Definition
The 2023 NLL season refers to the 2023 calendar year of competition in the National Lacrosse League (NLL), a professional indoor (box) lacrosse league in North America. It encompasses the regular‑season schedule, postseason playoffs, and the championship series known as the NLL Cup.
Overview
The 2023 season was the 36th season of the NLL. The regular season commenced on December 3 2022 and concluded in early June 2023. Fourteen franchises, divided between Eastern and Western Conferences, each contested an 18‑game schedule. The postseason featured a multi‑round playoff culminating in the NLL Cup, which was won by the Buffalo Bandits, who defeated the Colorado Mammoth in the championship game. The season included standard league activities such as the annual All‑Star Game, individual awards (e.g., Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year), and league‑wide initiatives to promote indoor lacrosse.
Etymology/Origin
- NLL: An abbreviation for National Lacrosse League, the governing body for professional box lacrosse in the United States and Canada. The league originated in 1987 as the Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League and was renamed the NLL in 1998.
- Season: In sports terminology, “season” denotes the yearly cycle of scheduled competition, consisting of a regular‑season phase followed by playoffs.
Characteristics
- Team composition: 14 member clubs participated, representing markets across the United States and Canada.
- Schedule: Each team played 18 regular‑season games, balanced between home and away fixtures, with occasional back‑to‑back matches due to arena availability.
- Playoff structure: The top three teams from each conference qualified for the postseason. The first‑place team in each conference received a first‑round bye, while the second‑ and third‑place teams contested best‑of‑three series to advance. The conference champions then met in the NLL Cup final, a single championship game.
- Rules and format: The league continued to employ its standard indoor lacrosse rules, including six‑on‑six play (five runners plus a goalkeeper), a 30‑second shot clock, and a three‑point arc situated 15 feet from the goal. No major rule changes were introduced for the 2023 season.
- Statistical leaders: The season tracked individual performance metrics such as goals, assists, points, saves, and loose‑balls, culminating in annual award selections.
Related Topics
- National Lacrosse League (overall league history and structure)
- 2022 NLL season (preceding season)
- 2024 NLL season (subsequent season)
- Buffalo Bandits (2023 NLL Cup champions)
- Colorado Mammoth (2023 NLL Cup runners‑up)
- NLL Cup (league championship series)
- Indoor (box) lacrosse rules and equipment
- Professional lacrosse awards (MVP, Rookie of the Year, etc.)