diff --git a/app/routes/admin.sports-seasons.$id.participants.tsx b/app/routes/admin.sports-seasons.$id.participants.tsx
index 2143e5f..b2d4cb1 100644
--- a/app/routes/admin.sports-seasons.$id.participants.tsx
+++ b/app/routes/admin.sports-seasons.$id.participants.tsx
@@ -64,6 +64,39 @@ export async function action({ request, params }: Route.ActionArgs) {
     return { success: true };
   }
 
+  if (intent === "update-participant") {
+    const participantId = formData.get("participantId");
+    const newName = formData.get("newName");
+    const newExternalId = formData.get("newExternalId");
+
+    if (typeof participantId !== "string") {
+      return { error: "Invalid participant", intent: "update-participant" };
+    }
+
+    if (typeof newName !== "string" || !newName.trim()) {
+      return { error: "Name is required", intent: "update-participant" };
+    }
+
+    const trimmedName = newName.trim();
+    const existing = await findParticipantByName(params.id, trimmedName);
+    if (existing && existing.id !== participantId) {
+      return { error: `"${trimmedName}" already exists in this season.`, intent: "update-participant" };
+    }
+
+    const externalIdValue =
+      typeof newExternalId === "string" && newExternalId.trim()
+        ? newExternalId.trim()
+        : null;
+
+    try {
+      await updateParticipant(participantId, { name: trimmedName, externalId: externalIdValue });
+      return { success: true, intent: "update-participant" };
+    } catch (error) {
+      logger.error("Error updating participant:", error);
+      return { error: "Failed to update participant. Please try again.", intent: "update-participant" };
+    }
+  }
+
   if (intent === "update-name") {
     const participantId = formData.get("participantId");
     const newName = formData.get("newName");
@@ -171,7 +204,7 @@ export async function action({ request, params }: Route.ActionArgs) {
 
 export default function ManageParticipants({ loaderData, actionData }: Route.ComponentProps) {
   const { sportsSeason, participants } = loaderData;
-  const [editing, setEditing] = useState<{ id: string; name: string } | null>(null);
+  const [editing, setEditing] = useState<{ id: string; name: string; externalId: string } | null>(null);
 
   const cancelEdit = () => setEditing(null);
 
@@ -179,7 +212,7 @@ export default function ManageParticipants({ loaderData, actionData }: Route.Com
   const formKey = actionData?.success ? Date.now() : 'static';
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (actionData?.success && actionData?.intent === "update-name") {
+    if (actionData?.success && (actionData?.intent === "update-name" || actionData?.intent === "update-participant")) {
       cancelEdit();
     }
   }, [actionData]);
@@ -221,13 +254,13 @@ export default function ManageParticipants({ loaderData, actionData }: Route.Com
                   />
                 </div>
 
-                {actionData?.error && !actionData?.count && actionData?.intent !== "update-name" && (
+                {actionData?.error && !actionData?.count && actionData?.intent !== "update-name" && actionData?.intent !== "update-participant" && (
                   <div className="bg-destructive/15 text-destructive px-4 py-3 rounded-md text-sm">
                     {actionData.error}
                   </div>
                 )}
 
-                {actionData?.success && !actionData?.count && (
+                {actionData?.success && !actionData?.count && actionData?.intent !== "update-participant" && (
                   <div className="bg-emerald-500/15 text-emerald-400 px-4 py-3 rounded-md text-sm">
                     Participant added successfully!
                   </div>
@@ -267,7 +300,7 @@ export default function ManageParticipants({ loaderData, actionData }: Route.Com
                   </p>
                 </div>
 
