TNL Season 12 Midseason Review

The 12th season of TNL has reached its midpoint and with that, the league's pecking order for the campaign appears to be forming. Several preseason factors have underperformed, while other teams have surprised. Here's all how all 36 teams are shaping up halfway through Season 12.

No. 36 - Alaska Aces (3-15, L1, 970 pts)

Alaska’s season began in the kind of hole that tends to define a team before it finds itself. The Aces lost 13 of their first 14 matches, struggling to sustain pressure across stages. Early results reflected a roster searching for rhythm more than identity, with scoring opportunities often concentrated in stretches rather than sustained execution.

The middle stretch offered a flicker of stability. Alaska has won two of its next four contests, showing enough fight to suggest the season could still turn. Much of the scoring load settled on three primary producers. Joe Meissner (No. 72), Bryan Clay (No. 83) and Paul Kasemir (No. 119) were the only Aces to average double-digit scoring, providing a clear but narrow and non-high-end backbone to the lineup.

No. 35 - Houston Ignition (4-14, L2, 1052 pts)

Houston’s season has been defined by early chaos and lingering uncertainty. The Ignition dropped their first seven matches and lost nine of their first 10, forcing the team into a reactive posture before identity could even form. While the roster has shown occasional competitive stretches, consistency has remained elusive, leaving Houston still yearning for a clear direction entering the second half of the season.

The burden has fallen on a very narrow core. Joe Capo stands as the lone Houston representative inside the top 100, ranking No. 82 overall. It's a far cry from even last season's lackluster No. 24 finish, where the Ignition at least placed two athletes in the top 40. Beyond Capo, the lineup has struggled to generate reliable secondary production.

At midseason, the team owns a strong Stage 1 ranking at No. 4, showing the ability to open matches sharply. However, performance declines noticeably in later phases, with Stage Two sitting at No. 28 and Stage Three at No. 34.

No. 34 - Pittsburgh Iron (4-14, L10, 1158 pts)

The season began with quiet promise for Pittsburgh Iron before collapsing into a long, frustrating slide. The Iron opened 4-4, suggesting a roster capable of remaining competitive in the middle of the table, but the momentum evaporated quickly. Pittsburgh has since dropped 10 straight matches, transforming what once looked like a stabilizing season into a search for answers.

Unlike some lower-tier teams, Pittsburgh has not been undone by a single catastrophic weakness. Instead, the roster has settled into mediocrity across the board. All three stages sit clustered between No. 18 and No. 24 at midseason.

Individually, James McGrath '13 has been the lone consistent bright spot, ranking No. 28 overall with 17.33 points per game and carrying much of the Iron’s competitive output. Beyond McGrath '13, however, secondary scoring has been inconsistent.

The Iron are not a fundamentally broken team. Rather, they are a roster stuck without a decisive edge, competitive enough to stay in games but lacking the punch to finish them, a combination that has fueled the current losing streak.

No. 33 - Tampa Bay Thunder (5-13, L5, 1046 pts)

The season has largely passed by the Thunder without much noise. Tampa Bay has functioned more as a peripheral presence than a competitive threat, drifting through the schedule while struggles mounted on both ends of the roster. Entering the All-Star Break,

The turning point came early when the Thunder moved on from Makoto Nagano '06, dealing him to the Oklahoma City Lightning in exchange for Isaiah Thomas. Though Thomas has been solid, sitting at No. 42 in the MVP rankings at midseason, he has not matched Nagano '06, who currently ranks fourth.

The trade removed the team’s primary catalyst and left a void that Tampa Bay has been unable to fill. Since the departure, the Thunder have lacked a consistent engine, producing a lineup that often looks fragmented in execution.

The results reflect that loss of structure. Tampa Bay is currently riding a five-game losing streak and has rarely threatened to break out of the league’s lower tier. At 5-13, the Thunder have remained competitive enough to avoid complete collapse but have struggled to convert competitive stretches into wins.

