Players to Watch: Week Three
The third weekend of the 2025 season opens this Saturday at 12 pm ET in Ottawa where the Ottawa Black Bears are hosting the Washington Admirals. The stakes could not be higher for the Black Bears who almost certainly need to win this weekend to qualify for MLQ Championship. We then head to Ohio for our Series of the Week at 4 pm ET where the Cleveland Riff are squaring off against the Chicago Prowl. With the Riff’s historic sweep in week one, look for momentum to be on their side as we get our first look at this year’s Prowl team. Here are four players to keep your eyes on this weekend.
Ottawa Black Bears: Hailey Yhap (#4)
After taking last summer off, Hailey Yhap is back for the Ottawa Black Bears. In 2023, Yhap was the franchise’s leading scorer, and she did it only playing in nine games. There’s no question that Yhap’s return is going to transform this Ottawa team when they play the Washington Admirals. Last time these two teams met, the Admirals walked away with three triple-digit wins. Two summers ago, however, the Black Bears kept the games much closer, with no losses in the triple digits. The return of Yhap from that 2023 squad is going to be pivotal in this week’s matchup.
Washington Admirals: Adrian Koretsky (#49)
To ensure that the Washington Admirals leave Canada with three wins this weekend, no player will play a larger role than Adrian Koretsky. Koretsky has been one of the top beaters in the division for years, and this season looks to be no different. They are already leading the Admirals beaters in stops and drives played after their series against the New York Titans. Expect them to do even more damage to the Black Bears this weekend. Last summer, Koretsky finished a +24 in plus/minus against Ottawa, the highest recorded plus/minus for a single series on record. Look for them to repeat the feat on Saturday.
Cleveland Riff: Rae Barnes (#12)
In the Cleveland Riff’s first sweep in just under a decade, Rae Barnes played a leading part. In a franchise that has struggled to keep control for years, Barnes led the team in average dodgeballs as they swept the Toronto Raiders. They also finished with four stops on the series, a major improvement from last summer’s total. Barnes’ strong performances on the field has led to much of Cleveland’s success in the beating game. Now, they have the opportunity to take on some of the top beaters in the league this weekend. In the Riff’s continued success, expect Barnes to continue to play some of their best quadball this weekend.
Chicago Prowl: Sohum Sharma (#28)
In their first series of the summer, the Chicago Prowl will almost certainly be looking to see how their additions fit into the fold of their team. One rookie to look out for is Sohum Sharma, who is coming off an impressive season with the Illini Ridgebacks. This weekend he is getting his first minutes in an MLQ game in a primetime slot. Look for Sharma to take duels and push the pace for the Prowl. Whether he has a dodgeball or not, Sharma will always be looking to make something happen for Chicago. After this weekend, the whole league will know who Shamra is, and the Prowl will look to utilize more as the season progresses.
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