Lax for the Cure H.S. Preview

USClubLax Staff

Jun 26, 2025

Lax for the Cure H.S. Preview

Lax for the Cure High School Preview

With the Youth Weekend wrapping up last week, the high school edition of Lax for the Cure kicks off this Friday, as top teams from across the country prepare to battle it out in front of college coaches—not only for championship glory but for a greater cause: finding a cure for breast cancer.

Let’s break down the key divisions, brackets, and matchups to watch as pool play gets underway and playoff hopes come into focus:

2026 Division

#17 Philly Blast Spirit headlines the Ruby bracket as the lone ranked team. Despite limited recent matchups, they’ll be looking to make a deep playoff push and potentially upset higher-seeded teams from other brackets. Their most notable opponent so far has been Integrity Green—who recently fell out of the Top 20—but pushed Philly Blast at Live, Love, Lax in a 10-6 decision. A rematch with playoff implications is definitely one to watch.

The Salmon and Scarlet brackets are stacked, featuring a combined twelve Top 20 teams.

In the Salmon bracket, the lineup includes:

#1 Top Guns Black
#5 Florida Select
#6 Steps NJ Blue
#13 Capital Blue
#15 CT Grizzlies
#18 Sky Walkers Blue

Of note: Sky Walkers previously defeated Capital 8-3. Look for Capital, CT Grizzlies, and Sky Walkers to seek signature wins over Top 10 squads and shake up the rankings en route to the playoffs.

The Scarlet bracket might be even more competitive, with:

#3 HHH Philly
#7 NXT Black
#8 Aces Elite
#9 Jesters Black
#12 Monster Purple
#14 Yellow Jackets Manning

HHH edged Monster 10-7 at the Northeast Summer Tournament, and a win here could help Monster climb back into the Top 10. Meanwhile, Jesters and NXT will meet for the third time this summer—Jesters lead the series 2-0 with wins at Live, Love, Lax (9-6) and Summer Genesis (7-5). Will NXT flip the script, or will Jesters complete the sweep and surge up the rankings?

2027 Division

The 2027 class is loaded, with Top 20 teams spread across the Rogue, Ruby, Salmon, and Scarlet brackets.

#17 Team ONE Wildcat leads the Rogue bracket and will need a nearly flawless showing to make a playoff run.

In the Ruby bracket, the contenders include:

#7 Jesters Black
#12 Gold Coast Black
#13 Top Guns Black
#19 Steps California
#20 Philly Blast Courage

Philly Blast has already made statements this summer, defeating Steps 10-4 at Live, Love, Lax and edging Top Guns 4-3 at Summer Genesis.

The Salmon bracket features:

#4 Eagle Stix Blue
#10 HHH Philly
#11 Triple Threat Elite
#14 Florida Select
#15 NXT Black
#18 Steps NJ Navy

Eagle Stix holds two victories over Triple Threat this summer and looks to stay perfect in Triple Threat’s home state.

The most thrilling matchups may come from the Scarlet bracket, which includes:

#1 M&D Black
#2 Aces Elite
#3 Yellow Jackets Stadler
#5 Hero’s Green
#8 Prime Time
#9 Mass Elite Red

M&D Black has already defeated Aces (11-3), Hero’s (10-4), and Prime Time (6-5) but is looking for redemption against Yellow Jackets Stadler, who handed them a rare loss at Live, Love, Lax and tied them at Summer Genesis. Yellow Jackets also edged Hero’s earlier this summer. Aces will try to stay unbeaten against Prime Time after a 9-4 win at Genesis. This bracket could create major Top 10 shakeups.

2028 Division

The 2028 class is just as fierce, with key battles across the Rogue, Ruby, Salmon, and Scarlet brackets.

In Rogue, we’ll see:

#12 Salt City Pink
#18 Sky Walkers Blue

Both teams will likely need a perfect weekend to earn a playoff spot.

The Ruby bracket features:

#13 Team 180
#14 HHH Philly
#15 Steps NJ Blue

Team 180 will look to avenge a two-goal loss to Liberty Black at Summer Genesis. With only one team likely advancing, perfection will be the goal.

The Salmon bracket is loaded with talent:

#1 Eagle Stix Blue
#3 Yellow Jackets Maget
#5 Mass Elite Red
#7 MD United East
#10 Monster Purple
#19 Crush MD

Eagle Stix has already defeated MD United East twice this summer and looks to go 3-0. Yellow Jackets crushed MD United 9-1 at Live, Love, Lax, and Mass Elite has a 10-7 win over Monster Purple from Northeast Summer. Crush MD will look for a Top 10 upset and a playoff push.

Finally, in the Scarlet bracket:

#2 Hero’s Green
#4 Prime Time
#6 M&D Black
#9 Coppermine Black
#11 Aces Elite
#20 Jesters Black

Hero’s has already defeated M&D (7-6), Coppermine (8-4), and Jesters (14-2) this summer. Prime Time and M&D’s missed match at Genesis due to weather sets the stage for an anticipated showdown. Aces will look to repeat their 10-5 win over Prime Time.

With championships and rankings on the line, these high school squads are primed to leave it all on the field. But beyond the competition, they're united for something bigger—a cure for breast cancer. Let the games begin!