The Redwoods had another year to figure it out. Another offseason to retool, another spring to prove the pieces were finally in place. And another season that ended with the same uncomfortable question hanging in the air: what exactly is this program supposed to be?

That’s not a knock on the talent. The Redwoods have always had talent. The issue has never been whether they can field a competitive roster — it’s whether they can build a coherent identity around it. In 2026, the answer was still no.

The Season in a Sentence

Flashes of elite play, stretches of frustrating inconsistency, and a postseason exit that felt both surprising and completely predictable at the same time. That’s the Redwoods in 2026.

They beat teams they were supposed to beat and lost to teams they should have handled. The wins looked dominant. The losses looked inexplicable. If you watched three random Redwoods games this season, you’d come away with three completely different impressions of the team. That’s a program identity problem, not a talent problem.

Offense: Capable of Brilliance, Not Built Around It

The Redwoods offense has enough weapons to scare anyone. On paper. In practice, they too often fell into a ball-movement-by-committee approach that let defenses settle in and dictate tempo. When they pushed pace and trusted their individual creators, they were a nightmare. When they slowed it down and tried to manufacture perfection, they looked like a team playing not to lose.

The midfield needed a genuine alpha — someone to carry 15-plus goals, demand defensive attention, and give the unit a clear identity. They had contributors. They didn’t have a closer. That distinction matters in close games, and the Redwoods lost too many of those.

Defense: The Real Story

Here’s the honest assessment nobody wants to say out loud: the Redwoods’ defensive structure was inconsistent to the point of being unreliable in big moments. They had individual defenders with the athleticism to compete with anyone in the PLL. They did not have a defensive system that reliably held up under pressure.

Riding rides, transition defense, and man-down situations were recurring soft spots. The goals-against numbers in the second half of the season told a story the highlight reel obscured. When opposing coaches game-planned specifically for the Redwoods’ defensive tendencies, they found answers. That’s a coaching and scheme problem as much as a personnel one.

What the Roster Actually Needs

Stop adding versatile pieces and start adding players who define the culture. The Redwoods offseason move template has been: acquire athletic, multi-position guys who fit multiple schemes. The result is a roster full of players who can adapt — but nobody who sets the tone.

Specifically:

A True Faceoff Specialist

Possession is the foundation of everything in PLL lacrosse, and the Redwoods have been mediocre at the dot for too long. This isn’t a flashy need. It’s a foundational one. You cannot build a consistent winning program while giving up 40% of your faceoffs.

A Defensive Anchor Who Commands the Back End

Not just a lockdown defender. A leader who organizes the unit, calls adjustments, and holds everyone accountable in real time. The Redwoods need a voice back there. The talent is present — the communication and structure aren’t.

An Identity-First Coaching Decision

This is the uncomfortable one. The Redwoods’ coaching staff needs to make a clear philosophical commitment going into 2027 — fast-break offense or deliberate execution, aggressive pressure defense or disciplined zone principles — and build around that choice with conviction. Trying to do everything is a choice to be great at nothing.

The Bottom Line

The Redwoods aren’t a bad team. They’re something more frustrating than that: a talented team without a soul. They play like a roster, not a program. That’s fixable — but only if the front office and coaching staff are honest enough to diagnose the real problem instead of tweaking around the edges again.

The PLL is too competitive for a team to keep coasting on talent and hoping it coheres. The Redwoods have had enough time to figure this out. The 2026 season wasn’t a step backward — but it wasn’t a step forward either. Standing still in this league is its own kind of regression.

Come back with an identity. Come back with a plan. Come back ready to be something specific. The talent is there. The rest needs to catch up.