TNL Season X Midseason Review

We've hit halftime of TNL Season X. Here's where all 36 teams stand, heading into the stretch run.

No. 36 - Minnesota Blizzard (3-15, L9, 904 pts)

For the Blizzard, it's been a very long season. Minnesota has toiled through nine straight losses and fell to fellow bottom-feeder Chicago right before the All-Star break. The advanced statistics don't fare any better; the Blizzard sport rankings of No. 24, No. 29 and No. 35 on the three stages.

Simply put, this team is far from being competitive and the only silver lining for this squad is an impending reset of the salary cap, which will be set to decrease the available spending limit from $65 million to $55 million. That move should level the playing field more and allow Minnesota to catch back up somewhat. However, that's for the offseason and in the here and now, the Blizzard are just waiting for the season to end.

No. 35 - Chicago Cyclones (3-15, W1, 978 pts)

Chicago is an odd team. Despite being ranked 29th in the overall "Advanced Statistics" metric, the Cyclones were 2-15 coming into the final round before the All-Star break. And though Chicago triumphed over now last-place Minnesota, the Cyclones are just 3-15 going into the second half of the season.

The main culprit for Chicago's woeful start? A lack of a consistent No. 2. Or really, anyone other than No. 54 Brett Sims. The Cyclones' next highest player is Kawaguchi Tomohiro, who is 109th in the MVP rankings as of June 24. If Chicago aspires to reach the postseason for the first time next campaign, they'll need far more than they've compiled this season.

No. 34 - Los Angeles Eclipse (4-14, L7, 999 pts)

OofOofOof391's return to captainship was a short-lived stay, ending just after the season began. Even with Oof back, the Eclipse didn't look great and once he left, it only snowballed. Though Los Angeles reacquired Jay Lewis this past offseason, his homecoming also didn't last long.

Earlier this week, Lewis was dealt to Alaska, a trade that I covered here. A day after said trade, the Eclipse dealt Rene Casselly to Denver in order to acquire Oliver Luttman. So far, that move seems to be paying dividends. Casselly has struggled so far for the Dynamite, while Luttman has boosted his stock up to No. 30 in the rankings. Though Los Angeles is in the cellar as of now, Luttman represents a star that the Eclipse can build around.

No. 33 - DC Defenders (4-14, L7, 1174 pts)

Along with Atlanta, a team that I'll cover later in this article, DC represents the biggest miss from my Preseason Preview. A team that I placed in the top 15 now faces the prospect of not just its first losing season, but also the real possibility of finishing as the league's worst team.

Three seasons ago, this team sported both Jay Lewis and Yuji Urushihara '10, and was a perennial playoff team until Season 6 offered up a shocking elimination in what was then the Play-In Tournament. In Season 8, Lewis was moved; now, Urushihara '10 exits to Baltimore. While the Bandits haven't exactly done much since acquiring the Japanese superstar, they've done more than DC thus far. The Defenders are riding a seven-game losing streak, the longest in franchise history. And unless they can right the ship quickly, this is looking like a problem that will extend beyond this season.

No. 32 - New York Nightmares (5-13, W2, 843 pts)

It seems like an age ago that the New York Nightmares were a force to be reckoned with. The only team outside the top three in the regular season to ever capture a championship, New York was a contender, anchored by the likes of Phil and Sam Folsom. Now, the Nightmares have struggled to reach even respectability.

Though the Nightmares sit 5-13, they'd be in last place if not for a fortuitous two-game winning streak right before the All-Star Break. Make no mistake, this New York team is not one that will contend for any award. However, if there's one thing that the Nightmares do have, it's small pieces that the Nightmares can build around. Koji Hashimoto '10 joined the team after being waived by DC and he's been a reliable No. 1 option that has proven he can be the No. 2 on a playoff team before. Hashimoto '10 is a start. New York needs to build off that to achieve anything in the seasons to come.

No. 31 - San Antonio Shurikens (5-13, L4, 1092 pts)

San Antonio is stuck in the rut of perpetual mediocrity. Despite a substantial attempt during the free agency period to bring star talent, the Shurikens largely struck out, then blew up their team in an eight-player trade. That trade sent away Clement Gravier, Perry Oosterlee '17, Brady Parks and RJ Roman.

