My 2026 WER Regular Season Predictions

Photo Credit: The Rugby Breakdown

Playoff teams listed in bold

Denver Onyx

Boston Banshees

New York Exiles

Twin Cities Gemini

Bay Breakers

Chicago Tempest

2025 WER Season Recap

Photo Credit: Melissa Paz

By Zane Miller

On Sunday, June 29^th, 2025, the Denver Onyx defeated the New York Exiles 53-13 in the 2025 Legacy Cup to win the first championship in Women’s Elite Rugby history. It was the first championship for the Onyx franchise as Onyx forward Tahlia Brody won the Legacy Cup MVP award. The match was held at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota.

Exiles back Jetta Owens scored the most tries during the season with 12, along with having the most total points on the season with 72.

Out of playoffs: Bay Breakers (6-4), Boston Banshees (6-4), Twin Cities Gemini (3-7), Chicago Tempest (0-10)

Scoring summary

Who I Want to Win in the 2026 Kelly Cup Playoffs

Photo Credit: Kansas City Pitch

Eastern Conference First round

#N4 Reading v. #N1 Wheeling- Reading

#N3 Adirondack v. #N2 Maine- Adirondack

#S4 Savannah v. #S1 Florida- Florida

#S3 Atlanta v. #S2 South Carolina- South Carolina

Western Conference First round

#C4 Indy v. #C1 Fort Wayne- Indy

#C3 Bloomington v. #C2 Toledo- Toledo

#M4 Tahoe v. #M1 Kansas City- Kansas City

#M3 Idaho v. #M2 Allen- Allen

Second round

#N4 Reading v. #N3 Adirondack- Adirondack

#S2 South Carolina v. #S1 Florida- South Carolina

#C4 Indy v. #C2 Toledo- Toledo

#M2 Allen v. #M1 Kansas City- Kansas City

Conference finals

#N3 Adirondack v. #N2 South Carolina- South Carolina

#C2 Toledo v. #M1 Kansas City- Toledo

Kelly Cup Finals

#C2 Toledo v. #S2 South Carolina

Winner: Toledo Walleye

Who I Want to Win in the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs

 

Photo Credit: Don Carlson

First round

#A6 Springfield v. #A3 Charlotte- Charlotte

#A5 Hershey v. #A4 Bridgeport- Hershey

#N5 Rochester v. #N4 Toronto- Toronto

#C5 Milwaukee v. #C4 Manitoba- Milwaukee

#P7 San Diego v. #P2 Colorado- Colorado

#P6 San Jose v. #P3 Henderson- San Jose

#P5 Bakersfield v. #P4 Coachella Valley- Coachella Valley

Second round

#A5 Hershey v. #A1 Providence- Hershey

#A3 Charlotte v. #A2 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton- Charlotte

#N4 Toronto v. #N1 Laval- Toronto

#N3 Cleveland v. #N2 Syracuse- Cleveland

#C5 Milwaukee v. #C1 Grand Rapids- Grand Rapids

#C3 Texas v. #C2 Chicago- Chicago

#P6 San Jose v. #P1 Ontario- San Jose

#P4 Coachella Valley v. #P2 Colorado- Coachella Valley

Third round

#A5 Hershey v. #A3 Charlotte- Charlotte

#N4 Toronto v. #N3 Cleveland- Cleveland

#C2 Chicago v. #C1 Grand Rapids- Grand Rapids

#P6 San Jose v. #P4 Coachella Valley- Coachella Valley

Conference finals

#N3 Cleveland v. #A3 Charlotte- Cleveland

#P4 Coachella Valley v. #C1 Grand Rapids- Coachella Valley

Calder Cup Finals

#P4 Coachella Valley v. #C3 Cleveland

Winner: Cleveland Monsters

By the way, this is the most convoluted playoff format I've ever seen, they do in fact use an odd number of teams:

Who I Want to Win in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Photo Credit: NHL

