Series Review: Kansas City vs. Houston Legends
When Hooves Touch the Heavens
Author: Brandon Borges
The first Series of the Week of the 2025 Major League Quadbal season was a showdown that felt more like a continuation than a new beginning. The Kansas City Stampede and the Houston Legends, two of the South Division’s most fiery and hard-nosed teams, continued their rivalry in a rematch of last year’s playoff-tinged thriller. In 2024, it was Kansas City that dashed Houston’s postseason dreams with a dramatic sweep. One year later, the teams returned with retooled rosters, new head coaches and a shared urgency to set the tone for the summer.
But while the faces and formations may have changed, the outcome did not. Kansas City once again walked away with a three-game sweep, showing that their blend of veteran leadership, rising stars and athletic offensive pressure still commands respect. Houston showed flashes of brilliance and growth, but also the growing pains of a team learning how to close the gap and finish games against high-level opponents.
With tension, tempo and toughness defining all three games, the series offered more than just wins and losses. It offered a glimpse of what’s to come in the South, and why both teams deserve to be considered serious contenders when MLQ Championships roll around.
Game One
From the opening whistle, Game One set the tone for a series defined by physical play and relentless effort. Kansas City’s early edge came from Jackson Herdade and Nivash Jayaram, who showed immediate chemistry in transition. Jayaram, a new addition from the Chicago Prowl, seamlessly stepped into a starting role and was electric from the first whistle. His combination of defensive energy and fast-break finishing helped spark the Stampede’s early run.
The Stampede beaters took control early and never fully let go. The pairing of Justin Dewick and Keighlyn Johnson gave the Stampede long stretches of bludger dominance, suffocating Houston’s attempts to establish a rhythm. Vincent Reyes and Miles Himmelman capitalized behind the hoops, using second- and third-chance opportunities to punish a rotating Houston defense. Alex Tidler, one of Kansas City’s standout rookies, made multiple smart transition plays, including a key catch to regain control (clip).
But the standout of the match may have been Lauren Smith, Kansas City's new head coach. Her play on both ends of the pitch embodied leadership by example. She made one of the game’s best plays: an open-field tackle on Houston’s Andrew Acosta (clip) and consistently outworked opposing players to extend possessions (clip).
Houston didn’t take any of this lying down, in particular Billy Nellums. Nellums was a force around the hoops, converting through contact and anchoring the Legends’ scoring. Conner Mason and Sophia Araujo worked creatively on offense with just one dodgeball, coordinating their timing with chasers like Chase Contreras and Aaron Price to create high-pressure looks. And after 20 minutes, Juan Acevedo pulled the flag early, tying the game at 85 points before the Stampede reclaimed momentum.
A late-game adjustment by Houston, shifting veteran Sam Reagan to beater, helped stabilize their defense, a change that would carry more weight in Game Two. But it wasn’t enough to slow the Stampede. Kansas City closed the game with two goals from Smith, including a perfectly timed feed from Aaron Grant, sealing a hard-fought 140–115 win.
Game Two
Game Two delivered the tightest contest of the series. Both teams made noticeable adjustments, and the result was a back-and-forth battle that went all the way to a golden goal finish.
Jayaram carried forward his elite play from Game One to establish himself as an ascending two-way player. His handsy and bruising defense set the tone early and he followed it up with fast-break conversions that pushed Kansas City ahead. On the defensive end, Janessa Duce matched Smith’s intensity from Game One, fighting through contact and making key blocks, including a standout rejection at the side hoop (clip).
Physicality escalated across the board, with both head coaches leading by example. Brandon Kubena, Houston’s coach, laid the lumber defensively, mirroring Smith’s leadership style. The tone was clear: neither team would give ground easily. In the dodgeball game, Dewick and Johnson continued to win key exchanges, making Houston’s beaters work for every inch of control.
Yet Houston adjusted well. The Legends found steadier ground once Reagan stepped into a significant beater role. David Wright and Kevin Raber also made important contributions, Wright on defense near hoops, and Raber with a highlight-reel long-range beat to set up a fast-break score (clip).