While San Antonio likely wasn't contending even before the trade, their fate has been sealed. Barring a miracle comeback, a fifth straight campaign with no postseason awaits and for the tenth time in a row, the Shurikens won't see the final eight.

No. 30 - Phoenix Inferno (6-12, L3, 851 pts)

Phoenix's return to the league hasn't borne any fruit yet; after a solid 4-3 start, the Inferno have gone 2-9 in their last 11, including a stretch where they lost six of seven. In a league where scoring's higher than ever, Phoenix scored over 70 points just once and over 60 on only four occasions.

There's no 'wow-factor' to this team; that makes sense, considering that Phoenix missed out on a lot of the stars in bidding. While they're going to have another chance come the end of Season X, there's still 17 more rounds for the Inferno to play through. The current problem? Phoenix ranks second-to-last in points per game and its Stage Three is dead last. Both of those will need improvement but likely won't come this season.

No. 29 - Baltimore Bandits (6-12, L4, 919 pts)

For a team that now boasts Yuji Urushihara '10, it's a surprising note that Baltimore doesn't crack the top 29 in any stage. Though some of that is down a lack of starpower before the Japanese MVP's arrival, the Bandits enter the All-Star break having lost four straight and seven of their past eight. The one win they did notch? A 57-56 squeaker over 8-10 Seattle, who was in the midst of a seven-game losing streak at the time.

While that win over a Seattle team that started 7-3 is at least something, it's concerning when the Bandits haven't won a game by more than five since Round 6 of the season. Baltimore has four players in the top 190. Though their Stage Three as of now would rank 16th if extrapolated to an entire season, that still won't cut it for a team that made the top 10 a season ago. Change is needed if this team wants to make the Wildcard Clash again this season.

No. 28 - Philadelphia Freedom (6-12, L1, 969 pts)

Philadelphia and Tokyo are the only two teams in TNL to exist in TNL for all ten seasons and not have finished in the top 10. The Kaiju finished just six points away last season, but the Freedom have never been as close to reaching the postseason. This season looks no different.

Philadelphia sits at 6-12, a byproduct of its Stages One and Two, which rank third-to-last and last, respectively. The Freedom have grown synonymous with stagnation. And unless something changes quickly, Season 10 looks destined to follow the same script, especially given that Asa Reynolds (No. 24) is now gone to Toronto.

No. 27 - Oklahoma City Lightning (6-12, L3, 1090 pts)

Though they’ve lost five out of six going into the break, it’s not a mood of doom and gloom for Oklahoma City captain coolboy31013. Rather, it’s an appreciation — for how far the Lightning have come, for the fight they’ve shown and for what still might be possible in the season’s final stretch. After all, the Lightning finished 4-27 two seasons ago, the lowest mark since the league expanded from 23 to 31 games (and now, 35 games as of this season).

The climb back to contention won’t be easy. Oklahoma City sits 27th with a negative score differential and a Stage One/Stage Three combo that ranks No. 27 and No. 29. But in a league that rewards late surges and well-timed heat checks, the Lightning aren’t out of it yet. And with coolboy31013 still on the platform, they’re not going down quietly.

No. 26 - New Jersey Generals (7-11, W1, 1157 pts)

That Stage Three upgrade never came. Instead, New Jersey has stalled out at 7–11, undone by mediocrity, with no stage placing higher than 17th or lower than 26th. The same late-game misfires that nearly derailed them a year ago have become more frequent and more costly.

While the Generals still show flashes of the cohesion that powered their late-season run in Season 9, the margins have tightened and the magic has faded. Unless they can rediscover that edge soon, Season 10 will go down as a step back, not a breakthrough. While Loik Fortier (No. 26) has been a consistent No. 1 option, he doesn't have much help, with just two others inside the top 100. A Stage 2 that averages only 21 points and a Stage 1 that gets only 12 isn't a recipe for success in TNL and unless New Jersey makes some major shakeups ahead of the Round 24 trade deadline, it's hard to see them escaping their current status of mediocrity.

No. 25 - Brooklyn Blitz (7-11, L3, 1198 pts)

Brooklyn has been an interesting team that’s shown flashes — but for the most part, it’s been just that. The Blitz rank No. 4 in Stage One and No. 15 in Stage Three. Those are solid numbers, especially for an expansion team. But where it’s fallen apart is Stage Two, which slots in at No. 32. In a league built on ever-tighter margins, that kind of gap won’t cut it for a team chasing the postseason.

