex Lampert
Age 28; back/keeper; #6
After breaking through in the NDL as a winger, the Redbacks are planning to move Lampert to his original position of back. It probably won’t impact his offense too much, as he’s too good in the midrange for them to tell him to stop, and it certainly won’t impact his elite keeping ability.

Rick Delaney
Age 32; back/keeper; #13
Delaney is another stellar player in net, thanks to his long reach and rebound control. He’s much more of a passer on offense than Lampert is, so usually finds himself contributing more than he scores.

Larry Whitt
Age 38; wing/zone back; #22
Whitt is still chugging along with a legendary career. He’s long been one of the NDL’s best scorers, and with his team a bit lacking on that side of the ball, he’s proven that he still can be. He’s also one of the most clutch players in history, with several huge scoring plays late in playoff games.

Jose Gutierrez
Age 27; forward/zone back; #12
Gutierrez is very tall and very toned, with his ability to box out turning 50-50 balls into 80-20 balls on offense and probably closer to 90-10 balls on defense.

Elide Amigazzi
Age 40; wing/center; #31
Having started his career riding the bench for the NDLCS-winning Sea Lions in 2017, Amigazzi is the single most decorated player in NDL history, having been around for all eight of Texas’s titles as well. He’s still a great defender, with great instincts for the game, though his offense has slowed down with age.

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Fast Facts

Founded: 2017
Division: North
Home Arena: Scotiabank Arena
NDDL Affiliate: London Hogs (London, ON)

All-Time Record: 403-559
2034 Record: 26-40 (missed playoffs)
Championships: 1 (‘20)

Identity

Logos
Uniforms

The Hogs get their name from Toronto’s past as a hub of the pork industry, and really leaned into it, going with a unique pink and brown color scheme. It’s joined by a splash of good ol’ Canadian red, especially in the maple leaf alternate logo. Their uniforms are one of the simpler outfits in the league, with classic sleeve striping and double outlined numbers to make sure no color is left out. They’ve got jerseys in each of their four colors, but these days, they prefer to wear white at home.

History

Toronto was the NDL’s worst team for the first two years of the league, but made an improbable run over the next two years to make the playoffs in 2019 and earn an upset NDLCS victory in 2020. They hung around for a couple more years, but were never able to make it back to the Finals, ultimately falling into another stretch of poor play. They turned it around, making the playoffs three times in the last six seasons, but weren’t able to win even a single postseason game. Still, good will from that magical 2020 season and broad support from across Canada has meant they’ve never been in much financial trouble.

Outlook

The trade of star W/ZB Horace Yazzie means that Toronto is now fully committed to a rebuild. They probably won’t be the very worst team in the league this year, but they’ll probably get there eventually, and in any case, they won’t be very good any time soon. They do have some decent prospects coming up through the system, but not many that truly stand out, so look for them to acquire a few more of those in the near future.

Key Players

Tiziano Torres
Age 34; back/center; #4
Torres is one of the league’s best centermen, and more specifically, one of its best shot-blockers, despite only being 6’2”. Tiz is easily the Hogs best trade chip now that W/ZB Horace Yazzie is gone, but his $12.2 million cap hit proved difficult to move over the fall.

Jaki Fowler
Age 27; back/zone back; #37
Fowler is a strong all-around player with a particular affinity for deep jumpers and great playmaking skills on the defensive side. He’s also known for being outspoken on social issues on both sides of the border.

Nicholas Geary
Age 27; wing/zone back; #28
Geary is a pretty good receiving threat, but is arguably more useful outside of the end zone. His ability to read the defense and make a lightning-quick pass to a teammate (or simply to the inside of the goal) can leave opponents feeling helpless at times.

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So yeah, that’s where the league is! Let me know what you think, and if you’ve got any questions, comments, or anything else you’d want to know. See you soon* for the 2035 season!

Last edited by ItDoesntMatter (2/26/2025 10:43 pm)

the Redbacks seemed to suddenly decide that they would simply not lose anymore.

seems quite simple. why don't more teams do this?
 

Sorry about the wait on this post; I've just had a really busy week or so and haven't had enough time to put it all together until now. Anyway, here's what I've got:

10. Miami Palms vs Orlando Orbits
The Battle of Florida has the makings of a classic rivalry, but it hasn't had much of a chance to get off the ground yet because these two teams have never been the same level of competitive at the same time. 2031 is the only year they both made the playoffs, and they had some fierce battles down the stretch as they fought for the division title, but that's about it.

9. Montréal Magma vs Toronto Hogs
One of the newest rivalries on the scene, these two have played annually on Canada Day since the Magma joined the league. Like Miami and Orlando, this rivalry hasn't played out much on the court, as Toronto has been mid and Montréal has mostly been very bad, but the fans show up for this matchup nonetheless.

8. Chicago Frost vs Texas Redbacks
This rivalry would be a lot higher if it weren't so one-sided. The Redbacks and Frost met in the postseason in four straight years from 2027-2030, but Texas won every single time, culminating with a backbreaking Game 7 buzzerbeater in the last one of those. Chicago hates Texas, but Texas never really had much of a reason to hate Chicago.

7. California Sea Lions vs Minnesota Lights
Lights-Lions is probably the most exciting rivalry in the league going forward. In the past two years, California pulled off an upset in the Finals, then Minnesota returned the favor with a reverse sweep. It's not hard to figure out why these teams hate each other so much, despite them being nowhere near each other geographically and not having the same history as every other pairing on this list.

6. Chicago Frost vs Philadelphia Row
In the mid-20s, these two teams shared a division and a spot among the league's elite, making for some iconic battles. The Row upset the Frost in a seven-game first-round series in 2026, before Chicago turned around and upset top-seeded Philly in the semis the following year. If only Chicago had been able to beat Texas one of those times, it would've made for a helluva Finals.

5. California Sea Lions vs Los Angeles Sabertooths
The NDL's first rivalry, the two teams from the Golden State met in the very first NDLCS, where LA took a 3-1 lead before California came back to claim the win. From there, the teams took very different trajectories, and the Sea Lions are undisputedly the big brother of the relationship. They met most recently in the 2033 semifinals, with Cali winning a tight 6-game series on their way to another title.

4. California Sea Lions vs Texas Redbacks
This one also goes all the way back, as these two teams played in the first-ever round of the playoffs in 2017. Since then, they've also met in two Finals series, but the real animosity here developed in the first round in 2032, when California came in as the 7th seed and upset #2 Texas, giving the Redbacks as much reason to hate the Sea Lions as everyone else hates the Redbacks.

3. Nashville Fugitives vs New York Chargers
Perhaps the most physical rivalry in the game, New York and Nashville have met each other in the first round of the playoffs four times in the last seven years, and almost all of them have been close, so they're very well-acquainted by this point. While other teams have had outbursts that were more violent, these two have almost certainly combined for more total incidents than any other pairing.

2. New York Chargers vs Philadelphia Row
New York and Philly would probably hate each other no matter what. When the Chargers joined the league in 2019, these two were by far the closest pair of teams on the map, and games between the two are heavily attended by road fans. Unlike just about every other geographical rivalry in the league, though, these two have actually been elite at the same time, though the Row have won all three playoff matchups between them.

1. Philadelphia Row vs Texas Redbacks
Of course these two are at the top. Do I even have to tell you why? Something about playing each other in the Finals four years in a row just gets the blood boiling. Oh, and not only did they each win two of those series, they also won the exact same number of games in those series. It's hard to get more evenly-matched than that.