The DC Defenders are hoping to repeat as UFL champions in 2026. To do that, they must survive a late, regular-season series against the Orlando Storm to get into the playoffs.
The Defenders and Storm are set to square off twice over the final two weeks of the 2026 UFL season, with the first meeting coming at 8 p.m. ET on May 22 at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando. On the line will be a DC playoff berth and a chance for Orlando – which has already clinched passage to the postseason – to lock up the UFL’s No. 1 overall seed.
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The unique, two-game series will be a particularly tough test for the Defenders. They lost quarterback Jordan Ta’amu – the MVP of the 2025 UFL championship game – for the season to a season-ending knee injury.
Meanwhile, Storm coach Anthony Becht will be smelling blood in the water with a chance to knock one of his long-time rivals out of playoff contention and deny them a chance to, potentially, play the UFL Bowl at their home stadium.
That rivalry, which is rooted in respect, will be on the mind of both coaches as each looks to finish the 2026 UFL season strong.
How rivalry is motivating Anthony Becht, Shannon Harris
Becht explained in a phone interview with USA TODAY Sports that the rivalry between his staff and Harris’s has been bred by something other UFL franchises are lacking: familiarity.
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Becht is presently the UFL’s longest-tenured coach, having spent each of the last four seasons coaching spring ball in the UFL and XFL. While Harris has only been a full-time head coach for two seasons, he was previously a part of Reggie Barlow’s staff with the Defenders, a group that has undergone few changes to its core.
The Defenders have also frequently stood in Becht’s way as he has sought to win his first-ever playoff game. So, while he didn’t want to label the upcoming series a “revenge” game, he knows it will be easy to motivate his staff for it.
“This is a team that really, at least from my staff standpoint, there’s not a lot of talk that needs to be given to get juiced to get into this week,” Becht told USA TODAY of the looming series against the Defenders.
As such, Becht’s bigger focus has been about getting his players prepared and motivated for the week – and avoiding any potential let-down performance after their playoff-clinching win over the Dallas Renegades in Week 8.
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“The one thing you worry about is, OK, you’ve clinched,” Becht said. “You’re 6-2. You’re in first place. What’s the motivation for the players?”
One factor Becht is using as motivation is the potential opportunity to eliminate the Defenders – the league’s reigning champion – from playoff contention.
His other carrot on a stick? The 48-year-old coach is preaching that NFL talent evaluators and decision-makers are likely to be watching the stretch run of the UFL season more closely as they look to add talent to their rosters.
“These are the games, quite frankly, that are the most important for these players to be playing at their highest level,” Becht said.
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Meanwhile, Harris knows his team won’t lack motivation as they fight to lock up a playoff berth. But he did note that the rivalry was a nice cherry on top for the season-ending series while also crediting Becht for doing “an amazing job” during his first season with the Storm.
“No matter where that team, his staff goes, there’s a bit of a rivalry there,” Harris told USA TODAY. “He’s the standard. He’s been a good standard in the league itself. We’ve had success as well, and he’s continuing to have success no matter where he goes and where he’s coaching.”
Jordan Ta’amu injury looms large
Of course, Harris’ team will have to overcome the loss of their starting quarterback, Ta’amu, who will miss the remainder of the season.
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The 45-year-old coach noted how difficult it can be to lose “a leader on the football field” like Ta’amu, who has a long track record of spring-league success.
“When you lose a guy like that late in the season going into this playoff push, it hurts,” Harris told USA TODAY Sports. “But at the same time, reality check. You got to just settle back into the saddle and get these other guys prepared.”
Who are the “other guys” on DC’s roster? Spencer Sanders replaced Ta’amu when he was hurt against Louisville, while Jason Bean – who was acquired in a midseason trade with the Kings – was the other quarterback on the Defenders’ roster.
Harris didn’t tip his hand about who would start at quarterback when pressed on the matter. He even said both could see action as the team looks to replace Ta’amu and establish its starter heading into what the team hopes will be another championship run.
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“We’re excited with Jason, and we’re excited with Spencer,” Harris said. “Both of these guys have handled themselves like a pro, and both have had a really good week of practice.”
Though Harris was keeping his quarterback choice close to the vest, Becht believes the team will start Sanders, since he was Ta’amu’s backup in Week 8 and has had more exposure to DC’s system than the recently acquired Bean.
What does Becht expect to see from Sanders if he emerges as the Defenders’ starter?
“Spencer is a guy that obviously played college quarterback at Oklahoma State but also has been playing receiver for the last couple years as well,” Becht detailed. “I would anticipate quick passing game and a lot of movement design things with his legs. We have to contain that.”
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Becht further explained achieving that goal would require Orlando to be “diligent” with its pass rush. He also wants the team to take away DC’s Deon Jackson and Abram Smith-led running game and force Sanders to carry the Defenders to victory in his first start of the season.
“We want him to pass,” Becht said. “We’re going to try to take away short things and make them be pinpoint accurate on some of those deeper balls.”
Becht also made it clear he and his staff weren’t overlooking the quarterbacks, who he believes will be motivated to showcase what they can do with the opportunity granted to them.
Still, he believes the relative inexperience of Sanders and Bean could give his team an opportunity to take control of the two-game series.
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“Those two quarterbacks are very similar to what Jordan Ta’amu’s skill set is,” Becht said. “[They’re] just not seasoned enough, so we have to take advantage of that.”
What to expect from Defenders, Storm during series
Neither Becht nor Harris is worried about playing back-to-back games against one another.
Harris – whose Defenders are coming off a back-to-back series against the Kings – explained that the arrangement is “not much of a challenge,” even though they have to game-plan for the same team twice in a row.
“It’s more of who can be more focused and be more detail-oriented the best,” Harris explained.
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Harris lamented that his team wasn’t able to accomplish that goal against Louisville, which swept DC across their two-game series. But he believed execution was the problem, not a matchup disadvantage.
“When we don’t have the turnovers like we had, we beat people up,” Harris said. “So, if we can win the turnover battle, we feel great about it.”
Meanwhile, Becht made it clear he and the Storm aren’t planning to pull any punches against the Defenders, even with a playoff berth locked up.
“We want to go into this game with full arsenal,” Becht said. “We’re not scared to hide or show anything. We are what we are, they are what they are.”
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Becht expects to see the same from the Defenders, who he knows will be playing with some desperation as they look to lock up a playoff spot after their recent skid.
“We know they’ve lost two games in a row. Their backs are against the wall, and they’re going to bring their ‘A’ effort,” Becht said. “Hopefully, those things collide and make this a great game.”
But even facing that scenario, Harris said his team is feeling “no pressure” even as they fight for their playoff lives over the final couple weeks of the regular season.
“We feel up to the challenge, and we don’t feel there’s anything that’s going to hinder us with the challenge when it comes down to going back-to-back,” Harris said. “We just got to make sure we take care of the football.”
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And that’s why Becht is looking forward to the two battles between the talented, confident teams as each looks to make a run to the 2026 UFL Bowl.
“It just comes down to a 15-round prize fight. It is a slugfest,” Becht said. “It always has been physical, it’s always been violent and our players will be prepared for all of that. We’re excited for the opportunity.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How Defenders-Storm rivalry, two-game series will impact UFL playoffs
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