Stronghold Article "NA League 2026 Event #3 (Regular Season Week 1)" (#2994)

content/articles/sws26-recap-gg1-q2.md

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+---
+title: "NA League 2026 Event #3 (Regular Season Week 1) "
+date: 2026-04-21
+author:
+   - name: YELLOW
+     link: https://sendou.ink/u/great-hero-yellow
+---
+
+#### *The first week of the Regular Season was so intense that by the end of it, you forget that it’s not the Playoffs yet.*
+
+<img width="1200" height="675" alt="NAL2026-r1e3" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/1de746a3-4f7e-4046-887e-fce7493bce3c" />
+
+On Saturday, April 18, 2026, the Splatoon 3 North American League began its Regular Season. The training wheels were gone, and now wins started counting, earning points to qualify for the Playoffs in June. Teams only need to play in four weeks to be eligible for the Playoffs, but needed to ensure a high amount of points to make the top eight.
+
+Nine, Falco, and Nox led the commentator panel, and Power was operating the spectator camera. 
+
+Despite the day being filled with competing events like the Global Gauntlet Qualifier 2, LUTI Playoffs, and two LANs in Sunset Surge and Don’t Flounder at the Function, big names in the North American scene showed up to throw down: 
+
+1. Milky Way  
+2. SIZA  
+3. Content Cat  
+4. usagi fanclub  
+5. NME  
+6. Moonlight  
+7. Hypernova  
+8. lfn 
+
+The Splattercolor Screen was used in Loser’s Finals, and its effects were briefly on screen. As we dive into the details, if you plan on rewatching, take caution if you are sensitive to its effects.
+
+## **Winner’s Quarterfinals: Content Cat vs. Moonlight (1–3)**
+
+While Content Cat is a new team to the NA League, its players aren’t, with most having appeared in the Top Cut stream in last year’s Regular Season. And Moonlight needs no introduction by now; you know them, you love them\! 
+
+Game one, Tower Control at MakoMart; it took nearly half of the game before anyone cleared a single checkpoint. Once Moonlight started rolling, they didn’t stop, giving Content Cat no points and taking the knockout. 
+
+Game two, Clam Blitz at Urchin Underpass, notorious for its difficulty to score, saw Moonlight opening the basket within 30 seconds. Held up in mid, Content Cat had to backtrack once Moonlight snuck in and scored again. Content Cat got points on the board, but after overtime, lost 52–86. 
+
+Turf War at Scorch Gorge was next, and it only saw three splats in the first 60 seconds. It took until the latter half for things to pick up, with Content Cat losing players and seeing the Danger\! warning. At the one minute pan out, the map looked favorable to Content Cat, and true to appearances, they won, 53.8% – 44.2%. 
+
+<img width="1000" height="562" alt="WQF_TWscorch" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/5ae3c9bf-4551-4f3a-b04f-2c232700a0b8" />
+
+*An even 98.0% total ink coverage—can you spot the 2% left uninked?*
+
+Already, the 2026 NA League was setting new records, as the total ink coverage percent from this game, 98%, beat the 2025 NA League’s record of 97.3%, set by Gourmet Race vs. BEt in last year’s Event \#10\!
+
+Splat Zones at Mahi-Mahi Resort saw Content Cat take the first lead when both teams went down two players. Moonlight had the lead when the first minute ended, never giving it up and stopping Content Cat when they were one point from taking it. Moonlight knocked out at the halfway point, sending Content Cat to the Loser’s Bracket.
+
+## **Winner’s Semifinals: Milky Way vs. NME (3–1)**
+
+Advancing to Winner’s Semifinals were Moonlight, Hypernova, Milky Way, and NME, which is a team three parts fofofo (last NA League’s \#3 team). Content Cat, SIZA, usagi fanclub, and lfn were in the Loser’s Bracket.
+
+The set began on Undertow Spillway for Splat Zones. NME struggled to keep players up, almost always down at least one. They still gave Milky Way a tough fight, keeping the zone neutral to stall the points gain. In overtime, NME was ticking close to Milky Way’s lead, but was wiped out, losing 94–97. 
+
+Tower Control at Robo ROM-en was second, another difficult game for NME. Within the first two minutes, Milky Way’s push ended at just 4 points to knockout. NME was able to get some points to their name, but Milky Way’s lead persevered, 96–7. 
+
+Rainmaker at Mahi-Mahi Resort would become NME’s bread and butter—Milky Way cleared their first checkpoint in 30 seconds, but NME retaliated by taking them down three players, dunking the checkpoint, taking Milky Way down in a delayed wipe, and knocking out just after a minute into the game\! 
+
+<img width="1000" height="562" alt="WSF_RMmahi-mahi" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/2bf59d85-e284-4e57-8ce4-e498633c8437" />
+
+*What could have been a sub-minute knockout, if only the pedestal had been inked\!*
+
+Game four went to Turf War at Crableg Capital. At the start, Milky Way didn’t paint their base much, but it was NME who had the Danger\! indicator sooner. Milky Way had their turn with it as Now or Never started to play, and were even down three players in the last 20 seconds, but still walked out 55.3% – 40.8%, headed to Winner’s Finals.
