The 2023 Premier Lacrosse League Season was the fifth season of the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL). It was held from June 3 through September 24.
This season marked the first time that the PLL held an event in the state of Kentucky with the All-Star Events being held in Louisville.[1] This was also the first season a free agency period occurred.[2]
This season the PLL unveiled new uniforms for each team. These uniforms were developed in partnership with Champion.[3] The Waterdogs were given a third black jersey as part of being the reigning champions.[4]
Archers Lacrosse Club would beat the reigning champion Waterdogs 15-14 in the PLL Championship game.
The following notable players retired prior to the 2023 season:[5]
The first ever PLL free agency period was open from March 6, 2023 to April 1, 2023.[2] Players could sign one or two-year deals. Players to change teams included:[19]
Two players were signed out of the player-pool after participating with the same team during the 2023 Premier Lacrosse League Championship Series. Those players being: attackman Marc O'Rourke (Atlas, signed through 2023), and goalie Brendan Krebs (Whipsnakes, signed through 2024)
The college draft took place on May 9 at 7 pm (ET) and was broadcast on ESPNU and ESPN+. Atlas LC acquired what became the number one overall pick from Cannons LC in a trade.[20] Defenseman Gavin Adler became the first defenseman to be selected first overall in the PLL and the second-ever in professional field lacrosse, the first being Princeton's Ryan Mollett in 2001.[21]
Format:
Source:[22]
In the explanations below, (PD) indicates trades completed prior to the start of the draft (i.e. Pre-Draft), while (D) denotes trades that took place during the 2023 draft.
Midfield
On May 15, the day 30-man training camp rosters were due, it was announced that Lyle Thompson would be taking a one-year sabbatical from play to focus on himself, his family, and his community. Thompson was placed on the league's hold-out list for the 2023 season. He is under contract with Cannons LC through the 2024 season and returned to play for them in 2024.[25] Lyle Thompson won two Tewaaraton Awards while at the University of Albany. He also scored 400 points, the most in NCAA D1 History.[26]
The following acquisitions were made from free-agency during the 2023 season:
The 2023 season trade deadline was on August 22, at 2 PM EST which was the tuesday before the final regular season game.
The following trades were made during the 2023 season:
The following players retired after the 2023 season:
This season also included three rule changes:[34]
On May 19, National Lacrosse Hall of Famer and namesake for the PLL's MVP award, Jim Brown died. Brown was most well known for his NFL career (where he achieved a Hall of Fame career as well) but is considered to be one of the best lacrosse players of all time. During his time at Syracuse University, Brown was an All-American in both football and lacrosse. In 2011, Brown became the first recipient of the Tewaaraton Legacy Award, an award given to outstanding players that played collegiate lacrosse prior to the introduction of the Tewaaraton Award in 2001. In 2012, Brown was part of an ownership group that purchased the New York Lizards of the MLL.[38][39][40]
The Premier Lacrosse League's 2023 training camp was held from May 26, 2023 to May 30, 2023 in Albany, New York hosted at Tom and Mary Casey Stadium at The University of Albany. Teams began camp with a 30-man roster that was finalized on May 15. Teams were required to finalize their 25-man rosters on May 30.[41] Training camp consists of individual and multi-team practices, as well as scrimmages between the teams.
(All-Star Game)
(Quarterfinals)
(Semifinals)
(Championship)
13–12
Atlas
13–16
Archers
7–8 (OT)
Waterdogs
11–12
Chrome
7–12 Archers
9–10 Redwoods
11–12 Atlas
14–13 Cannons
19–18 Atlas
13–14 Cannons
10–15 Chaos
11–18 Whipsnakes
(Minneapolis)
Chaos
Whipsnakes
Redwoods
Cannons
(PLL All-Star Game)
(Dallas)
Highest attended two-day event in PLL history, sold out on August 5.[44][45]
15–11Whipsnakes
Source:[42][47][48]
The PLL included a two-week international break following week 3 in Columbus so that players could compete in 2023 World Lacrosse Championship.[49]
The 2023 PLL season was the PLL's second season on ESPN platforms. All 48 games were broadcast on ESPN+, ESPN's streaming service, and 16 games were on ESPN's linear platforms, a four game increase over the 2022 season. Eight of the games were broadcast on ABC, a five game increase over the 2022 season, two games were broadcast on ESPN, a one game decrease from the 2022 season, and six games were broadcast on ESPN2, the same as the 2022 season.[50]
The following games were broadcast on ESPN's linear platforms:[50]
set record for most watched professional outdoor lacrosse game
Through the first two weeks of the season the PLL reported a 50% increase in ESPN+ viewership, and a 131% in views.[53][54]
On August 15, with two weeks remaining in the regular season (and 5 linear broadcast games remaining) it was announced that the PLL had seen a 69% boost in total viewership over the 2022 season. The PLL also saw a 25% increase in average viewership of games broadcast on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2 over the 2022 season. With 5 linear broadcast games remaining and the all-star games excluded from both seasons, the 2023 season was averaging 254,000 per game while the 2022 season was average 150,000 at the same point.[44][45]
Following the conclusion of the season the PLL announced that the 2023 season was the most watched in league history. Average viewership on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2 was up 36% and average viewership on ESPN+ was up 60% compared to the 2022 season.[52]
The following table shows the number of games each team participated in that were broadcast on linear TV. The number in parentheses shows the number of games excluding that team's postseason games.[57]
The Archers and Atlas tied for the most games broadcast on linear platforms with six. The Atlas had the most regular-season games broadcast with 5, they also had the most regular season games broadcast on ABC. The Archers would take the most games broadcast on ABC overall with four, two of which were during the post season.