EC first round

#W2 Ottawa v. #M1 Carolina- Carolina

#M3 Philadelphia v. #M2 Pittsburgh- Philadelphia

#W1 Boston v. #A1 Buffalo- Boston

#A3 Montreal v. #A2 Tampa Bay- Tampa Bay

WC first round

#W2 Los Angeles v. #C1 Colorado- Los Angeles

#C3 Minnesota v. #C2 Dallas- Dallas

#W1 Utah v. #P1 Vegas- Utah

#P3 Anaheim v. #P2 Edmonton- Edmonton

EC second round

#M3 Philadelphia v. #M1 Carolina- Carolina

#W1 Boston v. #A2 Tampa Bay- Tampa Bay

WC second round

#W2 Los Angeles v. #C2 Dallas- Los Angeles

#W1 Utah v. #P2 Edmonton- Utah

Conference Finals

#A2 Tampa Bay v. #M1 Carolina- Carolina

#W2 Los Angeles v. #W1 Utah- Utah

Stanley Cup Finals

#W1 Utah v. #M1 Carolina

Winner: Utah Mammoth

Who I Want to Win in the 2026 SPHL Playoffs

Photo Credit: SPHL

First round

#8 Macon v. #1 Peoria- Peoria

#7 Knoxville v. #2 Huntsville- Huntsville

#6 Birmingham v. #3 Roanoke- Birmingham

#5 Pensacola v. #4 Evansville- Evansville

Semifinals

#6 Birmingham v. #1 Peoria- Peoria

#4 Evansville v. #2 Huntsville- Evansville

Presidents Cup Finals

#4 Evansville v. #1 Peoria

Winner: Evansville Thunderbolts

My 2026 MiLB Regular Season Predictions

Photo Credit: MiLB

By Zane Miller

Playoff teams in italics

Triple-A

International League East

Syracuse Mets

Lehigh Valley IronPigs

Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp

Worcester Red Sox

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders

Charlotte Knights

Norfolk Tides

Rochester Red Wings

Durham Bulls

Buffalo Bisons

International League West

Toledo Mud Hens

Indianapolis Indians

Memphis Redbirds

Columbus Clippers

Nashville Sounds

Gwinnett Stripers

St. Paul Saints

Iowa Cubs

Omaha Storm Chasers

Louisville Bats

Pacific Coast League East

El Paso Chihuahuas

Round Rock Express

Oklahoma City Comets

Sugar Land Space Cowboys

Albuquerque Isotopes

Pacific Coast League West

Sacramento River Cats

Tacoma Rainiers

Salt Lake Bees

Las Vegas Aviators

Reno Aces

Double-A

Eastern League Northeast

Hartford Yard Goats

Binghamton Rumble Ponies

Somerset Patriots

Portland Sea Dogs

Reading Fightin Phils

New Hampshire Fisher Cats

Eastern League Southwest

Altoona Curve

Akron RubberDucks

Erie SeaWolves

Richmond Flying Squirrels

Harrisburg Senators

Chesapeake Baysox

Southern League North

Birmingham Barons

Chattanooga Lookouts

Knoxville Smokies

Rocket City Trash Pandas

Southern League South

Biloxi Shuckers

Montgomery Biscuits

Columbus Clingstones

Pensacola Blue Wahoos

Texas League North

Springfield Cardinals

Arkansas Travelers

Wichita Wind Surge

Tulsa Drillers

Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Texas League South

Midland RockHounds

Frisco RoughRiders

Corpus Christi Hooks

San Antonio Missions

Amarillo Sod Poodles

High-A

Midwest League East

West Michigan Whitecaps

Lake County Captains

Great Lakes Loons

Dayton Dragons

Fort Wayne TinCaps

Lansing Lugnuts

Midwest League West

Beloit Sky Carp

Quad Cities River Bandits

Cedar Rapids Kernels

Peoria Chiefs

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

South Bend Cubs

Northwest League

Vancouver Canadians

Eugene Emeralds

Everett AquaSox

Tri-City Dust Devils

Spokane Indians

Hillsboro Hops

South Atlantic League North

Greensboro Grasshoppers

Brooklyn Cyclones

Hudson Valley Renegades

Frederick Keys

Wilmington Blue Rocks

Jersey Shore BlueClaws

South Atlantic League South

Winston-Salem Dash

Hub City Spartanburgers

Rome Emperors

Asheville Tourists

Bowling Green Hot Rods

Greenville Drive