+
+## **Winner’s Finals: Milky Way vs. Moonlight (3–2)**
+
+Those who paid attention to last year’s NA League Playoffs will recognize Milky Way vs. Moonlight as the Grand Finals set. The two teams have historically clashed multiple times, and the hosts were stoked to commentate it so early in the Regular Season.
+
+Splat Zones at Mahi-Mahi Resort saw Moonlight take a strong offense, getting the zone in 12 seconds and Milky Way down two players. They were stopped at 37, and Milky Way inched ahead, but Moonlight stopped them at 26\. Painting through Triple Inkstrikes and a Booyah Bomb, Moonlight took the lead and knocked out at 2:24. 
+
+Turf War at MakoMart didn’t bring out anything unexpected from these teams; both had a REEF-LUX 450, both had a Snipewriter 5H. Danger\! popped up in Moonlight’s overhead a few times, critically in the last minute, and they lost 39.4% – 56.6%. 
+
+Game three was Tower Control at Inkblot Art Academy. Moonlight moved the tower one point, then Milky Way, and they were pushed back to 100\. Moonlight cleared the first checkpoint before Milky Way, but 20 seconds later, Milky Way had the lead; soon after, more checkpoints, and before three minutes had passed, the knockout.
+
+Clam Blitz at Crableg Capital saw no points gained until the last 40 seconds, where Milky Way scored just one Power Clam. Moonlight ran in and scored in the final six seconds, took the lead, and in overtime, a jump in sealed the basket and the win, 44–20.
+
+<img width="1000" height="562" alt="WF_CBcrableg" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/9fb34fae-75eb-4aa4-8192-999abca97cde" />
+
+*SSNolan with the game-winning play, getting the wipeout, providing jump-ins, and grabbing the last clam needed to close the basket.* 
+
+Game five went to Rainmaker at Museum d’Alfonsino. Moonlight entered with a double Ink Vac comp, and it truly felt like there was one online at all times. At the halfway point, with both teams down two, Moonlight took the lead, but needed another 30 seconds to clear the first checkpoint. 
+
+Milky Way only needed 25 seconds to get their first checkpoint from there, and shortly after, took the lead to 18\. Approaching overtime, things looked good for Moonlight with Milky Way down 3, but trapped between an enemy and a Suction Bomb, they fell short of the lead, 62–82, and were sent to the Loser’s Bracket. 
+
+## **Loser’s Semifinals: Hypernova vs. NME (2–3)**
+
+After both Hypernova and NME went 3–1 over their opponents in Loser’s Quarterfinals, they squared up to decide who advanced to fight Moonlight in Loser’s Finals. 
+
+Game one was Tower Control at Museum d’Alfonsino. NME went all the way to 16 in a minute and a half. It took Hypernova two minutes, but they got the lead and third checkpoint, then jumped out to play defense for the last minute. In the final 40 seconds, they ended up wiped out twice, and NME beat the clock for a knockout. 
+
+For Rainmaker at Crableg Capital, NME brought the uncommon Ballpoint Splatling Nouveau for Ink Vac coverage. NME was at a numbers disadvantage frequently, but Hypernova played cautiously and hesitated to move forward. They held the lead at 9, and NME crept closer, to 14, but two wipeouts in the last 20 seconds kept them at bay, and Hypernova kept the win, 91–86. 
+
+<img width="1000" height="562" alt="LSF_RMcrableg" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/a0c8ff0d-60f8-4675-9b20-f446354822f7" />
+
+*In the background, Synapse trades splats with DATKID to get a second wipeout over NME, six seconds after the previous one.*
+
+Game three was Clam Blitz at Scorch Gorge. Across two pushes in the first half of the game, NME brought their score down to 27\. Hypernova’s first push got them to 54, but they were caught in a delayed wipeout. At the one minute mark, NME scored again, wiped out Hypernova, and knocked out. 
+
+Shipshape Cargo Co. was chosen for Turf War—the Splattercolor Screen was used in this game, so be careful watching replays. The game was solidly in Hypernova’s hands for a majority of the three minutes, taking NME down two, three players multiple times. By the final minute, they had set up a lockout, keeping NME contained in 1/3rd of the map. 
+
+Hypernova won 63.6% – 33.7%, tying with the 2025 NA League’s total ink coverage percentage record, 97.3%\! 
+
+A game five Splat Zones is rare, and unexpected at Undertow Spillway. Early in the game, NME set the goal to reach at 34\. The teams traded wipeouts as Hypernova fought to keep up with NME’s score. In the last five seconds, Hypernova wiped out NME, and in overtime, kept them down three. Just one tick to tie, the zone was neutralized. Hypernova was wiped out, and NME took the win, 88–87. 
+
+## **Loser’s Finals: Moonlight vs. NME (3–1)**
+
+A brief respite from game five sets, Moonlight and NME would face off to determine who got their runback against Milky Way at Grand Finals. 
