By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
On Friday afternoon, the Salina Liberty announced in a public press conference that the team would be leaving AF1 to join the National Arena League for 2026.
This ends a two-year tenure for Salina in AF1 (formerly the Arena Football League) that saw the Liberty post a record of 12-7 in regular seasons, with a playoff win in 2024.
“We were proud of our accomplishments in the relaunch of AFL and AF1, competing in the semi-final in 2024 & 2025,” team President Dan Mendicina said in a statement. “We now turn our attention to the 2026 season, where expectations remain the same, to compete for a championship.”
In their new league, the Liberty will have an opportunity to rekindle two old rivalries as they rejoin the Omaha Beef, Sioux City Bandits, and Amarillo Warbirds, all formerly of the Champions Indoor Football League.
According to the NAL website, the Liberty will be the ninth team to join its ranks, but more could be added before the start of the 2025 season.
We take great pride in representing Central Kansas and more importantly, Liberty Nation, the statement continued. “Every Team that comes into our house knows they’d better bring their lunch box and be ready to go to work. In meeting the Teams and great Ownership groups in the NAL, we feel that this is where Salina Liberty needs to post our flag.
On Friday evening, another former CIF squad in the Southwest Kansas Storm, formerly the Dodge City Law, became the next defector to the NAL.
In a statement issued by AF1, commissioner Jerry Kurz praised the Liberty and the Storm, thanking both for their contributions to the rebuild and rebrand.
"We're proud of what the AF1 has already achieved and thank the Salina Liberty and Southwest Kansas Storm for the roles they played in our growth," Kurz said. "We wish them well."