Lacrosse Standings Watch: PLL Second-Half Sprint Begins as Athletes Unlimited Prepares for Opening Draw

The global lacrosse calendar has reached its midsummer inflection point. As July unfolds, the men’s Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) exits its All-Star break and begins a frantic second-half sprint toward the playoffs, while the women’s game gears up for the highly anticipated opening draw of the Athletes Unlimited (AU) Pro Lacrosse season.[1]

In the PLL, the standings reflect a league defined by absolute parity. The California Redwoods currently sit atop the Western Conference with a 4-2 record, riding a wave of defensive consistency and timely scoring to edge ahead of a crowded pack.[1]

Hot on their heels in the West are the Denver Outlaws, who sit at 3-2 but boast a league-best +10 score differential, indicating their losses have been narrow and their victories decisive. Meanwhile, first-year head coach Steven Brooks has the Carolina Chaos right in the hunt at 3-3, setting up a thrilling divisional race.[2]

The Eastern Conference is an even tighter logjam. The Maryland Whipsnakes and Philadelphia Waterdogs are battling fiercely for the top spot, with the Whipsnakes leaning on rookie sensation Joey Spallina to navigate a grueling early-season schedule.[2]

At the other end of the Eastern spectrum, the Boston Cannons find themselves in the basement at 2-4. Despite boasting one of the most potent offenses in the league, the Cannons have struggled in close games and desperately need to translate their scoring output into victories as the tour heads to Martin Stadium in Chicago this weekend.[1][2]

While the men battle for team playoff positioning, the women’s professional scene is preparing for a completely different kind of race. The fourth season of Athletes Unlimited Pro Lacrosse officially begins on July 18 at USA Lacrosse Headquarters in Sparks, Maryland, featuring a 56-player roster of the world's elite talent.

Unlike traditional leagues, AU utilizes a dynamic individual leaderboard where athletes earn points based on team wins, individual statistics, and MVP honors. The top four players in the standings each week become captains and draft entirely new teams, making every single play crucial to the championship race.

Two-time defending champion Taylor Moreno enters the season as the undisputed player to beat. Last year, the star goalkeeper edged out attacker Sam Apuzzo by a razor-thin 12-point margin on the final leaderboard—the closest finish in AU history—proving how tight the margins are at the top of the sport.

Challengers are lining up to dethrone Moreno, including dominant attackers like Charlotte North, who led the league with 32 goals last summer. With former collegiate standouts and international champions filling out the roster, the race for the top of the AU leaderboard promises to be fiercely competitive from opening weekend.

Beyond the domestic professional leagues, these midsummer standings carry significant international weight. With lacrosse set to return to the Olympic stage at the 2028 Los Angeles Games in the fast-paced Sixes format, national governing bodies are closely monitoring player performances across both the PLL and AU.

Every goal, save, and ground ball this summer serves as an ongoing audition. For players on the fringe of their respective national team rosters, a strong showing in the PLL playoff race or a surge up the AU leaderboard could be the ultimate difference-maker for Olympic selection.

As the PLL descends on Chicago for its second-half sprint and Athletes Unlimited prepares for its opening weekend in Maryland, the stakes across the sport have rarely been higher. Fans are guaranteed a thrilling stretch of summer lacrosse as the races for the PLL Cash App Championship and the AU individual crown take center stage.[1]