2021 PREMIER LACROSSE LEAGUE CHAMPION TO BE CROWNED SUNDAY AT NOON ET ON NBC AND PEACOCK

Two-Time Defending Champion Whipsnakes LC and Matt Rambo Face MVP Award Nominee Blaze Riorden and Chaos LC in 2020 Championship Rematch

Paul Rabil Sit-Down Interview with NBC Sports’ Paul Burmeister Discussing His Retirement to Air During Halftime

Lead PLL Commentary Team of Brendan Burke, Ryan Boyle and Paul Burmeister to Call Championship at Audi Field

PLL Championship Postgame Show to Stream Exclusively on Peacock Sunday Immediately Following Matchup

STAMFORD, Conn. – Sept. 16, 2021 – The 2021 Premier Lacrosse League champion will be crowned this Sunday when two-time defending champion Whipsnakes LC and attackman Matt Rambo face 2021 Jim Brown MVP award nominee Blaze Riorden and Chaos LC in a 2020 Championship rematch from Audi Field in Washington, D.C., at noon ET on NBC and Peacock. A Championship postgame show featuring the trophy presentation and exclusive player and coach interviews will stream exclusively on Peacock immediately following the matchup.

In last season’s Championship, Whipsnakes LC won their second straight title when they defeated Chaos 12-6 behind six goals by Zed Williams, who won Tournament MVP, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah.

Two weeks ago, Zed Williams tallied five goals to lead the Whipsnakes offensively in their 14-10 victory over the top-seeded Waterdogs in the semifinals. In the other semifinal, Chaos defeated Atlas 15-9 behind 17 saves by Riorden and six points from midfielder Dhane Smith.

Earlier this week, PLL co-founder and all-time professional lacrosse points leader Paul Rabil announced his retirement and future initiatives associated with the sport of lacrosse. Click here for more details. NBC Sports’ Paul Burmeister will speak with Rabil during a sit-down interview that will air during halftime of the Championship.

Brendan Burke (play-by-play) and Class of 2019 National Lacrosse Hall of Fame inductee Ryan Boyle (analyst) will call the Championship with sideline reporter Paul Burmeister from Audi Field.

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2021 PLL VIEWERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Following the semifinals, NBC Sports’ 2021 PLL coverage on television (114,000 average viewers) is up 7% the same point in the 2019 season (107,000 viewers)
• Redwoods LC 19-16 victory over Waterdogs LC on Saturday, July 3, ranks as the second-most watched outdoor professional lacrosse game in history, with a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 366,000 viewers across NBC, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app, only behind the PLL’s first-ever broadcast on NBC in June 2019 when Chaos LC faced Atlas LC (412,000 viewers). The matchup is the third-most watched professional lacrosse game in 16 years (2005 NLL indoor championship, Toronto v. Arizona, 689,000 viewers, NBC)
• Atlas LC’s 13-9 win over Cannons LC in the quarterfinals on Saturday, Aug. 21, ranks as the fifth-most watched outdoor professional lacrosse game in history, with a TAD of 338,000 viewers across NBC, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app
• Cannons LC thrilling 13-12 win over Archers LC in primetime on Sunday, July 11, marks the highest rated and most-watched PLL game on NBCSN in the league’s three-year history, with a TAD of 163,000 viewers on NBCSN
• The conclusion of the 2021 All-Star Game on NBCSN delivered the second most-watched PLL game segment in the league’s history with a TAD of 393,000 viewers

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Over the course of the 2021 season, NBC Sports will present 44 PLL matchups, marking an NBC Sports record for the most-ever professional lacrosse game coverage in a season. 21 games — four on NBC and 17 on NBCSN — sets a record for the most-ever professional lacrosse games on television in a season. All televised coverage will also stream on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. The complete media schedule can be found here.

2021 marks the first season that Peacock is the streaming home of the Premier Lacrosse League, featuring live, streaming coverage of every game throughout the season.

Following is the Championship schedule Sunday on NBC and Peacock:

–NBC SPORTS–