USQ Cup: Club Rankins 12-9

Voters: Soleil Heaney, Jordi Christan Sancho, Trenton Paskero, Mohamed Yahia Monawar, Chris Dorsey, Peter Lawrence, & Tim Kwan

12. Seattle Sirens 66

11. Lost Boys 78

10. New York Slice 79

9. DCQC 86

12. Seattle Sirens

With a significant portion of their roster solidifying only by the time of West Qualifiers, the Sirens have shown they are no pushover with multiple impressive wins at the qualifier, and their only loss, not to Warriors, coming to Breakers on a game-winning catch. Despite narrowly missing out on securing a bid, they emerged as a premier team from the West region.

The infusion of talent from four Team Canada players significantly bolsters their lineup. Seattle's encounters with the top-tier teams in the west have been marked by intense battles and closely contested matches; however, their encounters with out-of-region competition have presented greater challenges.

Pulling up near the front in the race to dominate the west, Seattle won’t just be playing to prove their own skill at Cup, but playing to prove that the entire West region can continue to hang.

11. Lost Boys

The Lost Boys are a team plagued by inconsistency. Despite their concerted efforts to address regional shortcomings, the specter of internal discord looms large, casting doubts on their cohesion and ability to fight through adversity. Their trajectory seems precarious, teetering on the brink of implosion.

Nevertheless, within this tumultuous landscape, the Lost Boys boast a strong core of chasers whose physicality can tilt the scales in their favor given the right circumstances. Yet, their beaters have faltered when pitted against elite-level talent, revealing their vulnerabilities when playing at the highest level. Engaged in a perpetual struggle for supremacy within the West region, the Lost Boys have encountered mixed fortunes, demonstrating dominance against local rivals like the Breakers while faltering against out of region BosNy and Reapers.

While they possess the capacity to clinch victories, especially with a well timed catch, their potential for upsets against higher-ranked teams appears limited.

10. New York Slice

Where trust interlaces with talent, New York Slice emerges. While many individuals on this team have boasted prior collegiate and club success, including multiple New York Titans veterans, it remains to be seen whether the sum is greater than its parts. After being knocked out in the first game of Day 2 last nationals, Slice has been looking to take a bigger stride this year with new leadership at the helm. Pulling the best pot 1 and 2 team for them could put them well on their way, and if they can repeat this season's wins against their lower potted teams (Chicago United and Southwest Alliance), they'll enter Day 2 with revitalization and newfound synergy.

From a notable loss to Skyline to fighting BosNY equal later in the day, their performance at the Boston Qualifier shows the diverse range of the team's ability. Throughout the spring season, Slice has kept lower-ranked opponents at bay, gaining confidence and momentum as they go into the final hurdle of the season. They've yet to really prove themselves against high ranking teams, with their most recent best being an unofficial win over Boston Black Pandas in February.

Despite their challenges and setbacks, optimism radiates from within the Slice camp, with enhanced beater depth and a steadfast core of chasers drawn from the semi-finalist New York Titans, their MLQ experience might be exactly what they need for their first two games of the weekend. Competition against Washington Admirals’ chaser core and practice each weekend last summer with Titans teammates will give Head Coach Frank Minson all the tools he needs to create strategies against their pot 1 and pot 2 adversaries (Warriors and DCQC respectively). If Slice can clinch an upset in their pool, their deep bracket dreams of day 2 get a lot easier. Managing 2nd place day 1 means they face the 3rd place of Pool Z. This path leads them to a BosNY rematch to take them to semifinals. Alternatively, pulling 3rd pits them against 2nd place of Pool Z, which might just be a rematch with Boston Pandas and lead them to Boom Train. .

9. DCQC

DCQC has experienced a season characterized by dizzying highs and perplexing lows. Despite securing victories against the majority of teams ranked below them, save for an unexpected stumble against Pandas, their journey has been nothing short of tumultuous. Most respected for their punishing beater core, DCQC boasts a depth that rivals the best in the league, capable of engaging with any beater.

Within their ranks lie chasers brimming with untapped potential, hinting at the possibility of elite level play when they finally work together. Should DCQC find their rhythm, they possess the capacity to astound spectators with a surge against elite competition. However, their aggressive playstyle often proves to be a double-edged sword, rendering their performance inconsistent when pitted against teams at the highest level.

DCQC's season commenced at the Collar City Invitation with a challenging defeat against an undermanned BosNy squad, and the accrual of injuries to key players, setting the tone for a season marked by adversity. Nevertheless, they showcased their resilience by clinching victory at the Richmond National Qualifier, demonstrating flashes of brilliance amidst the chaos. Off to a very quiet spring, DCQC held their home Cherry Blossom Classic as the last sanctioned club event of the season, bowing out in a semifinal loss to Boom Train (170-135). There is hope to see more of their ability to push the pace as their MLQ identity, the Washington Admirals often shows, with fast breaks and aggressive beater play choosing the intensity of games. They'll look to lock Day 2, which-if 2nd in their pool, might lead to a rematch from last year in DCQC v Lost Boys day 2, before an eventual BosNY game to bring the season full circle.

Overall, DCQC seems to be the litmus for top teams in the sport, and it's time they came together and joined those ranks themselves. To do so, they'll need an adjustable half set thats comfortable slowing the ball down to join the fast pace aggression they already show on offense and defense. Pulling the national favorites (The Warriors) day 1 may work out since it distances them from facing them day 2. Instead, they'll fight through previous opponents from this season, to really see how they've grown.