TNL Season 12 Preview

Following the longest season in TNL history, a season that took over four months to complete and was interrupted on a pair of occasions due to personal circumstances, Season 11 finally came to a close in late December, with the Portland Riptide claiming their second championship in franchise history.

Now, Season 12 is just around the corner. With three days to spare until Season 12 kicks off Jan. 16, here's a look back at the turbulent ride of Season 11 and what awaits in store for some of Season 12's hungriest challengers.

S11 PLAYOFF RECAP

WILDCARD CLASH, ROUND 1

(9) Alaska Aces def. (10) Cleveland Crowns, 2-0 (ALA -> Wildcard Clash, Rd. 3)

(11) Philadelphia Freedom def. (12) Chicago Cyclones, 2-1 (PHI -> Wildcard Clash, Rd. 2)

WILDCARD CLASH, ROUND 2

(11) Philadelphia Freedom def. (10) Cleveland Crowns, 2-0 (PHI -> Wildcard Clash, Rd. 3)

WILDCARD CLASH, ROUND 3

(8) San Francisco Sentinels def. (7) Tampa Bay Thunder, 2-0 (SF -> Quarterfinals)

(9) Alaska Aces def. (11) Philadelphia Freedom, 2-0 (ALA -> Wildcard Clash, Rd. 4)

WILDCARD CLASH, ROUND 4

(9) Alaska Aces def. (7) Tampa Bay Thunder, 2-0 (ALA -> Quarterfinals)

QUARTERFINALS
(1) Portland Riptide def. (9) Alaska Aces, 4-1

(4) Las Vegas Jackpot def. (5) Boston Hustle, 4-2
(2) Toronto Titans def. (8) San Francisco Sentinels, 4-0

(6) Pittsburgh Iron def. (3) Sacramento Shadows, 4-0

SEMIFINALS
(1) Portland Riptide def. (4) Las Vegas Jackpot, 4-1
(6) Pittsburgh Iron def. (2) Toronto Titans, 4-0

TNL SEASON 11 CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
(1) Portland Riptide def. (6) Pittsburgh Iron, 4-1

TNL SEASON 11 CHAMPIONS: Portland Riptide

PORTLAND SEEKS THIRD CHAMPIONSHIP

Portland enters this season looking to do something that no TNL team has ever done before: claim three championships. Though the Riptide enter Season 12 without Yusuke Morimoto 2, who anchored Portland down the stretch to their second title under yas123451, they managed to snag Evan Lavallee from San Francisco, positioning themselves well for a fighter's chance at championship No. 3.

The team held on to Stage Two mainstay Jeramiah Boyd, as well. Yusuke 2's departure does force Aaron Maggiacomo back to being Portland's secondary option on Stage 3; thus far, however, through three preseason contests, Maggiacomo dropped 23 points/game, clearing in two of the three preseason games. Portland finished first in each of the first two preseason matches, while it finished sixth in the third round.

The Riptide were one of only three teams to finsish in the top-10 of every preseason round and if Maggiacomo can rise up to the occasion, Portland could become the first team in TNL history to claim a third championship at season's end.

LOS ANGELES: WORST TO FIRST?

There's no getting around it: Los Angeles' Season 11 was substandard, far below the quality of play that the Eclipse originally provided under then-manager OofOofOof391. Los Angeles' 11th season in the league produced just a four-win campaign, with the Eclipse becoming the first team in league history to ever lose 30 games in a single season.

While that's partially down to the note that the schedule has only been 30 games or more since Season 5 led to a 31-game slate, Los Angeles' Season 11 was one of the bleakest for any squad in TNL history. It warranted change — and change came.

Fast forward to the start of this season, and Los Angeles appears reborn. After finishing right in the middle of the pack at No. 18 in the opening preseason round, the Eclipse quickly keyed in, finishing 10th in Preseason Round 2, then second in the preseason finale, only behind Season 8/9 champions Sacramento.

When combining each preseason round's finishing position, Los Angeles finished fifth with a total tally of 30, only behind perennial playoff factors Portland (8), Oakland (10), Sacramento (20) and Boston (23). Simply put, the Eclipse now sit in an entirely different tier from last season, one more akin to their prime.

While the season has yet to start and Los Angeles has yet to prove that the franchise has returned to the point of its prime, the Eclipse are on the right path, boasting a deep roster, anchored by Noah Meunier (No. 4 in Season 11's MVP standings) and supplemented by Kai Beckstrand (No. 35) Enzo DeFerrari Wilson (No. 36) and Yuval Shemla (No. 38).

NEW-LOOK OKLAHOMA CITY TAKES CENTER STAGE

Now entering his second season at the helm of Oklahoma City, Ryan “Rysins726” Barrantes appears poised to guide the Lightning back to the postseason following a brief setback in Season 11. The turnaround is not difficult to trace. One move, and one player, has reshaped the trajectory of the franchise and pushed Oklahoma City firmly into the championship conversation: Makoto Nagano ’06.