No. 32 - Boston Hustle (5-13, L3, 1360 pts)

The season has been defined by frustration for Boston, a team that often looks better on paper than its record suggests. Boston owns one of the strongest scoring profiles in the league, ranking sixth in total points and placing four players inside the top 75.

The group is led by Yusuke Morimoto 2, who sits at No. 23 and has served as the roster’s primary engine. The supporting cast has also been productive enough to create the appearance of a competitive contender.

Boston has dropped five single-digit contests. The Hustle opened the season 2-0 before sliding into a six-game losing streak, and the current stretch has been similarly bleak, with seven losses in their last eight games.

This is a team that consistently stays within striking distance but rarely executes the decisive sequences needed to close games. The talent base suggests higher upside than the record indicates, yet Boston has repeatedly watched competitive contests slip away in the waning moments.

No. 31 - Denver Dynamite (6-12, L2, 1044 pts)

The season has been uneven for the Dynamite, which has shown enough competitiveness to stay within games but not enough consistency to climb the standings. Denver sits at 6-12 after dropping two straight and has lost seven of its last nine matches, a stretch that effectively erased any early-season optimism.

The Dynamite’s primary issue has been late-stage execution. Stage 3 production has lagged significantly, ranking No. 33 overall and becoming the team’s most vulnerable phase. Much of the responsibility has fallen on a pair of core contributors who have struggled to meet expectations in high-leverage moments.

Both Rene Casselly (No. 73) and Roman Sebrle (No. 96) have produced below the level Denver needs from its late-stage options, leaving the Dynamite without a reliable closing presence.

The roster’s profile is not one of structural collapse but of situational weakness. Denver can remain competitive through stretches of play, yet struggles to convert those stretches into wins once games reach the final phase. Unless Stage 3 efficiency improves, the Dynamite are likely to remain trapped in the league’s lower tier.

No. 30 - Minnesota Blizzard (6-12, L5, 1055 pts)

The season has slipped away from Minnesota in a gradual but unmistakable manner. The Blizzard dropped six of its last seven matches, pushing Minnesota deeper into the lower half of the standings and making the postseason picture increasingly distant.

Complicating the start were penalties issued to the Blizzard for inappropriate language violations, which cost the team competitive flexibility at key moments. While the sanctions were not the primary driver of the record, they added another obstacle to a roster that already struggled to capitalize.

Minnesota has leaned heavily on Zak Stolz, who sits at No. 41 overall and serves as the team’s only top-90 presence. Beyond Stolz, the supporting production has been inconsistent, leaving the Blizzard without a dependable second or third scoring threat when opponents focus defensive attention.

The broader issue has been execution rather than effort. Minnesota has remained competitive in stretches but has struggled to translate those stretches into sustained pressure.

No. 29 - San Antonio Shurikens (6-12, W1, 1117 pts)

The season has largely revolved around one player for San Antonio Shurikens. The roster has been carried by Elijah Browning, who sits at No. 29 overall and serves as the only Shurikens representative inside the top 100. The team’s identity has effectively mirrored Browning’s production — competitive when he is active, vulnerable when he is neutralized.

San Antonio opened the season with moderate stability, starting 3-4 and suggesting it could hover near the middle of the table. That promise quickly faded during a stretch in which the Shurikens lost eight of 10 matches, a run that erased early momentum and pushed the team toward the lower tier of the standings.

The Shurikens closed the first half on a positive note with a 68-37 victory, a result that offered a reminder of the roster’s occasional ceiling. However, those bursts have been rare.

No. 28 - Indianapolis Horsepower (7-11, L1, 883 pts)

Despite ranking last in total scoring across the league, Indianapolis has shown intermittent bursts of competitive form that hint at a team capable of playing above its overall statistical profile.

The Horsepower’s best stretch came when they won four of five matches, a run that pulled the roster back into relevance. During that span, the team demonstrated that it can convert opportunities efficiently when execution aligns across stages. However, sustaining that level of play has proven difficult.

Indianapolis simply has not generated enough pressure to consistently challenge stronger opponents, leaving the team vulnerable in games where volume becomes decisive.