-                {actionData?.error && actionData?.count === undefined && actionData?.intent !== "update-name" && (
+                {actionData?.error && actionData?.count === undefined && actionData?.intent !== "update-name" && actionData?.intent !== "update-participant" && (
                   <div className="bg-destructive/15 text-destructive px-4 py-3 rounded-md text-sm">
                     {actionData.error}
                   </div>
@@ -311,6 +344,7 @@ export default function ManageParticipants({ loaderData, actionData }: Route.Com
                     <TableHeader>
                       <TableRow>
                         <TableHead>Name</TableHead>
+                        <TableHead className="w-[120px]">Group</TableHead>
                         <TableHead className="w-[100px]" />
                       </TableRow>
                     </TableHeader>
@@ -322,12 +356,12 @@ export default function ManageParticipants({ loaderData, actionData }: Route.Com
                               <div className="space-y-1">
                                 <Input
                                   value={editing.name}
-                                  onChange={(e) => setEditing({ id: participant.id, name: e.target.value })}
+                                  onChange={(e) => setEditing({ ...editing, name: e.target.value })}
                                   className="h-8"
                                   autoFocus
                                   onKeyDown={(e) => { if (e.key === "Escape") cancelEdit(); }}
                                 />
-                                {actionData?.error && actionData?.intent === "update-name" && (
+                                {actionData?.error && (actionData?.intent === "update-name" || actionData?.intent === "update-participant") && (
                                   <p className="text-xs text-destructive">{actionData.error}</p>
                                 )}
                               </div>
@@ -335,13 +369,29 @@ export default function ManageParticipants({ loaderData, actionData }: Route.Com
                               participant.name
                             )}
                           </TableCell>
+                          <TableCell>
+                            {editing?.id === participant.id ? (
+                              <Input
+                                value={editing.externalId}
+                                onChange={(e) => setEditing({ ...editing, externalId: e.target.value })}
+                                className="h-8 font-mono text-xs"
+                                placeholder="US, Intl, US:A…"
+                                onKeyDown={(e) => { if (e.key === "Escape") cancelEdit(); }}
+                              />
+                            ) : (
+                              <span className="text-xs font-mono text-muted-foreground">
+                                {participant.externalId ?? "—"}
+                              </span>
+                            )}
+                          </TableCell>
                           <TableCell>
                             {editing?.id === participant.id ? (
                               <div className="flex gap-1">
                                 <Form method="post">
-                                  <input type="hidden" name="intent" value="update-name" />
+                                  <input type="hidden" name="intent" value="update-participant" />
                                   <input type="hidden" name="participantId" value={participant.id} />
                                   <input type="hidden" name="newName" value={editing.name} />
+                                  <input type="hidden" name="newExternalId" value={editing.externalId} />
                                   <Button
                                     type="submit"
                                     variant="ghost"
@@ -368,7 +418,7 @@ export default function ManageParticipants({ loaderData, actionData }: Route.Com
                                   variant="ghost"
                                   size="sm"
                                   className="h-8 w-8 p-0"
-                                  onClick={() => setEditing({ id: participant.id, name: participant.name })}
+                                  onClick={() => setEditing({ id: participant.id, name: participant.name, externalId: participant.externalId ?? "" })}
                                 >
                                   <Pencil className="h-4 w-4" />
                                 </Button>
diff --git a/app/routes/admin/__tests__/sports-seasons-participants.test.ts b/app/routes/admin/__tests__/sports-seasons-participants.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ebcb843
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/routes/admin/__tests__/sports-seasons-participants.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,138 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, vi, beforeEach } from "vitest";
+
+vi.mock("~/models/participant", () => ({
+  findParticipantsBySportsSeasonId: vi.fn(),
+  findParticipantByName: vi.fn(),
+  createParticipant: vi.fn(),
+  deleteParticipant: vi.fn(),
+  updateParticipant: vi.fn(),
+}));
+
+vi.mock("~/models/sports-season", () => ({
+  findSportsSeasonById: vi.fn(),
+}));
+
+vi.mock("~/lib/logger", () => ({
+  logger: { error: vi.fn() },
+}));
+
+import {
+  findParticipantByName,
+  updateParticipant,
+} from "~/models/participant";
+import { action } from "~/routes/admin.sports-seasons.$id.participants";
+
+const mockParams = { id: "season-1" };
+
+function makeRequest(data: Record<string, string | null>) {
+  const formData = new FormData();
+  for (const [key, value] of Object.entries(data)) {
+    if (value !== null) formData.set(key, value);
+  }
+  return new Request("http://localhost/admin/sports-seasons/season-1/participants", {
+    method: "POST",
+    body: formData,
+  });
+}
+
+describe("admin participants action — update-participant intent", () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.clearAllMocks();
+  });
+
+  it("updates both name and externalId when valid", async () => {
+    (findParticipantByName as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mockResolvedValue(null);
+    (updateParticipant as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mockResolvedValue({});
+
+    const result = await action({
+      request: makeRequest({
+        intent: "update-participant",
+        participantId: "p-1",
+        newName: "US Southeast",
+        newExternalId: "US",
+      }),
+      params: mockParams,
+      context: {},
+    } as Parameters<typeof action>[0]);
+
+    expect(updateParticipant).toHaveBeenCalledWith("p-1", {
+      name: "US Southeast",
+      externalId: "US",
+    });
+    expect(result).toMatchObject({ success: true, intent: "update-participant" });
+  });
+
+  it("saves null when newExternalId is blank", async () => {
+    (findParticipantByName as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mockResolvedValue(null);
+    (updateParticipant as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mockResolvedValue({});
+
+    await action({
+      request: makeRequest({
+        intent: "update-participant",
+        participantId: "p-1",
+        newName: "Some Team",
+        newExternalId: "  ",
+      }),
+      params: mockParams,
+      context: {},
+    } as Parameters<typeof action>[0]);
+
+    expect(updateParticipant).toHaveBeenCalledWith("p-1", {
+      name: "Some Team",
+      externalId: null,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("returns error when name is empty", async () => {
+    const result = await action({
+      request: makeRequest({
+        intent: "update-participant",
+        participantId: "p-1",
+        newName: "   ",
+        newExternalId: "US",
+      }),
+      params: mockParams,
+      context: {},
+    } as Parameters<typeof action>[0]);
+
+    expect(updateParticipant).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(result).toMatchObject({ error: "Name is required", intent: "update-participant" });
+  });
+
+  it("returns error when name conflicts with another participant", async () => {
+    (findParticipantByName as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mockResolvedValue({ id: "p-2", name: "US Midwest" });
+
+    const result = await action({
+      request: makeRequest({
+        intent: "update-participant",
+        participantId: "p-1",
+        newName: "US Midwest",
+        newExternalId: "US",
+      }),
+      params: mockParams,
+      context: {},
+    } as Parameters<typeof action>[0]);
+
+    expect(updateParticipant).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(result).toMatchObject({ error: expect.stringContaining("already exists"), intent: "update-participant" });
+  });
+
+  it("allows saving same name back to the same participant (no false conflict)", async () => {
+    (findParticipantByName as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mockResolvedValue({ id: "p-1", name: "US Midwest" });
+    (updateParticipant as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mockResolvedValue({});
+
+    const result = await action({
+      request: makeRequest({
+        intent: "update-participant",
+        participantId: "p-1",
+        newName: "US Midwest",
+        newExternalId: "US",
+      }),
+      params: mockParams,
+      context: {},
+    } as Parameters<typeof action>[0]);
+
+    expect(updateParticipant).toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(result).toMatchObject({ success: true });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/app/services/simulations/__tests__/llws-simulator.test.ts b/app/services/simulations/__tests__/llws-simulator.test.ts
index b22fb25..e6ccb94 100644
--- a/app/services/simulations/__tests__/llws-simulator.test.ts
+++ b/app/services/simulations/__tests__/llws-simulator.test.ts
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ describe("LLWSSimulator", () => {
   });
 