Offensively, Houston’s Nellums, Sean Allen and Mallory Hughes kept the game competitive. Allen’s powerful drives, Hughes’ field vision and Nellums’ blend of offense and defense made them a constant threat. The Legends leaned into their comfort zone, working side hoops and operating in close quarters with quick passes and physical finishes.
Kansas City, though, continued to push the pace through flipping the field. Herdade poured in some smooth mid-range shooting and smart passing, while Reyes remained deadly behind the hoops. Jayaram continued his all-around performance with a quick flag pull, giving Kansas City a crucial lead, but Houston surged back late behind strong finishing from Allen, Price and Nellums.
Ultimately, a clutch block by Kansas City’s Grant triggered a fast break. Jayaram, as he had all game, finished the job, scoring the golden goal and giving Kansas City a 155–140 victory in a statement finish.
Game Three
Neither team gave an inch as we headed into Game Three, which might have been the hardest-hitting game of the series. Acosta opened the game with back-to-back goals, flashing his elite speed and growing confidence as Houston’s go-to option. Acosta demonstrated his command of Houston’s system, consistently using off-ball movement and sharp timing to open scoring lanes. Nellums continued his tear as well, combining hard hits at the hoops with high-energy finishes, including a posterizing dunk that brought the Legends sideline to life (clip).
But just like earlier in the series, Kansas City had an answer for every run. Smith responded with a dunk of her own (clip), while Jayaram sparked an early rally with smooth shooting and quick passes. Chanun Ong delivered his most aggressive defensive performance of the series, forcing rushed Houston possessions and opening fast-break lanes.
Tidler and Audrey Shivley were instrumental in Game Three, working in tandem to win key exchanges near the hoops. Their chemistry disrupted Houston’s rhythm, forcing the Legends to abandon clean offensive sets. Tidler, in particular, came up with multiple plays, including an amazing catch that led to a no-bludger situation (clip).
Houston still found scoring through physical drives and smart beater pacing. Reagan’s steady presence gave the Legends a more controlled tempo and Hughes carved out space with fearless attacks. Price added crucial late-game goals to keep Houston within reach, even as Kansas City pulled ahead.
In the end, though, Kansas City slammed the door. Jayaram once again struck early with a flag pull and the Stampede capitalized. Reyes poured in points down the stretch, while Tidler and Johnson locked down bludger control to keep Houston off balance. The Stampede secured the sweep with a decisive 155–100 win, closing the series with a statement and confirming their place atop the South’s early-season hierarchy.
Post-Series Analysis
Kansas City’s offense thrived on tempo, spacing and field awareness. From the opening game, the Stampede worked to flip the field early in possessions by placing chasers behind the hoops. This positioning forced isolation plays and often caused the Legends to send a second defender, opening up quick shots and passes near hoops. It wasn’t just initial looks that hurt the Legends, as Kansas City’s ability to keep plays alive was a constant pressure point. Even when a pass was deflected or a shot missed, their chasers were often in position to recover the ball and reset at half-pitch with beater support ready.
Dodgeball control was the engine that kept this system running. Kansas City’s offensive rhythm fed off extended beater dominance, as Dewick, Johnson, Tidler and Shivley repeatedly won key exchanges. Long possessions turned into multiple shot attempts and the field-flipping style kept Houston on its heels, defending for longer stretches than they were comfortable with. This rhythm wore defenses down and KC’s depth across both veterans and rookies made it difficult to focus on stopping any single threat.
Houston’s offense, meanwhile, leaned into its physical identity. Operating tighter to the hoops due to limited space behind them, the Legends attacked through hard-nosed drives, tight passing around the side hoops, and picks at the hoops that opened up shots for players like Acosta, Allen and Nellums. When they hit their rhythm, they looked dangerous. The switch of Reagan to beater gave Houston much-needed structure in the midgame, allowing their chasers to operate with better timing and spacing as the series progressed.
But Kansas City adapted quickly. By Game Two, Smith and Duce were blowing up side-hoop picks, while beaters like Tidler, Ong and Shivley became faster and more aggressive in their coverage of cutters and handlers. These defensive shifts disrupted Houston’s reads and forced more contested plays. Kansas City’s blend of tactical flexibility and accurate shot-making gave them the edge, not just in individual matchups, but in controlling the larger chessboard of each game.