No. 27 - Sacramento Shadows (7-11, W1, 1228 pts)

Sacramento Shadows entered Season 12 with a history of success, coming off championships in Seasons 9 and 10 and a quarterfinal appearance in Season 11. The early results, however, have been uncharacteristically harsh. Sacramento lost seven straight and stood at 1-8 after nine games, forcing the Shadows into a deep early hole.

The roster has rebounded in recent weeks, winning five of their last six and clawing back to a 7-11 record. The recovery has shown that the team’s talent and experience remain intact; however, the Shadows have little margin for error as the second half of the season approaches.

Much of the recent success has come from steady execution across stages. Sacramento now faces a critical stretch: The remainder of the schedule will determine whether this is a team returning to contender form or one that will struggle to reach the postseason after a tumbling start.

No. 26 - New Jersey Generals (7-11, W1, 1234 pts)

have hovered around the middle tier for much of the season, showing flashes of strong execution without sustaining enough momentum to climb the standings. The Generals currently sit at 7-11 after snapping a rough stretch with a win in Round 18.

Individually, the roster has several capable contributors. Geoff Britten leads the group at No. 19 overall, while Levi Meeuwenberg (No. 54) and Luke Beckstrand (No. 75) provide additional stability in the lineup. The trio has given New Jersey a respectable competitive base, though the supporting production has been less consistent.

The team’s stage profile reveals a clear imbalance. New Jersey has been excellent in Stage Two, ranking No. 3 across the league. However, that strength has been offset by middling production elsewhere, with Stage One ranked No. 25 and Stage Three at No. 24.

No. 25 - Brooklyn Blitz (8-10, L1, 1107 pts)

The season has unfolded in largely uneventful fashion for the Blitz. At 8-10, Brooklyn has hovered around the league’s middle tier without ever fully breaking toward contention or slipping into a prolonged collapse. The overall profile reflects a roster that is stable but lacking a clear edge.

Much of that dynamic shows up in the individual rankings. Brooklyn’s top five performers sit at Nos. 50, 94, 95, 98 and 101 — a cluster that illustrates depth without a defining star. The Blitz have enough contributors to remain competitive most outings, but no singular presence capable of consistently shifting the balance of games.

No. 24 - Cleveland Crowns (8-10, L1, 1175 pts)

Cleveland stumbled out of the gate with a 1-3 start, immediately placing the team in catch-up mode during the early portion of the schedule. While the Crowns never fully spiraled, they also struggled to generate the kind of sustained momentum needed to climb the standings.

Since that opening stretch, Cleveland has hovered around the middle of the table, trading wins and losses in a pattern that has kept the club near the .500 mark. The roster has shown the ability to remain competitive in most matchups, but it has rarely delivered the decisive stretches that separate contenders from the league’s middle tier. At 8-10, the Crowns remain within reach of relevance but lack a defining strength that consistently tilts matches in their favor.

No. 23 - Atlanta Armada (9-9, W2, 1089 pts)

Atlanta has mostly blended into the middle of the pack this season. The Armada’s stage rankings — Nos. 34, 21 and 24 — reflect a team that has been steady enough to stay competitive but hasn’t produced many standout performances.

Matt Bradley leads the roster at No. 46 overall, giving Atlanta a solid anchor; however, the team lacks the elite-tier presence that can rack up major points. Without a true headliner near the top of the rankings, the Armada have relied on collective depth rather than a single athlete capable of carrying a stage, something that's kept them from being a bottom feeder while also restraining them from higher aspirations.

That depth has kept Atlanta afloat around .500, and the current two-game winning streak shows the group can still string together respectable results. Still, until someone emerges as a genuine top-tier threat, the Armada’s ceiling appears limited

No. 22 - Dallas Wranglers (9-9, L1, 1129 pts)

Dallas presents one of the more unusual roster builds in the league. Jake McClintock sits at No. 12 overall at midseason, giving the Wranglers a legitimate top-end performer capable of putting up big scores on near any course.