   function setupMockDb(
-    participants: { id: string; externalId: string }[],
+    participants: { id: string; name?: string; externalId: string | null }[],
     evRows: { participantId: string; sourceOdds: number | null }[]
   ) {
     mockDb.select.mockImplementation(() => {
@@ -53,15 +53,15 @@ describe("LLWSSimulator", () => {
 
   function defaultParticipants(mode: "randomized" | "fixed" = "randomized") {
     if (mode === "fixed") {
-      const usA = US_IDS.slice(0, 5).map((id) => ({ id, externalId: "US:A" }));
-      const usB = US_IDS.slice(5).map((id) => ({ id, externalId: "US:B" }));
-      const intlA = INTL_IDS.slice(0, 5).map((id) => ({ id, externalId: "Intl:A" }));
-      const intlB = INTL_IDS.slice(5).map((id) => ({ id, externalId: "Intl:B" }));
+      const usA = US_IDS.slice(0, 5).map((id) => ({ id, name: `US Team ${id}`, externalId: "US:A" }));
+      const usB = US_IDS.slice(5).map((id) => ({ id, name: `US Team ${id}`, externalId: "US:B" }));
+      const intlA = INTL_IDS.slice(0, 5).map((id) => ({ id, name: `Team ${id}`, externalId: "Intl:A" }));
+      const intlB = INTL_IDS.slice(5).map((id) => ({ id, name: `Team ${id}`, externalId: "Intl:B" }));
       return [...usA, ...usB, ...intlA, ...intlB];
     }
     return [
-      ...US_IDS.map((id) => ({ id, externalId: "US" })),
-      ...INTL_IDS.map((id) => ({ id, externalId: "Intl" })),
+      ...US_IDS.map((id) => ({ id, name: `US Team ${id}`, externalId: "US" })),
+      ...INTL_IDS.map((id) => ({ id, name: `Team ${id}`, externalId: "Intl" })),
     ];
   }
 