Player Highlights
Standout Performers
Nivash Jayaram (KC): The most consistent force across all three games. Jayaram’s two-way impact was undeniable — he opened games with physical defense, converted fast breaks and pulled flags that gave KC critical late-game edges. His golden goal finish in Game Two was a punctuation mark on a breakout weekend.
Lauren Smith (KC): As head coach and chaser, Smith embodied Kansas City’s physical identity. She made tone-setting tackles, including a massive open-field stop on Acosta in Game One, and consistently extended possessions with hustle plays.
Vincent Reyes (KC): A dynamic scoring threat, especially from behind the hoops. Reyes took advantage of KC’s field-flipping offense, hitting shots under pressure and finishing fast-break plays. He helped seal Game Three with a string of timely goals.
Billy Nellums (HOU): Houston’s most complete player throughout the series. He combined powerful finishes, including a highlight dunk in Game 3, with strong hoop defense and disruptive tackles when needed.
Andrew Acosta (HOU): Improved quickly on transition play as the series went on; more impressively, scored very naturally in the set offense from a variety of positions on pitch, and passed well when the primary ball-carrier.
Jackson Herdade (KC): The motor behind Kansas City’s half-court offense. Herdade’s shooting, passing and game management gave the Stampede consistency and poise during tight stretches.
Keighlyn Johnson (KC): An excellent physical beater performance, constantly pouring on the pressure with tackling and takeaways for Kansas City and assured long possessions for Kansas City when needed.
Breakout Performers
Sam Reagan (HOU): A mid-series switch to beater paid dividends. His composure and timing helped balance Houston’s bludger game and allowed for better offensive coordination.
Mallory Hughes (HOU): Continuing to take strides in the Houston offensive system through drives in the back, and was a key defensive stopper that forced Kansas City to turn the ball over off of forced drives
Alex Tidler (KC): Played with veteran poise despite being new to MLQ. Made key defensive beats, controlled tempo in transition and had multiple momentum-changing plays.
Rookies to Watch
Janessa Duce (KC): Displayed hard-nosed physicality on defense, fighting through screens and making timely stops. Her presence mirrored Lauren Smith’s intensity and set the tone for Kansas City’s backfield.
Audrey Shivley (KC): Paired effectively with Tidler, contributing strong beater play that kept pressure on Houston’s offense and helped maintain control in high-leverage moments.
Sean Allen & Aaron Price (HOU): Physical chasers who initiated offense at the top of the key, drawing defenders and finishing tough looks. Their combined presence added muscle to Houston’s drives.
David Wright (HOU): Earned significant beater minutes in Game 2, flashing good timing and physicality. A strong candidate to rise further in Houston’s rotation as the season progresses.
Sophia Araujo (HOU): Showed good field awareness and chemistry with Houston’s offensive sets, providing steady support near the hoops and capitalizing on soft spots in Kansas City’s defensive rotations.
Conclusion
Kansas City left this series not only with a 3-0 record, but with a clear identity. Their blend of veteran leadership, physical defense and coordinated offensive structure makes them a major threat to any team in MLQ. More importantly, their rookies didn’t just hold their own, they elevated the team. The Stampede are setting an early standard: expect flag pulls, transition play and smart beating when you take on Kansas City.
But Houston shouldn’t hang their heads. This series was less about failure and more about refinement. The Legends stayed competitive in every game, even pushing Game Two to a golden goal scenario. Acosta’s emergence, Nellums’ expanded role and Reagan’s calming impact at beater all point to a team still on the rise. If Houston can tighten their execution, continue to grow their rookie core and capitalize on the chemistry they showed in flashes, they’ll remain firmly in the hunt for a playoff spot.
Both teams walk away from this series with lessons learned. For Kansas City, the challenge is now sustaining this level of play against deeper, more experienced opponents. For Houston, it’s about turning flashes of brilliance into consistent, winning stretches. If this series is a preview of what’s to come in the South, then both teams, one charging forward, the other rocketing upward, won’t just be stories to follow. They’ll be contenders to fear.
