For the third time this season, Connor Shellenberger has been voted by the fans as the Champion Player of the Week.
Shellenberger wins the honor after an MVP-caliber performance against the Philadelphia Waterdogs. He led the New York Atlas to a 20-19 victory in the highest-scoring PLL game ever, notching seven points including four goals and three assists while shooting 4-of-8 (50%).
Shellenberger dodged to score for himself, hit step down shots from the outside and created opportunities for his teammate. His goal with :03 left in the third quarter snuffed out a 4-1 Philadelphia run and built momentum for the Atlas heading into the final stanza.
His seven-point performance catapulted him up to 46 points in the 2025 season, which is five more than any other player this year. His 46 points are also the second most points in a single PLL regular season. He’s only the third player to notch 20 goals and 20 assists in a single PLL campaign.
Shellenberger doesn’t only produce. He produces incredibly efficiently. He’s first in the league in shooting percentage (47.9%) among players averaging three or more shots per game. The Virginia product is also third in assist rate (6.37%) and 10th in goal rate (6.37%). He’s also first in shooting percentage over expectation among players taking at least one shot per game at 22.54%.
“I think it’s an MVP season,” Trevor Baptiste said after the game. “I think that’s cemented … he’s my MVP for sure.”
In Shellenberger’s second year, he’s stamped his spot among the best players in the league and now will look to help lead the New York Atlas to their first championship.
New York earned the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and the bye to the semifinals. The club will play the winner of the quarterfinal between the Maryland Whipsnakes and Philadelphia Waterdogs.