After McClintock, however, the drop-off is steep. True Becker is the next closest in the rankings at No. 97, leaving a sizable gap in the middle of the lineup. That imbalance has rendered Dallas heavily dependent on McClintock to produce near the top of the leaderboard each contest.

Even so, the Wranglers showed some momentum heading into the break. Dallas rattled off four straight wins before falling in its final contest prior to the All-Star Game, a stretch that demonstrated the group can compete when things click.

The formula has worked well enough to keep the Wranglers hovering around .500, but for Dallas to climb much higher in the standings, the supporting cast will need to close the gap behind McClintock.

No. 21 - San Francisco Sentinels (9-9, L1, 1160 pts)

For a team that reached the quarterfinals last season, San Francisco’s first half has been a clear step back. The Sentinels have hovered around .500, but the path there has been anything but steady.

San Francisco ripped off a five-game winning streak right bfeore the All-Star break, showing flashes of the form that carried it into the postseason a campaign ago. But that surge was offset by a brutal stretch in which the Sentinels dropped seven of eight contests, erasing much of the progress they had built.

The result is a team that has been difficult to read week to week. On some nights, the Sentinels look capable of climbing back into the league’s upper tier. On others, they struggle to maintain consistency across the lineup.

Still, San Francisco remains firmly in the middle of the pack. If the Sentinels can smooth out the dramatic swings in performance, there’s still enough talent on the roster to make a push in the second half.

No. 20 - Milwaukee Reapers (9-9, W1, 1168 pts)

Last season, Milwaukee carried a fighter’s chance of sneaking into the postseason a season ago, and this season has been a slight step back.

Sam Folsom (No. 36), Milwaukee's top-ranked competitor, provides the Reapers with a dependable presence near the front of the lineup, the roster lacks a true elite-tier competitor capable of consistently pushing toward the very top of the standings.

Milwaukee’s stage rankings of Nos. 8, 27 and 22 further highlight the uneven results. The Reapers have shown they can produce strong performances in flashes but sustaining that level across multiple stages has proven more difficult.

The result is a team that remains competitive most weeks yet struggles to separate itself from the middle of the pack. Milwaukee has enough depth to stay in the conversation, but it still needs more top-end production to truly threaten the league’s stronger squads.

No. 19 - Portland Riptide (9-9, L4, 1303 pts)

The defending champions sitting at .500? That’s the reality for Portland at midseason. After last season’s title run, the Riptide have taken a clear step back, and the reasons aren’t hard to find.

A major factor has been the loss of production from Yusuke Morimoto and the departure of Yusuke Morimoto 2, who finished No. 3 in the league last season. Portland hasn’t been able to pair Morimoto with another top-end performer capable of replicating that output.

Compounding the issue, the original Morimoto himself has fallen off the pace compared to a campaign ago. After finishing last season ranked No. 2 overall, he sits at No. 47 at midseason.

The result has been a frustrating first half. The Riptide remain dangerous on paper and still carry the pedigree of a championship roster, but a four-meet losing streak entering the break highlights just how far the team has slipped from last season’s form.

No. 18 - Oakland Invaders (9-9, L6, 1341 pts)

Oakland enters the postseason break in a brutal skid, having dropped six straight contests. Despite the losing streak, the Invaders’ situation feels more like misfortune than a roster completely falling apart. Several of the losses during the stretch have come in tight matchups that could have swung either way.

Jackson Erdos has been the clear bright spot, sitting No. 10 in the league and giving Oakland a legitimate top-notch talent capable of keeping the team competitive. Behind him, however, the next two closest contributors sit much further down the rankings at No. 37 and No. 88, creating a noticeable gap in scoring consistency.

That imbalance has made the Invaders vulnerable in close meets, where depth often determines the outcome. Oakland still has enough talent to rebound in the second half, but turning those narrow defeats into wins will be critical if the Invaders want to climb back up the standings.

No. 17 - Seattle Surge (10-8, W8, 1115 pts)

Seattle has been one of the league’s biggest turnaround stories. After 10 rounds, the Surge sat at just 2-8 and looked headed for another lost season near the bottom of the standings.

