Most Valuable Teammates: MVP Favorites Kirst, Sowers Focused on Winning

When the 2026 Premier Lacrosse League season ends, a member of the Philadelphia Waterdogs is expected to be named the league’s most valuable player. Which player that will be is up for debate.

“If defenses are already telling us that [CJ] Kirst is the biggest threat on his team, shouldn’t we listen?” PLL’s Adam Lamberti wrote in an article in which he makes the case for Kirst.

“By recording at least 20 goals and 20 assists, [Michael] Sowers has joined an exclusive club. Just three other players have posted 20/20 seasons in the PLL, and two of them (Jeff Teat in 2024, Connor Shellenberger in 2025) took home MVP honors that year,” Waterdogs beat reporter Michael Bolger argued.

While media members and fans alike debate whether Kirst or Sowers are more deserving of the MVP honor, neither player is concerned about it.

“The beauty of it all for both of them is that they genuinely only care about the team first,” Waterdogs head coach Bill Tierney said. “And if it means the other guys having a great day, so be it. They're both so willing to change or to be anything that the team needs or the coaches want just for the benefit of the team.”

Individually, Kirst and Sowers are statistically having their best professional seasons. Sowers became only the fourth PLL player to record at least 20 goals and 20 assists in a single season and will likely be the only to accomplish that feat this year. Kirst tied Marcus Holman’s goals record of 31 in just eight games and has two more chances to set a new single-season record this weekend.

Together, they’ve helped Philadelphia claim a playoff berth and the top spot in the PLL.

“CJ is super dynamic with the ball in his stick but can do so many other things. He’s always open, and he catches everything,” Sowers said. “I think our skill sets complement each other really well, and we're just continuing to get better as we go.”

Tierney said their skills enhance each other’s and that Sowers’ willingness to share the spotlight with Kirst has allowed both to thrive.

“Michael's been the guy for his whole career, maybe his whole life, in every sport that he's played,” Tierney said. “Not only has he been accepting of CJ coming in and getting some of the accolades and not been bothered by it, but he's also become a better all-around lacrosse player from playing with somebody like CJ.

“A great snapshot of what I'm talking about is just over the last three weeks: He's been an assists guy, an even scoring guy, and then a goals guy. He's very chameleon-like. He can be whatever you want him to be.”

While both players certainly appear high on the stat sheet every week, their coaches and teammates pointed out the many things that both players do that don’t appear on their stat lines.

Waterdogs offensive coordinator Dylan Sheridan heaped praise on their “off-ball acumen.” Midfielder Zach Currier lauded Kirst’s ability to create goals with hockey assists — the pass before the pass that sets up a score. Attackman Kieran McArdle called them “just two complete ballers.”

“They're both killers out there,” Currier said. “Most teams typically have one defenseman that can shut down a Sowers or a Kirst, but not many teams have two of them.”

Currier’s value to Philadelphia also continues to be a topic of conversation every season.

LEADING BY EXAMPLE

Kirst and Sowers’ leadership has also been a topic of conversation.

“It starts with what CJ does at team meals, just making sure that everybody's engaged in the conversation, or what Michael does on the bus rides,” Sheridan said. “I think both possess this really special quality to connect and engage with teammates and create an atmosphere for team success.”

Currier said that Sowers has become a more vocal leader this summer. He thinks he’s “stepped out of his comfort zone a little bit.” With Kirst, Currier said it’s hard to ignore his positive attitude.

“At one point in the locker room, Kieran looked over at me when CJ was going on one of his rambles, and said, ‘I don't know if that guy's ever had a bad day in his life,’” Currier said.

Tierney and Sheridan also credited Currier, McArdle, Jack Hannah and the other veterans for their leadership, helping the numerous rookies get acclimated.

“This group of guys is special. There is very little ego,” Sheridan said. “They're all willing to put their personal stats and glory aside for team success. Everybody's bought in.”

OFFENSIVE THINK TANK

Kirst and Sowers both had a ton of praise for the coaching staff.

“I think Coach Sheridan, on the offensive end, has done a great job of putting us in the right spots to succeed, not overcomplicating things and letting everyone play to their strengths,” Kirst said.

“The coaching staff has done a great job maintaining the mentality that we're going to continue to get better, and our best lacrosse is ahead of us,” Sowers said.

Sheridan and Dave Cottle, along with new coaching fellow and former pro Eric Law, make up what Tierney calls the “offensive think tank.”

“Sometimes when you have three guys that really know what's going on, they're not always going to agree on everything. Sometimes, we have to agree to disagree, and sometimes, we have to disagree to agree,” Tierney said. “Everybody has taken a step toward the middle, and understands that, whatever our opinions are, it has to be decided by all.”

When Tierney brought Cottle on board in March, he knew he was getting more than just a general manager.

“Dave and I have been the best of friends for 45 years. He’s not only one of the smartest lacrosse minds that's ever been out there, but he also had so many years of experience in coaching in the pros,” Tierney said. “He’s really helped me a great deal.”

A FAMILY-LIKE CULTURE

Kyle Kirst was also one of Tierney’s close friends. The former Rutgers goaltender died in 2015.

“I'm a real believer in family. Kyle was a generous, family man,” Tierney said. “He loved the game, and the Kirst kids have grown up living those aspects of what their dad gave them.”

CJ Kirst’s upbringing has positively affected the Waterdogs’ locker room.

“I think that his whole personality and special demeanor stems from his family, from his selflessness to his knowledge, that there are times he has to carry this team,” Tierney said.

Kirst also credits his family for his success at all levels of lacrosse.

“I've learned how to be a competitor,” Kirst said. “Having three older brothers and one younger brother, we motivated each other every single day. Just having the opportunity now to play professionally and have Connor and Colin do it as well, it's truly special.”

For Kirst and his brothers, their mom, Melissa, has been their biggest supporter.

“She makes the effort to come to everything that she can,” Kirst said. “Now, playing professionally, for her to look at flights and try to make the effort to come to all these games is truly incredible and definitely motivates me. Having someone to support you like that puts a smile on your face.

“Speaking on behalf of all my brothers, we wouldn't be here without her and are just so thankful for everything that she's done.”

He knows how proud his father would be as well.

“He would be filled with so much joy,” Kirst said. “He coached a lot and loved nothing more than watching us play the game. To have Connor and Colin share the field, I know that's something that’d be super special to him. To watch Cole throughout his career and now stepping into the coaching world,
I know he would be so proud of him. And watching Caden follow in his footsteps and play goalie at Rutgers, I know he'd be smiling.”

A CHAMPIONSHIP MINDSET

With a trip to the PLL semifinals all but secured, Kirst and Sowers have put Philadelphia in a great position to make a title run.

Sowers has the chance to win his second championship with the Waterdogs, and Kirst can capture his first PLL title and third lacrosse championship in a little more than a year after winning an NCAA title with Cornell in May 2025 and a National Lacrosse League title with the Toronto Rock this May.

Both made it clear that winning a championship supersedes any personal accolade.

“It would be an incredible honor, but raising a championship trophy is the main goal,” Kirst said. “To have the opportunity to put on a Waterdogs jersey and compete for a championship is something that motivates me.”

“We’re both very focused on winning and willing to do whatever it takes to win,” Sowers said. “To be able to win a championship is the only thing that matters to me, and I know all of the guys in that locker room would give you the same exact answer.”