Acquired in a deal that sent Isaiah Thomas to Tampa Bay after the free agency bidding period concluded, Nagano ’06 immediately changed the ceiling of the roster. He represents the kind of true top-tier talent the Lightning have long pursued but rarely secured, a player capable of tilting matchups and anchoring a squad deep into the postseason. His arrival has given Oklahoma City a focal point, something the franchise lacked during its brief postseason absence, and provides Barrantes with a cornerstone around which the rest of the roster can coalesce.

More than just a statistical upgrade, Nagano ’06 brings stability and star power, the combination that often separates mere playoff teams from legitimate title threats. With him in place, the Lightning no longer feel like a team hoping to break through. They look like one built to contend for their first title in franchise history.

NEW YORK, LED BY KFLY, SEEKS RETURN TO CONTENTION

New York appears primed to reach the postseason for the first time since Season 3, which was all the way back in April 2024.  That season, the Nightmares orchestrated a championship run; New York went from the then-branded TNL Play-In Tournament all the way to the TNL Finals, where it rallied down 3-1 to Boston in a seven-game thriller that culminated in a Game 7 overtime victory. In the 21 months since, the Nightmares have only came close to the postseason twice, finishing 13th (three spots shy) in Season 4 and 11th (one spot shy) in Season 6. Apart from that, New York has fallen, both in the standings and in public perception.

Now, however, the Nightmares are back and renewed. With longtime manager Kody "kfly100" Flynn back at the helm, New York brings with it aspirations of returning to championship contention. The Nightmares are now spearheaded by Phil Folsom, Season 11's reigning Most Valuable Player. Folsom is flanked by Josiah Pippel (No. 48), who should profile as a reliable and experienced second option on Stage 3. Should New York qualify for the postseason, it will be their first time advancing beyond the regular season in nine campaigns.

PITTSBURGH, TAMPA BAY TOIL THROUGH OFFSEASON TURBULENCE

For the first time, Phoenix no longer looks like a team capable of threatening in short spurts. The Inferno now project as a legitimate contender to break into the postseason picture.

That shift starts at the top. Phoenix is now driven by Vance Walker, who finished No. 21 in TNL Season 11, alongside Yogev Malka (No. 27), giving the Inferno a level of top-end talent they have not consistently possessed in past campaigns. Just as important is the support behind them. Phoenix features a collection of dependable contributors who bring balance and reliability across the roster. Max Gorner, Adelena Messier, and Zeke Huber each fill defined roles, creating depth that has often been missing in previous iterations of the Inferno. With fewer gaps and clearer responsibilities, Phoenix feels built to sustain success over a full season rather than chase it.

PHOENIX EMERGES INTO POTENTIAL FIRST TRUE BREAKTHROUGH

For the first time, Phoenix doesn't just look like it can threaten on occasion. It now appears to be a genuine threat to reach the postseason.

The Inferno are now anchored by Vance Walker (No. 21 in TNL Season 11) and Yogev Malka (No. 27), giving them new top-end production. Phoenix also features dependable and reliable contributors elsewhere, with Max Gorner, Adelena Messier and Zeke Huber creating a far more balanced roster for the Inferno than in previous campaigns.

OTHER TEAMS TO WATCH

After missing out on the postseason for the first time in franchise history, longtime manager SunnysideSplash reloads for his eighth season at the helm, once again looking for his first championship and once again being anchored by Jackson Erdos. The Invaders nearly made the postseason in Season 11, falling just one spot short at No. 13. Now, coming into Season 12, Oakland appears set to return to its days of contention, being the only team to boast top-four finishes in all three preseason rounds, with finishes of fourth, third and third.

Sacramento, despite losing manager khanken as a result of the alting scandal, appears to be in solid hands with the incoming manager maurice. The Shadows finished fifth, 14th and first in their three preseason rounds and now debut a new core spearheaded on Stage Three by Joe Moravsky and Sean Bryan.

Elsewhere, Chicago and Philadelphia now find themselves under new management. One — Chicago — is by a first-time solo manager: ToadKJJT. The hope is that Toad’s fresh perspective and early flashes of competitiveness can translate into sustained stability, giving the Cyclones a clearer identity as they attempt to build on last season’s breakthrough rather than regress.

Meanwhile, the Freedom are now facilitated by a familiar face: Othebeast, who moves over after three seasons at the helm of London. Philadelphia did get off to a slow start in preseason play, delivering finishes of 35th (second-lowest), 28th and 18th in the three non-points rounds prior to regular league play.

Then there’s Toronto. Malik, a longtime friend of Othebeast, enters the season with unfinished business after seeing his Titans squad swept by Pittsburgh in what marked Toronto’s second-ever appearance in the TNL Playoffs. But with the Iron now out of the way, however, the landscape looks far more navigable. The Titans will have to navigate that stretch without Yogev Malka or Charlie Robbins, however; Malka was whisked away by Phoenix in the final minutes of the player bidding period, while Robbins went to Chicago.

POWER RANKINGS

UP NEXT!

Season 12 kicks off with Round 1 — SASUKE 4 on 4x difficulty — on Jan. 16.