Fast Takes with Fast Break: Austin Outlaws
Author: Jackson Vaughn
PC: MLQ
A Few New Sheriffs in Town: Season Outlook for the 2024 Austin Outlaws
The Austin Outlaws have been the definition of a dynasty ever since they joined Major League Quadball in 2016. A team that has never failed to reach the finals, The Outlaws are five-time total and three-time defending champs. Their quest for four in a row will be tough, but it’s a challenge that a new-look Austin team is up for.
How did we get here?
The 2023 season was marked by dominance from the Outlaws. Finishing the season 18-0, the team won every game by a minimum of 35 points, save for a 170-165 nail biter in game 2 of the semifinals against Washington. Even though there were a handful of close games, that just proves how incredibly clutch this team was. Whether it’s veterans like Bailee Fields and Cameron Castilaw forcing incredible stops in the beating game, or scoring threats in Andrew Axtell and Augustine Monroe, the Outlaws had a variety of ways to beat every opponent. While 2023 was filled with highs, the Outlaws will have their work cut out for them in 2024. Many teams in the South Division got better, and some might say Austin’s biggest threats in the New York Titans and Chicago Prowl also made big pickups, including the East Division move of Josh Johnson to Titans. While everyone else got some strength building in the off-season with roster changes, Outlaws lost nearly half of their dynasty-defining roster to retirement or moves, such as star beater Daniel Williams and top scorer Miguel Esparza (both to San Antonio Soldados). Now it’s time for the new pieces to show up and show out.
2024 Roster Moves
RETURNING PLAYERS
Jenna Adams Tracy (Texas Hill Country Heat)
Andrew Axtell (Texas Hill Country Heat)
Jenna Bollweg (Texas Hill Country Heat)
Sammy Garza (Texas Hill Country Heat)
Louis Sanchez (Texas Hill Country Heat)
Pierce Wilson (New York Skyline)
Cameron Castilaw (Texas Hill Country Heat)
Bailee Fields (Texas Hill Country Heat)
Kyzer Polzin (Texas Hill Country Heat)
Taylor Tracy (Texas Hill Country Heat)
Kasye Bevers (Texas Hill Country Heat)
Jackson Johnson (Texas Hill Country Heat)
Mel Kite (Texas Hill Country Heat)
Cameron Ogilvie (rostered for the 30 last summer but didn’t roster for any series)
NEW ADDITIONS
Ian Crowe (Texas State)
Ella Jordan (Texas Longhorns)
Theron Ratliff (Texas State)
Wyatt Ross (Texas Hill Country Heat and formerly Soldados)
Daniel Sialm (Texas Longhorns)
Will Spencer (Texas Longhorns)
Jay Stewart (UTSA and formerly Soldados)
Alex Vega (Texas Hill Country Heat Fall 2023/ Pegasus spring 2024 and formerly Soldados)
Maya Hinebaugh (Lost Boys and formerly Soldados)
Brandy Gomez (Texas State and formerly Soldados)
Bradley Himes (Texas Hill Country Heat Fall 2023/Pegasus spring 2024 and formerly Soldados)
Natalie Kenyon (Texas State)
Nate McCall (Texas State)
John Alvarez (Texas Hill Country Heat and formerly Soldados)
Trenton Paskero (Mile High)
Julie Picasso (Texas State and formerly Soldados)
DEPARTURES
Dylan Bottoms
Missy Ghoddossy
Josh Johnson
Mark McQuage
Augustine Monroe
Austin Villejo
Miguel Esparza
Purvi Mujumdar
Isabella Rios
Daniel Williams
Kaci Erwin
Michael Parada
Eric Reyes
Total
Returning – 13
Departures – 13
Additions – 17
2024 Schedule Breakdown
The new Outlaws begin their season in Week 1. On June 1, they will take on the League City Legends in Huntsville, Texas. This is also Austin’s only away trip of the year. The big story with this first series is whether or not the chemistry will be built up enough by week 1. The Outlaws are facing a Legends side composed of a lot of Sam Houston State BearKats players, many of which have shared the field together during this past USQ season and previous MLQ seasons. Austin simply does not have that level of cohesion yet, outside of their projected top line. Many of the new additions, however, played for either Texas State or Texas Longhorns, so there may be enough between the new players to get by (if they play together). It will certainly be interesting to see how the new blood can coexist with the old guard. Overall, Austin still has more than enough talent on this roster to pull out a series victory, and potentially a sweep; the key to unobstructed victory will be if the players can gel together fast enough into the dominant Outlaws roster that we are used to.
Following the Legends series, the Outlaws will head back home to host the South Division Superseries, with the New Orleans Curse and Kansas City Stampede attending. It will be an entire month later, on June 29 and 30 in week 5 of the season, so any chemistry questions for the Outlaws should be more than answered by that point. Austin will also have home field advantage, while Stampede and Curse have to suffer a long distance trip to Austin. This unfortunately means the two visitors may not be at full strength, making it even more unlikely that Austin will see their opponents’ full strength. Playing six games in two days will be a lot, but if the Outlaws can play through their depth and continue to utilize their raw talent, there is no reason Austin shouldn’t go perfect on the weekend.
Finally, Austin ends their season on July 20 playing the Soldados at home. This has been the marquee matchup in the South for a few years now, and given how the rosters have shifted, it could get even better. Austin will have Jay Stewart going up against his former team, who is now bolstered by former Outlaws Daniel Williams and Miguel Esparza. These teams will be very familiar with one another, and given how close game 2 of this series was last year, this is the series where Austin might not come out undefeated..
Season Potentials
In the most ideal scenario, Austin doesn’t skip a beat. The new guard is just as good as the old, and the team goes 12-0 and marches into champs hungry for another title. To make this happen, Outlaws need to overcome any early issues with chemistry, and the coaching of Jackson Johnson must carry over from last season to use the new players in ways that will combat anything their opponents can muster.
On the other hand, the South got a lot better. Legends added rookie Andrew Acosta and former Outlaw Swathi Mannem, not to mention Great Usiaphre is likely to have an incredible sophomore season. Stampede pulled players from USQ semifinalist Mizzou in Lauren Smith and Miles Himmelmann, while the aforementioned Soldados snatched some strong pieces away from Austin as well. If Legends steal a game early, and Soldados finally gets over the hump, it’s not insane to say Austin could go 9-3 this season. Granted, this is a disaster scenario, but this is the first season in a long time that the South truly feels a little more open.
Overall Prediction: 11-1
Why they Will
Jackson’s Outlaws are still an extremely talented roster. Although they lost strong pieces in Michael Parada, Missy Ghoddossy and Josh Johnson, Austin added veteran names like Trenton Paskero, John Alvarez, Maya Hinebaugh and Jay Stewart. Austin also retained Jackson Johnson as head coach, so the team's schemes and coaching style will still be like the former Outlaws. Perhaps even the new youth that was brought up will invigorate the team into being even more of a force in their quest for a four-peat.
Why They Won’t
Losing half the roster really hurts. Even though from a talent standpoint this team is still incredible, it’s very unlikely the Outlaws go 18-0 again throughout the season. Austin may trip up once or twice across their series, but they very likely will win the south, or at least finish top 2 and qualify for the playoffs without having to go through the play-in bracket of championship. The hard part will be stringing together 6 wins against some of the other Benepe Cup contenders. Former Outlaw Josh Johnson and the New York Titans were already a game away from the finals last year, and they got better. Outlaws may not have the experience anymore to win against a team like Titans.
