There's a new heavyweight in the West.
Two of the league's three traditional powerhouse teams, the Osaka Evessa (three championships: 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08) and Ryukyu Golden Kings (2008-09 and 2011-12 title winners), are joined in the 10-team Western Conference this season by the Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix.
The Phoenix, who won a pair of titles in between Ryukyu's and represented the Eastern Conference in the past three finals, opened the season last weekend, splitting a pair of games against the visiting Sendai 89ers. The Golden Kings swept the host Kyoto Hannaryz in the other series involving the West's teams.