Yuval Shemla (No. 31) has been serviceable as Brooklyn’s top dog, but to reach this season’s Wildcard Clash, the Blitz will need more and they’ll need to fix their Stage Two issues for any kind of run to materialize. Though the team’s gone just 4-8 in its last 12, the pieces are there to eventually ascend to a competitive level. It’ll just take time — and likely several moves, both before the trade deadline and in the offseason.

No. 24 - Tokyo Kaiju (8-10, W1, 1072 pts)

Though the Kaiju sit just 24th after 18 rounds, it's not a bleak outlook for Tokyo just yet. Right before the All-Star break, the Kaiju dealt Iurii Prokudin and Evan White to Milwaukee in exchange for Tom Alberti and Matthew Hall. It's the type of move Tokyo captain amamimia has made that's lifted his team before.

While the Kaiju aren't near where they were last season, the important thing is that there's still time for Tokyo to turn around the ship. After all, they're just two games out of the playoffs with plenty of season left to play. As we've seen time and again in TNL, anything can happen.

No. 23 - Indianapolis Horsepower (8-10, L1, 1084 pts)

For Indianapolis, it's been a story of rinse and repeat like last season. There's nothing much to say about this team; they're just there.

Though Indianapolis sits at 8-10, this season has felt more like a holding pattern than a leap forward. After last year’s rebound, the Horsepower have hovered around the league’s midpoint — competitive in stretches, but far from consistent.

None of Indianapolis' three stages rank above the top 20, leading to a familiar formula: pockets of promise mixed with the same structural issues that have held them back in recent seasons.

With most of the roster still locked in through the end of the year, Indianapolis doesn’t have many levers to pull. Unless something clicks quickly, this group seems destined to finish right where it’s been — in the middle, showing flashes, but little else.

No. 22 - Seattle Surge (8-10, W1, 1098 pts)

Seattle doesn’t rank in the top 18 in any stage, but what it does have is a consistent No. 1 in Number 8 (No. 39). The cornerstone of the Surge’s identity, Number 8 has quietly kept Seattle in games they otherwise might not have had any business competing in. He’s not flashy, but he’s reliable — and in a season where stability has been hard to come by for any team, that’s meant something.

Yamamoto Yoshiyuki (No. 56) may not be the long-term No. 2 option the Surge need, but his strong SASUKE performances make him a valuable trade chip. If Seattle’s front office is serious about reshaping its core, Yoshiyuki could be the piece that unlocks a high-upside move before the deadline.

Where Seattle needs improvement is, frankly, everywhere. But that’s not to say the Surge are a disaster. They’re no longer bottoming out on any particular stage; instead, they’ve built a roster that’s broadly competent but lacks high-end pop. Call it a jack-of-all-trades build with no real star depth beyond Number 8.

That puts Seattle in an awkward middle: too solid to be a pushover, not explosive enough to contend. For now, they’re stuck in the league’s gray zone unless they make moves to break out of it.

No. 21 - Dallas Wranglers (8-10, W3, 1104 pts)

Dallas is akin to Seattle, except to a more extreme level. Kai Beckstrand (No. 34) has been a OK anchor, but without a true No. 2 — the Wranglers' next-closest is True Becker at No. 76 — they've been left on the second-rate tier once again. Like most of the teams behind it and some ahead, Dallas is stuck: not good enough to contend, but not bad enough to bottom out without giving up real value.

At his peak, Beckstrand is a solid No. 2 piece on a championship team. As it stands right now, Dallas simply needs a little bit more. They've got six rounds left to find that something. The good news? They enter the All-Star break on a three-game heater, so they may not be fully out of it yet.

No. 20 - Alaska Aces (8-10, W1, 1243 pts)

This year, the slide came early. The Aces opened the season 1-5 and haven't fully made their way back, now sitting at 8-10, two games behind a possible bid to the Wildcard Clash. The usual consistency hasn’t been there, but thanks to one key acquisition, that may have changed going into Season X's second half of the regular season.

On June 18, the Aces parted way with Rene Casselly and Sean McColl to land Jay Lewis. And immediately after that trade, Lewis went off, skyrocketing 24 spots to No. 11 on the MVP ladder. While Alaska doesn't sport the highest record, this is a team that has time to make up their deficit and now has the pieces to do so.

