Correct, That is how it is set up. You have to win game one in the first two brackets to have a shot at D2. Yes, G bracket has better odds but will still have to win at least one game on day 2 to get to D2. OCWPC should have tough game with Supreme. And to your edit, there are more teams in the 2/3 so it must have made it more difficult. Much easier to do 8 teams with top 4 advancing than 13 teams for 5 spots. Just need to ball out and win.
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Agreed. hard to see how the top 2 D3 teams play each other game 1 and if you lose that the next 3 games are meaningless. No dog in that fight but that seems like an error.
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im just wondering what happened to some teams. like where did pride go?
Pride appears to have prioritized 18U National League.
A lot of teams this year are prioritizing nationals and jus focusing on the the top competition
I am not sure how the rosters will look but very few are not doing Futures. Pride is, but that is not common at least from the team names. What teams are bailing on 18U Futures for NL? I bet if a team is in a 1/2 crossover their A team will be at Futures. NL has stated that 18U is just play each team 1 time within the age group.
I know that the NL in NorCal worked their schedule around Futures.
Same in SoCal from what I see.
What were the criteria for inviting 18U teams to participate in the National League? The list does not include any teams from outside California.
*"In Southern California, the Blue Conference will consist of Channel Islands United, LBU, Mission, New York Athletic Club, Riptide, Riverside, and USA B while the Red Conference will include Anteater, Fight On, Los Angeles Athletic Club, LMU, South County, Sunset, and USA Youth. The 18U Conference will feature CDM, Channel Islands United, Dons WPC, La Jolla United, LA Premier, Mission, Pride WP, Aetos WPC, Newport, Shore Aquatics, SOCAL, Trojan, and San Diego Shores.
The Northern California open age group conference will see The Olympic Club, Stanford, Golden Bear, Spartans, Santa Clara, Big Valley WPA (UOP), and Davis do battle while the 18U conference will have Diablo, NORCAL, CC United, Stanford, Lamorinda and San Francisco take to the pool."*
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will be curious to see how the exhibition status impacts which rosters show up for the various 18U clubs. seems to me this is a lost opportunity to drive interest to the sport by making it just exhibition…
Give WPW a view from last week. They talk about it being a pilot so starting here seems reasonable.
Where did you see it is exhibition ? “Each location will also have separate 18U club play blended into the schedule allowing fans to enjoy elite play at both the open age group and 18U age group. Following the conclusion of the regular season, the National League Championship will be held May 1-3 in Southern California with a champion crowned in both the traditional National League and the 18U competition.”
Watch WPW. Maybe I am misremembering.
I was quoting directly from the USA Water Polo press release. National League Expanding In 2026; Competition Begins February 6 - USA Water Polo
Likely better to bounce all of this part of the discussion to a National League thread, where WPW could weigh in if they want. I don’t think I can move it so if any admin can do that it would be helpful.
Edit to my earlier comment. It was the Counter Attack interview with Tom Davis this week. He specifically said for 18U national League that each team just plays each other once and this is a pilot. Said they were cognizant of travel cost for 18U. They play once and seed final tournament.
I should have said pilot and not exhibition.
To get back to Futures discussion, I will make some predictions for 18U that could be completely wrong.
D1/2 crossover winners to move up:
Foothills, North Irvine, SD Shores, Greenwich (LA Premier could easily jump in here)
D 2/3 Crossover winners to move up:
Aetos, Supreme, Patriot, South Coast (Sand Canyon/Olympus winner could surprise here)
D 3/4 Crossover winners to move up:
Palos Verdes, SB, Trojan Gold, Mission
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question for the seasoned vets - if club is in the A and B groups of futures for 18u/16u, does club only play one day in the upcoming futures weekends in February? looks like that is the case, but hoping someone can confirm.
That is how I am reading the schedule. Since those teams remain in D1 either way they play 1 day.
Will Porter Birdsall be returning for SoCal this club season?