2023 Premier Lacrosse League season
[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.
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.
The PLL also saw a 25% increase in average viewership of games broadcast on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2 over the 2022 season.
[52] The following table shows the number of games each team participated in that were broadcast on linear TV.
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.
Dobson's final save of the game came off of a last-second two-point attempt by Waterdogs midfielder Jack Carraway.
[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.
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.
Waterdogs back up goalie Matt DeLuca made 3 saves and allowed one goal after he entered the game with 6:05 left.
The final home cities were decided through a mix of fan-voting, ticketing performance, venue availability, and customer data.
[52] The PLL assigned each team a home city, as well as rebranding Chrome Lacrosse Club into the Denver Outlaws, on November 14.
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.
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.
[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.
[3][89][90] The Waterdogs were given an alternate black jersey with gold trim as a reward for being PLL Champions.
As part of the celebrations each team wore limited jerseys that had been designed by Patrick Hunter—a two-spirit Ojibwe artist.
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.
[95] During the 2022 season the PLL also wore throwback uniforms during the leagues week eight stop in Denver.
The 2023 PLL All-Star Game was held at Dr. Mark & Cindy Lynn Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky, on Saturday, July 22, 2023.