Since then, everything has flipped. Seattle enters the break riding an eight-game winning streak, one of the hottest runs in the league. The Surge have strung together consistent performances across the lineup, turning what once looked like a lost campaign into a legitimate push up the standings. That charge has been spearheaded by Hans Hertz, who ranks No. 31 in the league at midseason.

The surge — pun intended — has transformed the team’s outlook entirely. Instead of playing out the string, Seattle suddenly finds itself in the conversation as a dangerous second-half team. Momentum alone doesn’t guarantee postseason success, but few squads will feel better about where they stand heading into the stretch run.

If the Surge can maintain even a portion of this form, the team that started 2-8 may wind up being one of the toughest opponents down the line.

No. 16 - Miami Blaze (10-8, W1, 1175 pts)

Miami’s season has been a tale of two halves. The Blaze opened the season on a strong 6-1 run, quickly positioning themselves near the top of the standings. Since then, however, the momentum has cooled, with Miami going just 4-7 in its last 11 contests.

Stage Two has been a clear strength, ranking sixth and consistently producing strong results. It's the direct opposite of the other two stages, which have been far more inconsistent, with Stage One ranking No. 22 and Stage Three No. 29.

Individually, Miami has solid contributors but lacks a true top-tier standout. Matthew Keller (No. 55), Najee Richardson (No. 56) and Mickael Mawem (No. 67) form the team’s top trio, giving the Blaze a dependable middle core without a true high-end presence near the top of the league rankings.

That balance has kept Miami competitive enough to stay above .500, but the drop in form after the hot start suggests the Blaze will need more consistency if they hope to remain in the playoff mix down the stretch.

No. 15 - Austin Strike (10-8, L3, 1214 pts)

Austin opened the season in promising fashion with a 3-0 start, but the momentum did not last. The Strike have gone 7-8 since that point and enter the break on a three-game skid, pulling the team back toward the middle of the standings.

The stage rankings show a group that has been steady but rarely spectacular. Austin sits 21st, 21st and 15th across the three stages, results that reflect a lineup capable of competing most weeks but one that has struggled to produce standout performances.

Gavin Obey has been the team’s clear bright spot, ranking No. 18 overall and giving Austin a legitimate top-end performer. The support behind him has been more limited. Matthias Noirel, the next closest contributor at No. 57, has not provided the kind of consistent backing needed to push the Strike higher in the standings.

As a result, Austin remains competitive but difficult to separate from the league’s crowded middle tier.

No. 14 - Detroit Chargers (10-8, L5, 1268 pts)

Not long ago, Detroit looked like the best team in the league. The Chargers opened the season with an 8-0 start and even held the No. 1 spot in the standings at one point. Since then, everything has unraveled. Detroit has gone just 2-8 over its last 10 contests and enters the break on a five-contest losing streak.

The slide has come largely through narrow defeats rather than total collapses. Detroit has remained competitive most weeks but has struggled to close out tight matchups.

Jay Lewis (No. 16) and Yamamoto Keitaro (No. 30) form the backbone of the Chargers’ Stage Three lineup. Both have provided solid production, yet the group as a whole has often come up just short in key stretches.

That combination has turned what once looked like a dominant first half into a season searching for answers. Detroit still sits above .500, but the dramatic shift from an 8-0 start to a prolonged slump leaves the Chargers entering the break with significant momentum to regain.

No. 13 - DC Defenders (10-8, W2, 1269 pts)

DC has taken a step forward this season, largely thanks to the return of Yuji Urushihara '10. Urushihara '10 currently sits No. 8 in the league and has re-provided the Defenders with the kind of presence the roster had been missing in recent seasons since he left.

Behind him, Nacssa Garemore (No. 43) and RJ Roman (No. 61) have emerged as respectable secondary contributors. The depth is serviceable, though the Defenders could still benefit from adding another top-tier competitor if they aspire to seriously contend. A trade for additional high-end talent might be the clearest path forward.

From a stage perspective, DC has leaned heavily on Stage Two, where the team ranks sixth in the league. Stage One (17th) and Stage Three (14th) have been more middle-of-the-pack, contributing to a team profile that appears solid but not overwhelming.

