Denver Outlaws’ path to the U.S. Bank PLL Championship

The Denver Outlaws have built themselves to be the team of the future. In the last two years, Denver’s packed its roster full of young superstars itching to break through in the PLL.

This season, that potential manifested into wins on the field.

The Outlaws were the team of the summer in the PLL. They tied for the best record in the league while posting the best scoring differential. They were quick to lock in a place at this winter’s Championship Series.

The roster played up to its potential, and seven different players were nominated for an award, including two MVP finalists.

This journey to domination and a place in next Sunday’s U.S. Bank PLL Championship didn’t come out of nowhere, but it was also far from predestined.

This is the Denver Outlaws’ path to the championship.

Outlaws trade for Pat Kavanagh

Maybe the most important moment of Denver’s season came just months after the end of the 2024 campaign. As head coach Tim Soudan and the Outlaws prepared for the start of the offseason, a golden opportunity was floated into their lap: Pat Kavanagh.

The Boston Cannons were shopping their first-round draft pick, and Denver was quick with an offer. Soudan and his staff were massive fans of Kavanagh in the draft, but ultimately couldn’t pass on Brennan O’Neill with the first pick.

With Boston’s trade offer, it was another chance to add one of the top young players in the game.

In all, Denver shipped off the third overall pick in this year’s draft and a second-rounder next year for Kavanagh’s services. As the regular season rolled around, it became clear that the Outlaws would make this trade again 100 times out of 100.

Kavanagh soared in his sophomore campaign, totaling 37 points. He was named a finalist for MVP and Attackman of the Year as he helped the Outlaws back to the top of the Western Conference.

Trading for a player after the worst year of his lacrosse career was a gamble, but Kavanagh rewarded Denver’s faith and became one of the best players in the world.

Jared Bernhardt signs with Denver

Adding one Tewaaraton Award winner in an offseason was too boring for Denver. At the tail end of training camp, reports emerged that former Maryland sensation and professional football player Jared Bernhardt was looking to return to the lacrosse field in the PLL.

What ensued was a social media frenzy and a hot pursuit of his signature, with all eight teams wooing Bernhardt. As he narrowed his options, Denver emerged as a potential landing spot.

There’s a handful of natural ties to the roster that made Bernhardt an obvious addition. His college running mate, Logan Wisnauskas, starts at attack. His older brother Jesse Bernhardt is an Outlaws captain. For the younger Bernhardt, he couldn’t have found a more comfortable locker room to re-enter lacrosse with.

Bernhardt signed with the Outlaws on June 3, and it took little time for him to adjust to the PLL. By his second game, he was showing signs of something special. By game three, he was a superstar. He finished with five points (4G, 1A) against the Utah Archers, a statement game for one of the league’s new faces.

Even after the Kavanagh trade, Denver was still one piece away on offense. For all of the talent at attack, the Outlaws needed another dynamic midfielder to handle the ball and get goals. In Bernhardt, Denver found the best possible fit.

A Midfielder of the Year finalist, Bernhardt finished his first PLL season with 22 points (18G, 4A). He’s also become one of the most clutch players in the league, scoring huge late goals, including the overtime game-winner against the New York Atlas.

Tim Soudan starts Logan McNaney in Week 3

Denver’s first 2025 draft pick was Logan McNaney, who became the first goalie off the board with the 11th overall pick. Last year’s starter, Owen McElroy, re-signed with the team in the offseason, and Denver hoped he could turn a decent debut into a breakout sophomore season.

But the Outlaws still saw goalie as a potential position of need and thought they had a future star in McNaney. McElroy still got the nod between the pipes to start the season, but he struggled a bit out of the gates.

Denver slunk to an 0-2 start, and the heat was on for a team built to contend for titles. Looking for a spark, the Outlaws turned the reins in goal over to McNaney. And he instantly shattered even the loftiest of expectations.

Against the Philadelphia Waterdogs, he made 14 saves at a staggering 66.7%, setting the tone for one of the best rookie seasons by a goalie in pro lacrosse history.

Denver rattled off six straight wins with McNaney in goal. He averaged 13.5 saves at 55.1% over his first six starts, with three 15-plus save performances.

Even in games where he came back to earth, his ability to make clean saves and spark transition gave the Outlaws an extra gear and offensive identity.

McNaney is another awards finalist for Denver, up for the league’s Rookie of the Year and Goalie of the Year honors.

As Denver looks to turn individual honors into team glory, it’ll do battle with the other best team in the league, the Atlas, led by an elite offense and potentially the two most recent league MVPs (Jeff Teat and 2025 finalist Connor Shellenberger).

McNaney will give the Outlaws a strong foundation against one of the best offenses in the league in the championship.

Brennan O’Neill breaks out at the All-Star Game

Brennan O’Neill is one of the faces of lacrosse, but it still felt like there was another level for him to reach as a professional. The league descended on Kansas City for its All-Star weekend, and O’Neill stole the show, earning MVP honors with a rolodex of highlight-reel plays.

That game sparked something for O’Neill, who went from good scorer to offensive supernova in the second half of the season. For the first time in his professional career, he was not only demanding the ball and getting lots of touches. He was also cashing in on those shots.

O’Neill scored 15 goals after the All-Star break (3.0 per game) and finished seventh in the league in points and fourth in goals. He also ranked top-five in the league with three two-pointers. He was named a finalist for Attackman of the Year and MVP for the first time in his career.

That momentum carried into Denver’s first postseason game. O’Neill took over the California Redwoods defense to the tune of six points (4G, 1T, 1A). With everything on the line, it’ll be O’Neill leading the way for Denver’s offense.

Denver earns top seed with overtime thriller over New York

The six games between McNaney taking over and Denver’s Homecoming Weekend were a euphoric ride for the Outlaws. But in front of the home faithful, things took a turn. The Outlaws fell flat against a hot goalie and lost to the Carolina Chaos 12-11.

The bad habits that plagued Denver during its 0-2 start reared their ugly heads, and suddenly the Outlaws were in danger of losing their top seed in the West. Things wouldn’t get any easier as East-leading New York was waiting the next day.

For two quarters, the Atlas had Denver on the ropes. After a back-and-forth first quarter, New York roared ahead with five straight goals to take a 9-4 lead at halftime. The Outlaws were flat and in danger of limping into the postseason on a two-game losing streak.

But this Denver team showed something different on the turf at Peter Barton Stadium: grit. The Outlaws responded with a 6-1 run in the second half to tie the game. Even when New York had an answer, Denver wouldn’t say die.

Reid Bowering scored to put the Atlas back in front, but Jake Piseno hammered a two-pointer to give the Outlaws a lead. When Denver lost that lead in the dying seconds, as Shellenberger ripped a mid-range shot to force overtime, it looked like the Outlaws were out of gas.

In overtime, they was anything but. McNaney played lights-out lacrosse in extra time, making three saves to keep New York off the board. After nearly seven scoreless minutes, Denver’s Mr. Clutch, Bernhardt, put on his Superman cape and scored to close out the best game of the season.

The Outlaws learned a lot from this win that they’ll take with them to their rematch against the Atlas in the championship. In a heavyweight bout, Denver had one more haymaker. And they showed the toughness to find a win, even when the game goes off script.