When you look back at the Philadelphia Waterdogs’ 2024 season, the most honest reaction is confusion. This team wasn’t supposed to go 2-8. This team wasn’t supposed to miss the playoffs. And yet, week after week, they found themselves in close games that always seemed to slip away. It wasn’t like they were getting blown out or clearly outclassed—they just never found their rhythm. And for a roster that looked championship-ready on paper, that kind of collapse is still hard to wrap your head around.
There were flashes of what they could be. Defensively, they weren’t bad at all, finishing fifth in scores against average at 12.3 per game. Man-down defense was second in the league at 73.7 percent. But none of that really mattered when the offense just couldn’t keep pace. They finished sixth in scoring and had the second-worst shooting percentage in the league at 24.0. That’s a recipe for tight losses, and it’s exactly what defined their year.
Faceoffs and Frustration
The glaring issue all season long was faceoffs. It was a known weakness heading into the year, and it remained a problem from start to finish. At just 31.8 percent, the Philadelphia Waterdogs were dead last in the PLL at the stripe. They’ve overcome that in the past, but this time around, it felt like too much ground to make up. When you don’t have consistent possessions and your offense is already struggling to convert, you end up playing from behind more often than not.
And yet, there’s still a weird optimism about this group. Because for as bad as the record was, the bones of a great team are still here. The attack is loaded. The defense is experienced. Dillon Ward may have had a down year, but no one’s questioning his ability to bounce back. And now they’re adding serious firepower.
The CJ Kirst Effect
The number one overall pick might be exactly what this team needed. CJ Kirst doesn’t need much of an introduction coming off a national title and one of the most dominant college careers in recent memory. He’s physical, aggressive, and brings a different kind of edge to this offense. If he’s healthy and used the right way, he has the tools to put together one of the best rookie seasons we’ve ever seen in the PLL. That’s not hyperbole. That’s what’s on the table.
Alongside Kirst, the Philadelphia Waterdogs added Jake Taylor, another proven scorer who adds depth to a group that lacked it last season. Ben Wayer might be one of the sneakiest picks of the draft. He fits their style, brings energy, and gives them more versatility defensively. DiBenedetto didn’t see consistent time with the Archers, but there’s real potential for him to carve out a role here. And then there’s the trade for Zed Williams—a high-upside move that could swing either way. His fit will be one of the biggest questions early on, but the talent is there.
Still Loaded with Talent
What makes the Waterdogs so hard to predict is that their roster hasn’t changed all that much—and that’s not a bad thing. Michael Sowers still has the potential to be the best player in the league on any given night. Kieran McArdle continues to be one of the most underappreciated pros in the game, and even at 33, his production hasn’t slowed down. Pairing those two with Kirst has the potential to be lethal if they can develop chemistry quickly.
At midfield, the combo of Zach Currier, Connor Kelly, and Jack Hannah is about as well-rounded as you’ll find. They can dodge, shoot, and handle in transition. Defensively, Ben Randall and Eli Gobrecht anchor a unit that’s already proven it can hang with top-tier attacks. Randall finished with 17 caused turnovers and 27 ground balls last year, and that kind of consistency is what gives this team a shot to win games even when the offense takes time to get going.
Ward is still the guy in net, and even though he ended the year with a 51.6 percent save percentage, there’s little doubt he can return to form. If he finds his groove early, that changes the equation for everything else.
A Team With Something to Prove
There’s no question this team underachieved last year. After locking in their core and essentially deciding to “run it back,” 2-8 was never supposed to happen. But now they’ve added elite young talent, brought in new offensive weapons, and still have a core group of veterans who know what it takes to win in this league.
There are concerns. Faceoffs still haven’t been solved. The offense has to be significantly more efficient. And there’s the mental hurdle of coming off a year that was, by all accounts, a disappointment. But there’s also a ton of upside. If Kirst clicks, if Ward bounces back, if the top-end talent plays like they’re capable of, the Philadelphia Waterdogs are more than just a bounce-back team. They’re a contender.
Call them a wildcard. Call them a question mark. But don’t call them out of it. Not yet.
