Fastbreak News Power Rankings: Week 3
Voters: Jacob Ehrlich (New York Titans), Caleb Williams (Chicago Prowl), Cameron Castilaw (Austin Outlaws), Naresh Edala (Unaffiliated), Maya Hinebaugh (Austin Outlaws), Jack Levy (Detroit Innovators), Ben Mertens (New Orleans Curse), Sierra Delk (Boston Forge), David Banas (Detroit Innovators), Nadja D’Rainah (Minneapolis Monarchs)
Week 3 Rankings:
New York Titans (148) (8)
Austin Outlaws (142) (2)
Boston Forge (123)
Chicago Prowl (118)
Minneapolis Monarchs (115)
San Antonio Soldados (106)
Detroit Innovators (93)
Kansas City Stampede (88)
Charlotte Aviators (61)
Washington Admirals (56)
New Orleans Curse (54)
League City Legends (41)
Toronto Raiders (38)
Cleveland Riff (20)
Ottawa Black Bears (10)
Methodology-
Voters rank every team 1-15. For each ballot, each team is assigned a point value based on where they were placed on the ballot. Points are summed for each team across all ballots and then totals are sorted in descending order, resulting in the final ranking. First number after each team represents the total number of points the team received. Second number represents the number of first place votes (if any) the team received.
Our rankers have seen two weeks of MLQ and convened with their thoughts to crank out the next set of rankings. We saw some change, but a lot stayed the same. We are thinking, however, of what comes next and what our rankers are thinking. By division, we’ve got some burning questions- what is going on this season?
North Division—As parity continues, do the rankers even really have a favorite?
Everyone loved the rising potential of Indianapolis Intensity into Chicago Prowl, and the divisional title that came with it. Now that they’re at the top, mama’s looking for a new underdog, and the Minneapolis Monarchs might just be on their comeback tour. The last hopeful ranker for Prowl seems to have switched their first place vote to New York, while altogether Monarchs bumped up 15 points. Looking at Prowl’s slow start against the Detroit Innovators, and considering the success of the Monarchs through the last MLQ Champs and their partner USQ club team Twin Cities Quadball, the closeness of the vote seems to be a fair assessment. While some may say notable missing pieces in Prowl’s opening series is the only reason Innovators had a chance, the Monarchs have a lot of film to find weaknesses in Chicago ahead of their June 22 face off. By the time we get new rankings, we’ll know who’s primed for the North Division title.
East Division—Who do the rankers think will take the Battle for Bronze?
There really wasn’t anywhere for the New York Titans to go but up after their premiere series against Washington, but Boston Forge reminded everyone that there’s at least two heavy hitters in the East Division. Looking past them, the more interesting change has been Charlotte Aviators (64→61) and Washington Admirals (53→56). Both teams have now played a strong competitor in preparation for the East SuperSeries, the matchup that will decide the rest of the division. On one side, Admirals chasers and beaters still need to sync-up how they want to play together. On the other side, Aviators will likely be bringing the rest of their key players to the most important event of the summer. With a little more time and hopefully a fuller roster on both sides, they’ll each be looking to smash the other and manage a comfortable win against the Ottawa Black Bears as a rest in between.
South Division—Will anyone rise to Austin Outlaws floor or are the only options “Do Crime” and gauntlet the rest?
If all you did was look at the results for the San Antonio sweep last weekend, you missed a glaringly obvious statement—the South doesn’t have a distinct second place behind the reigning division champs. From the rankers scores, Outlaws holds strong at 142 and the next team barely passes 100 points, and the series lends itself to this conclusion. Kansas brought a travel roster, missing notable pieces Chanun Ong, Lauren Curry, and Aaron Stout that really could’ve made a difference in the Texas heat. On San Antonio’s side, Luke Langlinais, Javi Tijerina, and Kyle Bryant (injury) were all missing—but Bryant’s absence (which may not change anytime soon) is the only one that might have made a difference. Tiered systems of the South usually hold Austin Outlaws and San Antonio Soldados close, with the other three further behind, but a weak home showing dropped Soldados 10 points in the rankings. The Soldados weren’t even able to dominate at home, and Stampede showed that they can compete even away, a weakness in prior seasons. With stronger Curse and Legends rosters waiting to show off this weekend, the South Division is looking more and more like Outlaw Country—everyone’s just playing in it.