No. 19 - Las Vegas Jackpot (9-9, W2, 1062 pts)

I covered Las Vegas already when they traded Ezekiel Elliott '14, but this may have been the winning trade of the season. Per Ninja Machine owner Alex Cunningham, Elliott indeed is facing a nerf of his abilities due to being "too overpowered". Cunningham addressed this in a announcement he made to the TNL Discord server on June 21. Here's all of what he said:

"I heard a lot of questions coming in about buffs and nerfs," Cunningham said. "Obviously, a lot of them are coming from Worlds, but particularly for the bonus competitors. The bonuses were intended to be intentionally broken just for fun, but it's become obvious that they're a little too broken, so I'll be changing them, particularly Zeke, to [the] Sportsman archetype, which will considerably nerf their abilities on ninja courses, but not in some skills events. I'm sorry if this messes stuff up, but I think it's the best thing for the health of the game and the leagues that use the competitor files."

Given that, it’s hard to say the Jackpot didn’t absolutely win the trade. They moved Elliott '14 at exactly the right time, just days before the nerf was announced, and received about the highest possible return in value. What initially looked like a bold midseason shake-up now reads as a masterstroke in asset management — a rare example of perfect timing in TNL. With that move, Las Vegas now has a solid roster that could make some noise in the second half of this season.

No. 18 - Cleveland Crowns (9-9, W2, 1142 pts)

Cleveland has been a pleasant surprise. After starting 1-5, it seemed like all hope was lost and that the Crowns would once again suffer through a season of pain. A 131-116 loss in Round 7 to Miami looked to put an end to any postseason hopes. But inconceivably, the Crowns recovered.

Since then, Cleveland has gone 8-3 and for the first time, the Crowns look poised to make some noise in the season's back half. The most surprising part is who's leading the charge. No. 22 Will Schlageter leads the charge after averaging 5.5 points a game last season in 18 games for Atlanta. Extrapolated to a full season, that would rank at No. 148. A jump of over 100 positions rarely happens overnight, but for Cleveland, it has, which has vaulted them into something they've never had: a fighter's chance to make it into the postseason.

No. 17 - Milwaukee Reapers (9-9, L2, 1176 pts)

After half a season, Milwaukee sits at an interesting crossroads. A round before the All-Star break, the Reapers dealt Matthew Hall and Tom Alberti to receive Evan White and Iurii Prokudin. It's a risky move: one with high upside, but also one with a significant likelihood of backfiring.

But it's a move that makes sense for the Reapers. Like the players they've traded for, they're a team with high upside that's backfired. After a 2-0 start, Milwaukee lost five in a row before a six-game winning streak. Now, after losing four of their last five, the Reapers sport a completely different Stage Three going into the season's second half. Only time will tell if that acquisition is worth it. One thing is for sure, however: it's a move befitting of Milwaukee's DNA.

No. 16 - Detroit Chargers (9-9, L1, 1206 pts)

In last season's "End of Season Review", I stated that this team needed to "increase activity and go all-out" in the offseason. Do that, they did.

The Chargers went out in the offseason, signing six quality players: Joseph Meissner, Joe Moravsky, Sato Jun, Max Gorner, Brian Arnold and Ryan Guild. That's a solid six-man front and it's done exactly that.

Though the Chargers are on the outside looking in after this season's first half, they've kept a reasonable pace relative to the teams ahead. Being a game behind the cutline at this point isn't a dealbreaker by any means. if this team can be able to package one or two of those six solid players in a deal to acquire a star, then this season could see the Chargers reach the postseason for the first time in four seasons.

No. 15 - Charlotte Sting (10-8, L2, 1300 pts)

Two words sum up Charlotte's season: Tyler Smith. The Sting have often lived and died by his performances, riding his performances either by good or by ill. For the most part, it's been good as Smith sits atop the MVP rankings after the season's first moiety.

Where the Sting are currently lacking is their Stage 1, which ranks No. 29. As of right now, it's not a dealbreaker, but once the season settles into the final couple rounds, everyone will be on their A-game and prepared to take advantage of every small miscue. As good as Charlotte has been to start this season, it is one of those small miscues that they'll need to work on to better their chances of a top-12 berth this season.

