In 2005 the Minnesota Freeze competed as a standalone team for the first time at the USAFL National Championships in Milwaukee, WI.  Their pool ended in a 3 way tie and the Freeze made the Grand Final based on scoring percentage.

Maybe it was their inexperience or ignorance but Minnesota was not intimidated of playing on the big stage. This was the biggest story of the National championships and both teams had claims to being the crowd favorite.  Minnesota was the upstarts playing as a full team for the first time.  The Tigers of Baton Rouge had been scattered by Hurricane Katrina.  The USAFL community came together and raised funds to ensure that they could get their players to Milwaukee.