Even so, this season represents progress. The Defenders have quietly built a competitive roster after several underwhelming campaign, though one statistic still looms large: The franchise has not won a playoff game since Season 5. Breaking that drought remains the next step.

No. 12 - Charlotte Sting (10-8, W3, 1285 pts)

Charlotte’s season has been defined by a dramatic turnaround. The Sting stumbled out of the gate with a 1-5 start, but since then they have surged, going 9-3 over their last 12 contests to climb back into the middle of the standings. Tyler Smith has been the driving force behind the resurgence, leading the team — and the league — with 24.94 points per game and consistently anchoring Charlotte’s lineup.

Charlotte boasts the second-best Stage Three in the league, a strength that has helped them close out meets and stay competitive late. Stage Two has been the complete opposite. The Sting rank last in the league there, averaging just 16.56 points per game, a weakness that has frequently put the team behind the 8-ball.

Even with that imbalance, Charlotte’s recent form suggests the team has found its footing. If the Sting can bring even modest improvement to Stage Two, their strong finishers could make them a difficult opponent in the second half.

No. 11 - Chicago Cyclones (10-8, W1, 1318 pts)

Chicago has quietly pieced together another steady campaign. The Cyclones built their position early by winning seven of their first 10 meets, creating a cushion that has helped them remain in the upper half of the standings.

The stretch entering the break was shakier. Chicago dropped four of five before rebounding with a win in Round 18, but the overall body of work still leaves the Cyclones in a solid spot heading into the second half.

Much of that success starts with Caleb Bergstrom, who sits No. 9 in the league and has served as the team’s most reliable high-end performer. Chicago also strengthened its lineup with a midseason trade for Sean McColl, currently ranked No. 27, adding another capable contributor to the roster.

With a top-10 anchor and a newly reinforced supporting cast, the Cyclones appear well-positioned to remain competitive as the season moves into its decisive stretch.

No. 10 - Phoenix Inferno (11-7, W1, 1178 pts)

Phoenix looks like a team on the rise. The Inferno have put together one of their strongest campaigns to date and now sit within striking distance of what could be the franchise’s first postseason appearance. A big reason for the improvement has been the addition of Yogev Malka and Vance Walker. Malka currently ranks No. 32 in the league, while Walker sits close behind at No. 35, giving Phoenix a pair of reliable contributors who have helped stabilize the lineup -- and place it into contention for the first time.

That added depth has turned the Inferno into a far more competitive group than in previous seasons. Instead of struggling near the bottom of the standings, Phoenix now finds itself firmly in the playoff conversation.

If the team can maintain its current pace, the Inferno may finally break through and secure their first trip to the postseason.

No. 9 - Las Vegas Jackpot (11-7, W2, 1305 pts)

Las Vegas has operated with a short six-player rotation, but the lineup can be dangerous when it clicks. At its best, the Jackpot have shown the ability to overwhelm opponents with strong finishes.

Ezekiel Elliott has been the centerpiece, ranking No. 5 in the league and giving Las Vegas one of the top performers in the standings. He’s joined by Max Feinberg (No. 26), and together, they anchor a Stage Three unit that ranks sixth in the league.

The season has not been entirely smooth. Las Vegas hit a rough patch between Rounds 9 and 12, dropping four straight contests that briefly stalled its progress; recently, however, the Jackpot appear to have corrected course. The team has won five of its last six contests and enters the break trending in the right direction.

If Las Vegas continues to tighten up the issues that surfaced midseason, the shorter rotation may not matter. When the Jackpot find their rhythm, they have the potential to give almost anyone in the league trouble.

No. 8 - London Glory (11-7, W1, 1423 pts)

London entered the season with uncertainty after Othebeast’s surprising move to Philadelphia, but the Glory have held their ground. Under the direction of Cyrus08uk and volnio, the team has remained competitive and firmly in the playoff conversation.

