As voted on by the players — here are Nos. 20 through 11 of the 2025 Players Top 50:
2025 Players Top 50, Nos. 20-11: How high do CJ Kirst, Chris Kavanagh rank?
20. Tom Schreiber | Utah Archers | M | 2024 Rank: 2
Schreiber is still one of the best midfielders in the world. Nagging injuries and a season-ending one in Utah curtailed his 2025 campaign. The three-time MVP is one of the most complete offensive midfielders the sport has ever seen. He is one of just six players to make the Top 50 in each of its seven years running. As he attacks his rehab following double-knee surgery, Schreiber will be hungry to further cement his all-time legacy in 2026. – Zach Carey
19. Ryan Terefenko | Denver Outlaws | SSDM | 2024 Rank: 27
Terefenko’s been one of the very best at his position since he stepped on a PLL field, and this year was the pinnacle of that excellence. He won the George Boiardi Hard Hat Award as the league’s top short-stick defensive midfielder after multiple previous nominations. He’s been an All-Star four seasons in a row and a first-team All-Pro each of the last two seasons. He finished with eight points (5G, 1T, 2A) and 18 ground balls, starting every game for the surging Outlaws. – Topher Adams
18. Logan McNaney | Denver Outlaws | G | 2024 Rank: NR
When Denver general manager Tim Soudan drafted McNaney in the second round, he was confident he had the best goalie in the draft. But not even he could’ve predicted how dominant the first-year shot-stopper would be. McNaney was more than a capable starting goalie as a rookie – he was the best player at his position in the entire league. He won the Oren Lyons Goalie of the Year Award, leading the league in scores against average (10.6) and finishing second among starters in save percentage (58.3%). He did all of that while also being the best offensive goalie in the league, supercharging Denver’s transition with his clean saves and early outlets. He also kick-started the Outlaws’ six-game winning streak, leading Denver to the top seed in the West and a U.S. Bank Championship appearance. That’ll play for an opening act. – Topher Adams
17. Danny Logan | New York Atlas | SSDM | 2024 Rank: 9
Teams continued to dodge anybody but No. 91 in 2025 as Logan maintained his place as one of the best cover SSDMs in the league. In his fifth professional season, Logan allowed opponents to shoot just 13.9% when he was the closest defender. The captain of the Atlas defense and its longest-tenured player, Logan has become one of the most consistently elite defenders in the sport. He further cemented his esteemed legacy by winning his first championship this summer. – Zach Carey
16. JT Giles-Harris | Denver Outlaws | D | 2024 Rank: 22
Like an elite cornerback, Giles-Harris is at his best when you don’t notice him. When he’s at his best, his matchup makes no noise. He handled the top dodging threat on every team Denver faced this year, and he once again asserted himself among the most elite cover defensemen in the world. He was a first-team All-Pro for the third time in his career and the second season in a row. He’s also once again a top 25 player in the PLL, per the players, a spot he should hold for as long as he steps on a lacrosse field. – Topher Adams
15. Gavin Adler | New York Atlas | D | 2024 Rank: 17
Adler locked down the best players in the sport on a game-to-game basis and demonstrated his unique ability to erase opposing star attackmen from the box score. He was the most dominant defender in the league down the stretch, winning the 2025 Dave Pietramala Defensive Player of the Year Award. In the playoffs, Adler owned his matchups, helping New York lift the U.S. Bank Championship Trophy for the first time. – Zach Carey
14. Jack Rowlett | Carolina Chaos | D | 2024 Rank: 24
Rowlett played like a guy who was enraged to be ranked as low as he was on the 2024 Players Top 50 list. Under first-year defensive coordinator and Hall of Fame long pole Kyle Sweeney, Rowlett was tasked with eliminating the top attackman on the opposing sideline each week. Whether it was the imposing bull-dodging onslaught of Dylan Molloy, the savviness of Jeff Teat or the fleet-footedness of Michael Sowers while battling an illness, Carolina’s top pole accepted his matchup on an island and went to work as one of the league’s best shutdown defenders. – Hayden Lewis
13. Graeme Hossack | Utah Archers | D | 2024 Rank: 7
Hossack continued to play like one of the best defenders in the world in 2025. His versatility to cover players built like Brennan O’Neill and those who pack speed like Michael Sowers is practically unmatched. Hossack was the most valuable player on an Archers defense that finished second in the league in scores against. He also proved that his talents go beyond locking down opposing attackmen when he won the Fastest Shot Competition and set a PLL record with his 123-mph shot. – Zach Carey
12. Chris Kavanagh | California Redwoods | A | 2024 Rank: NR
Redwoods GM Joe Spallina anticipated the draft board and gambled, waiting until the 10th pick in the 2025 draft to select Kavanagh, but he hit the jackpot with the former Notre Dame attackman. He finished tied for fourth in the league in points, earning a spot on the All-Star team and winning Rookie of the Year. Kavanagh regularly showcased the combination of grit and flair lacrosse fans knew him for, but he also unveiled a new weapon in his arsenal when he showed he can shoot from range, as well, scoring two two-pointers. – Phil Shore
11. CJ Kirst | Philadelphia Waterdogs | A | 2024 Rank: NR
Kirst’s rookie season was shortened by injury, but the national champion, Tewaaraton Award winner and No. 1 draft pick still nearly cracked the league’s top 10. After a slow start in the midfield, his switch to attack unlocked the former Cornell star. Across his final four games, Kirst erupted for 20 points (14G, 6A), turned the ball over just three times and averaged 30 touches per game, dipping below 40% shooting only once. His speed, creativity and fearlessness made him a threat from anywhere on the field. The rookie fit right in with Michael Sowers and Kieran McArdle, leading to some of the best offensive play we saw from any attack unit this season. – Micheal Bolger