+
+The set started with Tower Control at MakoMart, and already 40 seconds in, Moonlight suffered a delayed wipeout and NME was down two players. It took until the halfway point for a checkpoint to be cleared, which was Moonlight’s, but they didn’t get much further after half of their team was splatted. NME took the game into overtime, but lost with a wipeout, and their score was 7–55. 
+
+The most popular Turf War stage from 2025’s NA League, Urchin Underpass, was back, and one minute in, Moonlight was the team with Danger\! in their overhead. NME went down two, but Moonlight was still behind in score. In the last ten seconds, NME was again down two, then three, and Moonlight earned their comeback, 53.8% – 39.8%. 
+
+Next, NME brought Moonlight to their turf, Rainmaker at Mahi-Mahi Resort. Running a double-Ultra Stamp comp, NME replayed the same story as before: their opponent got the first checkpoint, but it was NME going directly from their first checkpoint right into the knockout, leaving two minutes and 19 seconds to spare. 
+
+<img width="1000" height="562" alt="LF_RMmahi-mahi" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/50dc9db8-1c2e-49d4-9171-f26d19dfd7fd" />
+
+*Pedestal painted this time, 3z is able to squid roll to the win, protected by an Ultra Stamp.*
+
+Game four was Splat Zones at Crableg Capital. The opening favored NME, overtaking Moonlight’s score of 34, and Moonlight had to use an Ink Vac and Big Bubbler to stop NME at 4, before the knockout. Moonlight rebounded, wiping out NME a minute later, and in the last seconds, Omega got a triple, securing their knockout and set win. 
+
+## **Grand Finals: Milky Way vs. Moonlight (3–2)**
+
+Back to knocking on Milky Way’s door, Moonlight was ready to take on their biggest opponent and deepen the storyline between the \#1 and \#2 teams from the 2025 NA League. 
+
+Repeating game one from Winner’s Finals, Splat Zones at Mahi-Mahi Resort, the game could be neatly divided into one-minute segments: at 4:11, Milky Way took the lead. At 3:11, Moonlight took the lead. At 2:11, Milky Way was back in the lead. Fast forward to 0:39, Moonlight was ahead once again, and the game went into overtime. Just as Milky Way was about to tie, Moonlight’s Ink Vac protected the zone, ending the game 92–91. 
+
+Repeating game two, Turf War at MakoMart, the first minute was advantageous for Moonlight, with only one player being splatted on their side. Overall, splats were few in the game until the end. Milky Way threw out Triple Inkstrikes at the last second, which was the most crucial play, giving them just enough ink to eke ahead, 49.4% – 47.4%. 
+
+Game three was Tower Control again, but at Crableg Capital rather than Inkblot Art Academy. The result was still the same, as Milky Way rode the tower through checkpoints one, two, and three with speed, knocking out by the three minute mark. 
+
+Interestingly, game four was Clam Blitz… at Shipshape Cargo Co. But it worked out for Moonlight, scoring in the first 40 seconds. At the halfway point, as Milky Way was throwing clams to open Moonlight’s basket, Moonlight beat them to it, forcing Milky Way to turn around. Moonlight was wiped out for this, but they had the lead at 58\. 
+
+<img width="1000" height="562" alt="GF_CBshipshape" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/e4702243-e359-40ff-88dd-5b309d41a376" />
+
+*Milky Way nowhere to be seen near their basket, instead set up by Moonlight’s basket in anticipation of scoring first.* 
+
+Once the basket closed, Milky Way was already set up and immediately scored. However, they only scored to 60\. Moonlight scored again as overtime began, ending it as soon as it started, and won the game 42–40, and tied the set again. 
+
+Game five again. Rainmaker at Museum d’Alfonsino again. Moonlight had a double Ink Vac comp again. Moonlight cleared their checkpoint, and went to extend their lead, but the Rainmaker reset faster. Milky Way baited out an Ink Vac; taking Moonlight down two, they claimed the lead at 47\. Moonlight lost the Rainmaker in the final seconds and couldn’t pop the shield in time, and without overtime, their run ended short, 42–57. 
+
+Moonlight sitting at second place to Milky Way after two down-to-the-wire game five sets is building a strong storyline so early in the Regular Season, and as more teams end up in Top Cut, who else will enrich the narrative? When will the newly-revitalized FTWin make their entrance?
+
+With no 3–0 sets on stream, in a strangely Hagglefish Market-less event, the first week of the Regular Season has set a high standard for successive weeks to live up to. 
+
+Make sure you’re there to see it\!
+
+<img width="1919" height="1079" alt="R1E3_finalbracket" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/8569f9a2-b4f7-4ed3-be7d-c4e910ae0c85" />
+
+Original Posting Date: April 21, 2026 at [Splatoon Stronghold](https://www.splatoonstronghold.com/news/na-league-2026-e3-rs1).
+
+Written and formatted for publication by [YELLOW](https://bsky.app/profile/great-hero-yellow.bsky.social).