London’s consistency has been the key. The Glory pieced together a four-game winning streak during the first half, helping them stay above the crowded middle tier of the standings. That run helped stabilize a roster that many expected might take a step back after the offseason change.

Even so, the margin remains thin. London currently sits just one game above the postseason cutline, meaning every result down the stretch will matter. The Glory have done enough to remain in position, but maintaining that spot will require continued steadiness in the second half. London has been potent across all three phases, however. Its Stage One ranks No. 12, its Stage Two clocks in at No. 8 and its Stage Three ranks third in the league. That charge has been spearheaded by Oliver Luttman (No. 6) and James Sannella (No. 11).

No. 7 - Baltimore Bandits (13-5, W6, 1316 pts)

Baltimore enters the break as one of the hotter teams in the league. The Bandits have won six straight meets, pushing their record to 13-5 after sitting at 7-5 earlier in the season. The surge has helped Baltimore regain the momentum it showed when it opened the season with a 5-1 mark.

Much of the team’s strength has come from its Stage Three lineup. Tatsuya Tada (No. 14) and Ryo Matachi '11 (No. 21) form a reliable core that has helped the Bandits produce the league’s seventh-best results on that stage.

The main concern remains Stage One, where Baltimore ranks 30th. That weakness has occasionally forced the team to play from behind early in contests, placing more pressure on the later stages to make up the difference.

Even with that imbalance, the current six-game winning streak shows Baltimore has found ways to compensate. If the Bandits can bring even modest improvement to Stage One, their strong finishers in Tada and Matachi '11 could make them a difficult team to handle down the stretch.

No. 6 - New York Nightmares (13-5, W4, 1326 pts)

New York’s season has featured one of the most dramatic turnarounds in the league. The Nightmares opened the campaign at just 2-3, but since then, they have caught fire, losing only two more contests over the next 13 outings. They now enter the break having won eight of their last nine games.

A major reason for the surge has been Phil Folsom, who sits second in the league in scoring at 23.61 points per game. His production has given New York one of the most reliable engines in the league — and a true shot at making its first postseason in nine campaigns. Support has come from Josiah Pippel, currently ranked No. 44. While not an elite-tier scorer, he has provided enough secondary output to help balance the lineup.

Structurally, the Nightmares are strongest on Stage Three, where they rank fourth in the league. Stage Two has been the clear weakness, sitting 31st and occasionally putting the team in difficult positions early in meets.

Even with that flaw, New York’s results speak for themselves. The Nightmares are tied with the league’s top seed in total wins, and with their current form, it is difficult to see them falling far from the top tier heading into the postseason race.

No. 5 - Toronto Titans (13-5, W3, 1329 pts)

Toronto has remained one of the league’s steadier contenders, even if this campaign hasn’t matched the historic heights of last season’s squad. The Titans’ stage rankings — Nos. 16, 9 and 12 — place them comfortably in the league’s upper tier without any glaring weaknesses.

Asa Reynolds has led the way, sitting No. 17 in the league and providing Toronto with a consistent No. 1 option. Behind him, Shingo Yamamoto (No. 40) and Charlie Robbins (No. 53) have offered steady supplemental scoring.

This group is not quite the same juggernaut that stormed through the league a campaign ago. That team won 21 consecutive games and tied the TNL record for the longest winning streak, though it went on to be eliminated in the quarterfinals. Replicating that level of dominance was always going to be difficult. Even so, the Titans remain firmly among the league’s top contenders. With a balanced roster and the league’s top-ranked athlete leading the lineup, Toronto continues to look like a team capable of making yet another postseason.

No. 4 - Tokyo Kaiju (13-5, W2, 1390 pts)

Considering Tokyo finished No. 27 last season, few expected the Kaiju to be in the title conversation this season. Instead, they have been one of the league’s biggest surprises. Tokyo, once again managed by Lars "amamimia" Anderson. opened the campaign 8-1 and quickly established itself near the top of the standings before cooling slightly with a 5-4 record over its last nine contests.

The surge has been driven by a strong core of performers. Michael Phelps leads the charge at No. 7 in the league, while Evan White sits at No. 25. Iliann Cherif has rounded out the trio effectively as a dependable third option, currently ranked No. 49.

