Denver Outlaws 32, New York Atlas 22
Topher Adams: Offense runs wild as Outlaws cruise to victory
Despite a roster full of new faces and limited Sixes experience, the Outlaws never missed a beat Friday in their 2026 Lexus Championship Series debut. Four different players scored at least five points, with former champion Justin Anderson and the fresh-faced Fulton Bayman each putting nine points on the board in their series opener.
“I’m just excited it came together the way it did. I wasn’t so sure after our first practice,” Denver head coach Tim Soudan joked.
The Atlas defense had no answers as the Outlaws shot a crisp 48.1% from the field, while the Atlas combined for just seven saves between two goalies.
Bayman proved himself more than worthy of his winter pickup. His speed with the ball in his stick was a weapon for the Outlaws all night.
“I told him afterwards I wasn’t surprised,” Soudan said.
As expected, Graham Bundy Jr. was a menace from two-point range, scoring three from deep. The Outlaws as a whole were unstoppable from distance, especially off the dodge. In the first half, Jack VanOverbeke casually flicked the ball from range on the run.
“Guys across the board, you kind of see what kind of range they have,” Bundy said.
Denver’s defense was anchored, as expected, by a strong Logan McNaney performance. He notched seven saves at 43.8% in his sixes debut, while Owen McElroy relieved him later in the game.
The strength of the Outlaws roster as constructed was always going to be its ability to run from defense to offense. As two-way midfielders like Anderson and Zach Geddes (3G, 1A) showed Friday night, that strength is more than just on paper for this tournament.
Zach Carey: Atlas defense overwhelmed by Outlaws in transition
The Atlas opened up the Championship Series by struggling to contain the Outlaws offense.
“We got bullied, on-ball, off-ball, they dominated us start-to-finish,” acting head coach Joe Cinosky said.
Denver’s 32 points were the second-most in a PLL Championship Series game.
“They did a great job getting up and out in transition,” Cinosky said. “That changed our dynamic of having guys on offense back on defense which led to two-point looks. I think their shooting percentage was off the charts tonight.”
Starting goalie Will Mark only stopped 24% of the shots he faced, making six saves. Cinosky plugged veteran goalie Brian Phipps – who returned to professional lacrosse after retiring after the 2023 season – in the net in the second half. Phipps registered one save. Cinosky noted that the New York defense left its goalies out to dry, particularly in transition when the Outlaws goalies pushed the ball up field.
“When [opposing] goalies catch the ball, we count that as a turnover,” Cinosky explained. “When they catch it clean and can get it up and out and our guys are still watching, standing still. … We’ve got to go back to the drawing board on our end.”
Matt Traynor was the bright spot for the Atlas on the other end. He scored 10 points (6G, 1T, 3A) in his first Championship Series action.
“He’s arguably the most dynamic player in the world right now,” Cinosky said. “What he can do with the ball — he can feed, he can dodge, the way he can get shots off. He’s a generational talent.”
The reigning PLL champs are off to a bad start in the Championship Series. But they’ll have the opportunity to bounce back on Saturday night when New York faces off against the Carolina Chaos and former Atlas offensive coordinator Steven Brooks.