No. 14 - Denver Dynamite (10-8, L1, 1333 pts)

Denver, oddly enough, has settled in as an alternate version of one of its old rivals: DC. Denver has one player in the top 70 right now, and it's Phil Folsom, who sits third in the MVP rankings after 18 rounds. It's a bizarrely familiar setup: one elite anchor (two in the Defenders' case, prior to the Season 8 trade that sent Jay Lewis to the Los Angeles Eclipse) surrounded by a mediocre roster with little to no upside.

The Dynamite have been one of the most peculiar franchises in TNL history, boasting only two playoff appearances across eight seasons and only one losing record. But in the second of those postseason bids, they won the whole thing. That season, however, remains shrouded in controversy. At the center of it was a midseason trade that sent Portland's Yusuke Morimoto to Cleveland amid a messy temporary ownership change. The move destabilized the entire balance of the league and Denver reaped the benefits, cruising through a depleted bracket to a ring.

To this day, some fellow managers still label it a "Mickey Mouse championship". An opportunistic title, yes — but not one fully earned in the eyes of some fellow TNL managers. And since then, Denver hasn't come close to replicating that success. Their three post-title seasons have been riddled with inconsistency, quiet roster turnover and a campaign from a star like Phil Folsom that fails to yield a postseason run.

Folsom's brilliance has kept Denver afloat. But unless the Dynamite make meaningful upgrades, they may be destined to remain one of TNL's strangest squads.

No. 13 - San Francisco Sentinels (10-8, L1, 1349 pts)

Expansion teams aren't usually supposed to be this good, this quickly. But San Francisco has flipped the script. At 10-8, the Sentinels are one of the best-performing expansion teams in TNL history and also firmly in the playoff conversation. All three of the Sentinels' stages rank in the top 15, a reflection of how balanced this team truly is. It's a well-constructed and balanced league that has made them a nightmare for.

While the Sentinels may not be title-ready — yet — they've established themselves as one of the league's brightest surprises. In a campaign full of chaos and underperformance from some established powers, San Francisco has been a breath of fresh air.

No. 12 - Toronto Titans (10-8, W4, 1393 pts)

Like a season ago, Toronto finds itself 12th at the midpoint of this campaign. But unlike a season ago, the outlook this time around is brighter for two reasons. First, the postseason has now been increased to 12 teams rather than 10 to account for the four new expansion teams. And second, the position around the Titans is much better. Like other teams, Toronto made a buy-in move, packaging Shingo Yamamoto '01 and Kazuhiko Akiyama '99 to Philadelphia to land Asa Reynolds.

The one problem for Toronto is that it leaves the Titans low on depth. With Koji Murofushi being at risk for a possible nerf due to being one of the bonus Sportsman competitors, that leaves Toronto low on depth if Reynolds and/or Britten falter. This team's ceiling has been raised, but with it, it's also lowered its floor. The Titans are playing with fire: the question is whether they rocket up or get burnt.

No. 11 - Atlanta Falconhawks (11-7, W2, 1015 pts)

You could be forgiven for counting Atlanta out. After all, I did too. I placed the Falconhawks dead last in my preseason rankings, due a full rebuild underway and a female-only roster that looked uncompetitive at first glance. But Atlanta somehow found a way.

Despite trotting out a three-stage core that ranked No. 29, No. 28 and No. 30, respectively, the Falconhawks have gone 11-7. By all metrics, this team should be a bottom-eight team. Yet, somehow and by some virtue, it is not. The Falconhawks don't need a traditional blueprint to compete; they've defied every narrative set around them this season and seized a chance at a postseason berth that no one thought possible.

No. 10 - Miami Blaze (11-7, W5, 1329 pts)

This season, the vibe around Miami has been different. Miami sits at 11-7 going into the break, riding a five-game heater and quietly building momentum. Aside from Hans Hertz, who surprisingly ranks No. 12, this team is full of silent competitors who accomplish the jobs that they're meant to do. There's not a lot of flash to this team.

That was to their detriment earlier this season, but no longer. With Nathanael Honvou also likely to receive a performance buff to kick off the second half of this season, the Blaze are shining brighter than before.

Whether Hertz stays long-term or not, Miami appears to have found a workable identity. There's no illusions this time. Instead, it's a team rounding into form at the right hour.