The Atlas would also have the most games broadcast on ESPN2 with three, and tied the Redwoods for most regular season games broadcast on ESPN2 with two.
The Chrome had the least linear broadcast games overall and were tied with Cannons LC for least number of regular season games. The two teams only linear broadcast regular season game was their week 5 game against each other on ESPN2 that the Cannons would win 12 to 6.
On June 1, ESPN announced the commentators for the 2023 PLL season:[58]
Play-by-play duties would be handled by Anish Shroff, Chris Cotter, Jay Alter, Drew Carter, and Jake Marsh, all of whom have broadcast lacrosse before.
Game analysts include broadcasting veterans Quint Kessenich, Paul Carcaterra, and Ryan Boyle, alongside newcomers Kyle Harrison, nine-time MLL/PLL all-star, and Bill Tierney, the legendary former head coach of the Denver University men's lacrosse team.
Reporters include Katie George, Dana Boyle, and Chantel McCabe, alongside newcomers Charlotte North, and Caley Chelios.
Source:[59]
The PLL Postseason features the top 7 teams in the standings at the end of the regular season; competing in a single elimination tournament. The top seed receives a first-round bye. The remaining teams are matched up as follows: the second seed plays the seventh seed, the third seed plays the sixth seed, and the fourth seed plays the fifth seed. The top seed plays the winner of the game between the fourth seed and the fifth seed and the remaining two teams are matched against each other in the semi-final. The winners of the semi-final games compete in the finals at Chester, PA (Philadelphia).[42] The postseason began on September 4, 2023, in Foxborough, MA (Boston) and concluded on September 24, 2023.
Archers goalie Brett Dobson was awarded the Championship game MVP award after finishing the game with 18 saves (58% save percentage). Dobson's final save of the game came off of a last-second two-point attempt by Waterdogs midfielder Jack Carraway. Had the shot gone in the Waterdogs would have been up 16-15 with less than a second remaining in the game.[60][61]
The PLL championship game was broadcast on ABC with Paul Carcaterra, Ryan Boyle, and Chris Cotter in the booth, and Quint Kessenich reporting on the field.
The Archers were without SSDM of the Year, Latrell Harris as he tore his ACL during the Archers semifinal win over the Redwoods.[62] Despite being listed on the active roster, the Archers were without leading scorer Connor Fields who separated his shoulder in the Archers semifinal win.[63]
During the second quarter it was announced that Archers LSM Cam Wyers would be out for the remainder of the game.
During the fourth quarter following the Archers goal with 6:05 left in the fourth quarter, Waterdogs goalie Dillon Ward was helped off the field and Waterdogs back-up goalie Matt DeLuca entered the game.
At the end of the first quarter, Waterdogs goalie Dillon Ward had 3 saves, and Archers goalie Brett Dobson had 8 saves
At the end of the half, Waterdogs goalie Dillon Ward had zero saves in the second quarter (three total saves) ,and Archers goalie Brett Dobson had fives saves in the second quarter (13 total saves).
At the end of the third quarter, Waterdogs goalie Dillon Ward had one save in the third quarter (4 total saves), and Archers goalie Brett Dobson had two saves in the third quarter (15 total saves).
When Dillon Ward exited the game with 6:05 remaining, he had three saves in the fourth quarter (7 total saves). Waterdogs back up goalie Matt DeLuca made 3 saves and allowed one goal after he entered the game with 6:05 left. Archers goalie Brett Dobson had three saves in the fourth quarter (18 total saves).
Week 3 - Columbus
Week 4 - Minneapolis
All-Star Game and Skills Challenges - Louisville
Week 7 - Dallas
Week 8 - Baltimore
Week 10 - Seattle
On May 25, 2023 it was announced that the PLL would assign home cities to teams beginning with the 2024 season. Voting for the finalists began on July 3, 2023. The 26 finalist home-cities were announced during the 2023 PLL All-Star game. The PLL also announced that they would not be moving away from the touring model. Each team would have one home weekend and play a double-header when hosting. There will also be two neutral field weekends that no one team hosts. The final home cities were decided through a mix of fan-voting, ticketing performance, venue availability, and customer data.[77][78][79][80] In a press release the PLL announced that home city assignments in November 2023.[52] The PLL assigned each team a home city, as well as rebranding Chrome Lacrosse Club into the Denver Outlaws, on November 14.[81]
On August 24, the PLL announced the finalists for its 2023 End of Year Awards and the winners were announced on September 2 ahead of the PLL quarterfinals in Boston. The finalists for each award were determined via player vote. The winners were determined through a round of voting by PLL coaches, general managers, members of the Professional Lacrosse Hall of Fame, PLL front office and lacrosse advisors, and members of the media.[19]
Most points by any midfielder this season
The winner of the award are highlighted in Bold.