Tokyo’s balance has been a major strength. The Kaiju are one of just two teams, alongside Philadelphia, to post top-10 results across all three stages this season. Their rankings of Nos. 6, 10 and 9 underline a roster with few weaknesses and consistent lineup-wide production.

That balance has helped transform Tokyo from last season’s cellar-dweller into one of the league’s most complete teams. Even with the slight slowdown in recent rounds, the Kaiju remain firmly among the top contenders heading into the second half.

No. 3 - Los Angeles Eclipse (13-5, L1, 1413 pts)

Los Angeles has engineered one of the league’s biggest turnarounds. After finishing last season near the bottom of the standings, the Eclipse have surged into the title conversation and even spent two rounds atop the table. They currently sit just 38 points behind the league-leading Philadelphia Freedom.

Another sign of their consistency: Los Angeles has not lost consecutive games all season, a feat only two other teams (New York, London) have matched.

The transformation begins with the offseason acquisition of Noah Meunier, who arrived from Sacramento and has delivered exactly what Eclipse manager cryxer hoped for. Meunier sits No. 3 in the league and has provided a steady top-end presence throughout the campaign.

He is backed by a strong supporting cast. Kai Beckstrand ranks No. 15 and is the league’s best second option. Los Angeles ranks first in the league on Stage One and fifth on Stage Two. Enzo Wilson (No. 62) and Yuval Shemla (No. 79) round out the core contributors.

The result has been a remarkably balanced and resilient team. With one of the league’s top stars and a deep supporting group, the Eclipse have firmly established themselves among the season’s top contenders. If there's one area of improvement needed, it's Los Angeles' Stage 1, which sits at No. 31 at midseason.

No. 2 - Oklahoma City Lightning (13-5, L1, 1428 pts)

Under the direction of coolboy31013, Oklahoma City has reemerged as one of the league’s top teams. After stepping away for a period, the veteran manager has returned with a vengeance, guiding the Lightning through one of the strongest first halves in the league.

Oklahoma City spent seven weeks atop the standings, more than any other team this season. The Lightning only recently surrendered the lead heading into the All-Star break, when Philadelphia moved into first place. The two managers will meet again in the All-Star Game, where coolboy31013 faces Othebeast in a matchup that could carry implications for the regular-season title race.

The Lightning’s surge began with a blistering 10–1 start that quickly separated them from much of the field. Since then, Oklahoma City has cooled slightly, going 3–4 over its last seven meets. That dip, however, mirrors a broader trend across the league; six teams are currently tied in wins for the No. 1 spot, keeping Oklahoma City firmly in the hunt.

Even after relinquishing the top position, the Lightning remain one of the most dangerous teams heading into the season’s stretch run. Oklahoma City currently holds stage rankings of No. 15, No. 2 and No. 7 entering the midseason break.

No. 1 - Philadelphia Freedom (13-5, W8, 1451 pts)

Philadelphia’s season has been defined by one of the league’s most impressive turnarounds. After a middling start — just 2-4 in the first six rounds and 5-5 after ten — the Freedom have ripped off eight straight wins heading into the break, positioning themselves as the bona fide favorite for the title under new manager Othebeast.

Balance has been a major strength. Philadelphia ranks inside the top seven across all three stages (No. 7/No. 4/No. 5), a rare combination that has made the team difficult to match game-to-game.

No. 13 Ryosuke Miyaoka, No. 22 Hines Ward, and No. 59 Hitoshi Kanno '09 form a three-headed core that has consistently challenged opponents and carried the Freedom through stretches where others may have faltered Since settling out of their early-season struggles, Philadelphia has been nearly unstoppable, winning 11 of its last 12 games. That combination of elite talent, balance across stages and momentum makes the Freedom the team to beat as the league moves into the second half.

TNL action kicks back up with the TNL Invitational on Monday, March 9, with the TNL All-Star Game taking place on Tuesday, March 10. The regular season begins again on Sunday, March 15 (tentatively).