No. 9 - Boston Hustle (13-5, W5, 1340 pts)

In many ways, Boston has personified that non-flash identity that Miami is still trying to perfect. The Hustle's stars — Jake McClintock (No. 18) and Tatsuya Tada (No. 25) — are elite, but not at the level of MVP candidacy or competitors who drop a 50-point bomb. They're also not the type of competitors to drop a subpar outing; though McClintock struggled through a three-round stretch from Rounds 4 to 6 where he tallied a combined 15 points, the Hustle persevered through that stretch.

But in many ways, that steadiness is also their undoing. That inability to do the maximum has kept Boston many a time from winning the championship; the Hustle have been eliminated from the playoffs six times via a winner-take-all Game 7.

Until the Hustle find a way to turn consistency into intermittent volatility — to win not just with composure, but with occasional chaos — that long-awaited championship will likely remain just out of reach.

No. 8 - Austin Strike (13-5, L1, 1356 pts)

Austin's been the surprise upstart of the season, producing a 13-5 first-half stunner that came within a whisker of cracking the top four at the season's halfway mark. For a franchise that's long hovered near the league's median, the Strike have flipped expectations on their head. While Austin has top-30 talent in Gavin Obey (No. 17) and Nacssa Garemore (No. 28), the team's success hasn't come from star power alone. Obey and Garemore have been steady and, at times, explosive, but what's elevated the Strike to a mark this high has been how well the supporting cast has stepped up. 

Spencer O'Brien (No. 64), Shneor Sameach (No. 70) and Addy Herman (No. 149) have all held their weight, being among the top players for their stage. That depth has allowed Austin to weather off-nights from their stars without cratering, a trait that few teams can claim. The depth of this roster gives the Strike a stable floor. Obey and Garemore might just give them a championship ceiling.

No. 7 - Portland Riptide (13-5, L1, 1366 pts)

Portland, as expected, has no Ryo Matachi '11 anymore. They also don't have Yamamoto Keitaro, either. No problem for the Riptide — so far. Despite a turbulent offseason that saw them lose their No. 2 and trade away his projected replacement, Portland is once again right near the top of the standings. The Riptide sit at 13-5 with one of the league's highest point totals, powered by the consistent dominance of Yusuke Morimoto (No. 10). It's not as star-laden a roster as in campaigns past, but for the most part, Portland hasn't skipped much of a beat.

The question now is no longer about regular season legitimacy. The Riptide are fine in the regular season. They've proven they can win with depth, discipline and a retooled supporting cast. What remains is the postseason cloud: the collapse against Oakland last season, the fall to Sacramento in Season 8 and the feeling of a missed repeat in Season 7.

If they want to rewrite the narrative in Season X, someone besides Yusuke will need to rise to the occasion. The Riptide have the floor of contender. Whether they still have the ceiling of a champion is what the playoffs will determine.

No. 6 - Tampa Bay Thunder (13-5, W1, 1370 pts)

After a miraculous turnaround last season, Tampa Bay has continued to hold its own in Season X. The Thunder look like a team that's no longer just scraping by into the playoffs, but one that is contending again.

But the familiar question from past seasons remains: can Tampa Bay's Stage One and Stage Two units step up to match the firepower of their Stage Three? Last campaign, Caleb Bergstrom and Makoto Nagano '06 formed a potent duo, but the Thunder still struggled to keep pace with the other elite teams in earlier stages — a problem that ultimately limited their playoff season.

This time around, Stage Three remains a strength, but the supporting stages have yet to consistently elevate the team's overall ceiling, ranking 14th and 19th, respectively. To break through the playoff barrier and move beyond another quarterfinal exit, Tampa Bay will need more balance across the board.

If the Thunder can add depth and ignite their first two stages, the pieces could finally come together. For now, though, Tampa Bay remains a dangerous but incomplete contender: poised for regular season success, but still searching for that final spark to lead into postseason accomplishment.

No. 5 - Pittsburgh Iron (13-5, W3, 1386 pts)

Pittsburgh looks every bit the contender again. Sitting at 13-5 18 games in and riding a three-game win streak, the Iron boast a core led by Kaden Lebsack (No 4), Max Feinberg (No. 21) and Josiah Pippel (No 82). Though Kane Kosugi '01 departed in the offseason, now being on Charlotte, Pittsburgh remains formidable.