Cannons Lacrosse Club and Atlas Lacrosse Club both hired new head coaches for the 2023 season.
On February 5, 2023 it was announced that Cannons Lacrosse Club hired Brian Holman to be its new head coach/GM after Sean Quirk resigned due to health complications in December 2022.[83] On March 9, 2023 it was announced that Mike Thompson and Jim Mitchell would be the assistant coaches.[84]
Atlas Lacrosse Club hired Mike Pressler as its new head coach/GM after Ben Rubeor resigned in October 2022. His staff includes Steven Brooks (who was the interim head coach for Atlas during the 2023 Championship Series), and Kevin Unterstein.[85]
On December 29, 2022, it was announced that Redwoods Lacrosse Club had hired John Grant Jr. to replace Todd MacFarlane as an assistant coach. MacFarlane had resigned from the position on December 5, 2022.[86][87]
Chrome offensive coordinator, Matt Kerwick, resigned from his position on September 14, 2023. Kerwick joined Chrome's staff in 2022, where he coached alongside head coach Tim Soudan, and former college teammate, defensive coordinator Jacques Monte. Chrome finished the 2022 season fourth in scoring with strong rookie seasons from Brandon Nichtern and Logan Wisnauskas. Nichtern was unavailable for most of the 2023 season due to military obligations and the Chrome offense struggled; Chrome finished the 2023 season last in scoring, assists, shots, and shooting percentage.[88]
For the 2023 PLL season each team was given a new set of uniforms developed by Champion. These uniforms replaced the uniforms that were made by Adidas. Champion began its partnership with the PLL in 2021 as the Official Sideline Partner, but in February, 2022 it was announced that Champion would begin making on-field apparel as well. No teams changed colorways during the change.[3][89][90] The Waterdogs were given an alternate black jersey with gold trim as a reward for being PLL Champions. It is the first third jersey in the PLL. They wore the jerseys week one.[4]
Of the eight teams, only two, the Cannons and the Chrome, do not have sponsorship patches on their regular jerseys. The other six teams have the following:[91][92]
During week four of the PLL season in Minneapolis, the PLL hosted Indigenous Heritage Weekend. As part of the celebrations each team wore limited jerseys that had been designed by Patrick Hunter—a two-spirit Ojibwe artist. Portions of the proceeds of the jersey sales went to benefit Anishinaabe Baagaadoewin, a non-profit dedicated to sharing Anishinaabe history and culture.[93]
Alongside the thunderbird depicted on the jersey, each jersey had a Anishinaabe thunderbird patch on the left sleeve meant to represent power and strength for those wearing it. The shorts worn by players also included a thunderbird feather design. There was also had a PLL medicine wheel patch on each jersey. Lastly, there was an Every Child Matters patch on each jersey, an organization that raises awareness and honors for indigenous families and victims of the residential school systems.[94]
On August 9, 2023 the PLL unveiled a new set of throwback jerseys. The jerseys are "porthole mesh" style jerseys. The jerseys were worn during week eight of the PLL season in Denver.[95] During the 2022 season the PLL also wore throwback uniforms during the leagues week eight stop in Denver.[96] Each of the teams sponsored jersey patches remained on their throwback jerseys.
Alongside the jerseys the PLL unveiled throwback logos for each team as well. The logos were featured on both the jerseys and the shorts.
The 2023 PLL All-Star Game was held at Dr. Mark & Cindy Lynn Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky, on Saturday, July 22, 2023. Differing from previous years, this year's All-Star Game featured a team of "Veterans" and a team of "Rising Stars" as selected by fan vote. The "Rising Stars" team was composed of players with less than four years of professional seasons, and the "Veterans" team was composed of players with four or more professional seasons. Rising Stars was coached by Waterdogs coach Andy Copeland and Redwoods coach Nat St. Laurent. The Veterans were coached by Chaos coach Andy Towers and Chrome coach Tim Soudan.[97]
The Veterans defeated the Rising Stars 26 to 19. Will Manny was named MVP with 7 points (2 goals, 5 assists).
Before the game, there were four skills competitions: freestyle competition (score in the most unique way), accuracy challenge (score with accuracy, precision, and efficiency of shooting; players score points by hitting targets), goalie skills challenge (goalies score points by making saves and clearing the ball to different locations), and the fastest shot competition.
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