After clinching the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference for the second straight year, the New York Atlas await the winner of the Maryland Whipsnakes-Philadelphia Waterdogs matchup for a shot to play in a championship game.
Despite frequent regular-season success, New York has yet to reach a championship game. The stakes could not be higher now as it’s a ring-or-bust year for the Atlas.
Why they can win it all
From top to bottom, New York is the most well-rounded team in the league. Out of the seven positions that are given award recognition at the end of each season, New York has a player nominated for six of them. Connor Shellenberger, Trevor Baptiste, Gavin Adler, Liam Entenmann, Danny Logan and Bryan Costabile all are finalists for awards at their respective positions.
Not to mention, New York has reigning Jim Brown League MVP Jeff Teat, who was not among the finalists for MVP or Attackman of the Year this season despite finishing third in the league in points.
With an established midfield group, a well-balanced attack line and a staggering defense, there are very few holes in New York’s lineup.
Biggest concern
New York head coach and general manager Mike Pressler has used the motto “48 full” throughout the 2025 season. He wants to see his group play a full 48-minute game with no lapses in scoring or defensive lulls that turn into timely goals for opposing teams.
Two of the Atlas’ three losses this season came after they were leading by more than four at halftime. If New York wants to raise a trophy at the end of the season, it must play a consistent game and not let opponents crawl back.
Most important player
There are several players that you can put in this column, but at the end of the day, it comes down to the MVP finalist in Shellenberger. The second-year pro is the catalyst of a New York offense that led the league in scores per game (13.7), assists (79) and shooting percentage (30.4%).
Shellenberger can do anything you ask of him: dodge from X and distribute, score from the wing, and even play off-ball to free up space for other guys on offense. He is the ultimate package when it comes to a dynamic attackman and will be the difference-maker as New York chases its shot at a championship.
Key stat
New York’s shooting percentage: 30.4%
It’s an overlooked stat, but I believe shows just how potent this Atlas offense can be. Even with all the firepower and All-Star names on New York’s roster, role players like Reid Bowering are what keep the motor running for the Atlas. He has scored seven points in his last two games and is one of the best off-ball midfielders the league has seen in a long time.
Bowering currently leads the league in shooting percentage at 50%, with Shellenberger coming in second at 47.9%.
The more New York shoots the ball, the more likely it will go in the back of the net. Even with the most scores in the league, the Atlas manage to take the effective shots, which has propelled them to the position they stand in today.