The bigger question now: does Pittsburgh still have the postseason magic to make another run like they did in Season 8? Regular-season success is one thing, but the playoffs have a way of exposing weaknesses. Especially with the two-headed monster of Sacramento and Oakland looming, Pittsburgh will need to dig deep and find a new gear to avoid another early exit.

For now, the Iron are looking good. Whether that translates into another deep postseason run remains the defining storyline of their season.

No. 4 - Houston Ignition (13-5, W6, 1480 pts)

Last season, Houston came out of nowhere. Projected to finish in the bottom five, the Ignition nearly crashed the playoff party, finishing just one game short. This season, they've addressed that weakness in a big way.

Now with six straight wins, Houston has rebranded itself as a full-on threat. The marquee move? Snagging Ryo Matachi '11 in free agency after Portland let him walk. He's brought explosive scoring to a Stage Three unit that desperately needed it, ranking 7th at the season's midpoint.

The Ignition aren't just balanced now; they're dangerous. They've already beaten a few contenders and if they keep this momentum going, they're the spoiler team that Sacramento and Oakland don't want to see in the postseason. Houston is a team that's peaking at the perfect time.

No. 3 - London Glory (15-3, W1, 1358 pts)

This season has been a different story entirely for London. Last season, their top-heavy model got them into the playoffs, but not much further. They were promptly swept out of the quarterfinals by Portland, their inexperience and imbalance exposed.

This season? A different story entirely. The Glory have just three losses going into the season's second half and at last feel like a complete team. Stage One ranks 11th, Stage Two sits at 13th and Stage Three, still the team's backbone, checks in at No. 6. It's not just that London has improved; it's that they've become consistent across the board. And that's what makes them dangerous.

While Ryosuke Miyaoka (No. 19) struggled early in the season, the emergence of a deeper supporting cast — and Isaiah Thomas (No. 9) stepping up as a potential No. 1 option over Miyaoka — has elevated the Glory from fringe hopeful to legitimate contender.

The question now isn't whether London belongs in the upper tier, but rather if they can break through it. The Glory, after multiple campaigns of potential, are finaly armed with the balance and firepower to do something more.

No. 2 - Sacramento Shadows (15-3, L1, 1472 pts)

Sacramento's dominance isn't a fluke, but instead a sustained force. After a historic Season 9 crowned by a flawless 4-0 finals sweep of Oakland and a Finals MVP run from Noah Meunier, the Shadows have carried that momentum into Season X with just three losses and a 14-game winning streak at one point in the season.

There's not a question as to whether Sacramento can contend again. They will. The real storyline  is how long they can keep their stranglehold on the throne, especially with Oakland alongside them. It's shaping up to be a two-horse race for supremacy, with both teams boasting stacked rosters. While Houston, London and Austin present intriguing spoilers, the Invaders and Shadows are the clear frontrunners.

However, the recent trade involving Ezekiel Elliott '14 is likely to shake up the balance of power in the league, adding a new wrinkle to what was already a fiercely competitive title chase.

Whether this trade becomes a catalyst for Sacramento's downfall or a calculated risk to grab another superstar remains uncertain, given Elliott '14's impending nerf. No one, aside from Cunningham, knows how far the nerf goes. For opponents, this uncertainty is a glimmer of hope. For Sacramento, it's a test of whether their championship core can withstand unexpected upheaval and still deliver.

The Shadows' reign is on the line and the fallout from the Elliott trade could define the season.

No. 1 - Oakland Invaders (16-2, W1, 1500 pts)

Last season marked a turning point for a franchise long stuck in the "good, but not quite good enough tier". This season, the Invaders have taken that momentum and turned it into dominance. Sitting at 16-2 with 1,500 points, and starting 15-1, Oakland has been nearly unstoppable.

Their Stage One, Two and Three units rank first, ninth and first, respectively, powering a team that has scored over 50 points in every came and cracked 60 points all but twice.

Maintaining their core duo of Jackson Erdos (No. 2) and Vance Walker (No. 23) was key, but the rest of the roster has come through when it matters most. If luck swings their way this season, the Invaders are primed to turn last year's heartbreak into their first-ever championship.

TNL action will resume with the TNL Invitational on Wednesday, June 25, the TNL All-Star Game on Thursday, June 26. The regular season starts back up on Friday, June 27, with Round 19 at SHIRO 57.