WNXL
The 2026 NXL European Championship WNXL division produced a tournament as tight as its five-team field suggested— but the American allstar squad, Air Force One, ultimately found the extra gear when it mattered most and showed complete dominance.
Air Force One took the field for their first match and was immediately jarred awake by Drakaina. The match went an astounding nine points, and accomplished three things. First, it jarred the Americans awake. Second, it showed how much the European league has developed over the course of this season. And finally, it set a tone for the remainder of the event as Air Force One played the remainder of the event with on their shoulder. In fact, they went on undefeated with remarkable margins- winning 5 – 4, 6 – 1, 5 – 0, and 2 – 1 respectively in the prelims. The 4 – 0 record gave them 17 points, but the + 13 scoring margin underscored the point.
Belladonna, the clear standout team in Europe this season, were the Americans’ closest challengers. They finished 3 – 1 in prelims, including a 5 – 4 thriller against the newest squad in the league, Sposed Competition. The two went toe-to-toe again in the semifinals, and Belladona survived in an extended 5-3. On the other side of the semifinal deck, Air Force One dispatched Karma 5 – 0.
The championship match was remarkably decisive: Air Force One shut out Belladonna 5 – 0 to claim the title. That result was particularly striking given how competitive the preliminary stage had been.
The statistics also highlight just how volatile WNXL can be. Three teams— Sposed Competition, Karma, and Drakaina— each finished the prelims with one victory, with margins and tiebreakers separating them.
For Air Force One, the numbers tell a simple story: four wins, a perfect playoff run, and a championship shutout. But for the European league, this was an exciting accomplishment. Drakaina proved that they could hang tough with the best of the best. Suposed Competition, playing in their second event, emerged as a clear threat to the remainder of the field. And Belladonna held the standard high once again.
As victors in the season rankings, Belladonna will be returning to Orlando in November. Their performance at World Cup is highly anticipated. Hydration and acclimation to the heat will be key for them, because their performance inside the net is on par, if not surpassing some of the American teams in the WNXL.
PbM
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