Here s where things stand.
Atlanta Hustle v. New York. Photo: Gino Mattace Hustle/AUDL.
As the season reaches its final quarter, the playoff picture is coming into focus. While some teams have only played half their games, others have just a handful remaining. Here’s everything we know as we gear up for an exciting finish to the 2021 AUDL season
Atlantic Division
The top four teams will make playoffs. Teams will face each other in 1v4 and 2v3 semi-final matchups. The winners of those games will make Championship Weekend. Additionally, the two Atlantic representatives will not meet in the Championship Weekend semi-final round.
Another Power Rankings shakeup before the league s three Canadian teams join the fray this weekend.
The Hustle’s Karl Ekwurtzel celebrates after a skying goal against the Empire. (Photo: AUDL)
Our coverage of the 2021 AUDL season is presented by VII Apparel Co., who provides premium performance apparel for the active world, featuring their proprietary GreenLine fabric made from 100% recycled plastic bottles.
Playoff previews abound in each division as Atlanta follows up its decisive win in DC with a home victory over previously #1 New York to keep itself first in the Atlantic; Chicago beat Minnesota on the road, giving the Union an inside edge at hosting a playoff game; and Dallas beat San Diego who in turn beat Austin, sending the West pecking order into chaos. Oh, and the Canada Cup commenced with underdog Ottawa defeating both Toronto and Montreal. There’s never a dull week in the AUDL, especially as the playoff picture comes into focus.
What a week!
Tampa Bay Cannons’ Andrew Roney. Photo: Cannons / AUDL.
Our coverage of the 2021 AUDL season is presented by VII Apparel Co., who provides premium performance apparel for the active world, featuring their proprietary GreenLine fabric made from 100% recycled plastic bottles.
Has there even be a wilder week of games in the AUDL? Huge upsets rocked the league in Week 2, as multiple favorites fell to low-ranked foes. And after two weeks, preseason darlings Dallas Roughnecks and Raleigh Flyers are winless. The Atlanta Hustle and Austin Sol are undefeated.
Are we seeing real parity? Is this an early season mirage? Either way, with only 12 games on the schedule, wins and losses loom large. Some teams are already a quarter of the way through their season.
Following widespread criticism for planning an indoor tryout for the 2021 season for next weekend, the Indianapolis Alleycats announced on Saturday that they would be postponing the tryout.
“When the tryouts for the 2021 Indianapolis Alleycats were announced it was stated that the date would serve as a placeholder and the status of COVID cases in the region would determine if a rescheduling was necessary,” the team wrote in a statement. “That plan was never altered as the date marched closer. After consulting with health professionals regarding current COVID statistics the Alleycats’ tryout has been postponed to a later date.”
The Alleycats faced both public and AUDL internal pressure to cancel the tryout. No other AUDL teams have announced tryouts, and the league has not yet announced plans regarding its 2021 season. The league is allowing teams to schedule tryouts and events in accordance with local and state health guidelines.