@@ -192,9 +192,9 @@ describe("LLWSSimulator", () => {
 
     it("mixed mode: US fixed pools, Intl randomized", async () => {
       const participants = [
-        ...US_IDS.slice(0, 5).map((id) => ({ id, externalId: "US:A" })),
-        ...US_IDS.slice(5).map((id) => ({ id, externalId: "US:B" })),
-        ...INTL_IDS.map((id) => ({ id, externalId: "Intl" })),
+        ...US_IDS.slice(0, 5).map((id) => ({ id, name: `US Team ${id}`, externalId: "US:A" })),
+        ...US_IDS.slice(5).map((id) => ({ id, name: `US Team ${id}`, externalId: "US:B" })),
+        ...INTL_IDS.map((id) => ({ id, name: `Team ${id}`, externalId: "Intl" })),
       ];
       setupMockDb(participants, makeEvRows(ALL_IDS));
       const results = await new LLWSSimulator().simulate("season-1");
@@ -211,37 +211,52 @@ describe("LLWSSimulator", () => {
       const nineteen = [...US_IDS, ...INTL_IDS.slice(0, 9)];
       const participants = nineteen.map((id, i) => ({
         id,
+        name: i < 10 ? `US Team ${id}` : `Team ${id}`,
         externalId: i < 10 ? "US" : "Intl",
       }));
       setupMockDb(participants, makeEvRows(nineteen));
       await expect(new LLWSSimulator().simulate("season-1")).rejects.toThrow(/exactly 20/);
     });
 
-    it("throws when a participant has a missing externalId", async () => {
+    it("infers US side from name prefix when externalId is null", async () => {
       const participants = [
-        ...US_IDS.map((id) => ({ id, externalId: "US" })),
-        ...INTL_IDS.slice(0, 9).map((id) => ({ id, externalId: "Intl" })),
-        { id: "intl-10", externalId: null as unknown as string }, // missing
+        ...US_IDS.map((id) => ({ id, name: `US Team ${id}`, externalId: null })),
+        ...INTL_IDS.map((id) => ({ id, name: `Japan ${id}`, externalId: null })),
       ];
       setupMockDb(participants, makeEvRows(ALL_IDS));
-      await expect(new LLWSSimulator().simulate("season-1")).rejects.toThrow(/invalid or missing externalId/);
+      const results = await new LLWSSimulator().simulate("season-1");
+      expect(results).toHaveLength(20);
+      const total = results.reduce((s, r) => s + r.probabilities.probFirst, 0);
+      expect(total).toBeCloseTo(1.0, 1);
     });
 
-    it("throws when a participant has an unrecognized externalId", async () => {
+    it("infers US side from exact name 'US' when externalId is null", async () => {
       const participants = [
-        ...US_IDS.map((id) => ({ id, externalId: "US" })),
-        ...INTL_IDS.slice(0, 9).map((id) => ({ id, externalId: "Intl" })),
-        { id: "intl-10", externalId: "CANADA" }, // unrecognized
+        ...US_IDS.map((id) => ({ id, name: "US", externalId: null })),
+        ...INTL_IDS.map((id) => ({ id, name: `Team ${id}`, externalId: null })),
       ];
       setupMockDb(participants, makeEvRows(ALL_IDS));
-      await expect(new LLWSSimulator().simulate("season-1")).rejects.toThrow(/invalid or missing externalId/);
+      const results = await new LLWSSimulator().simulate("season-1");
+      expect(results).toHaveLength(20);
+      const total = results.reduce((s, r) => s + r.probabilities.probFirst, 0);
+      expect(total).toBeCloseTo(1.0, 1);
+    });
+
+    it("throws when a participant has an unrecognized non-null externalId", async () => {
+      const participants = [
+        ...US_IDS.map((id) => ({ id, name: `US Team ${id}`, externalId: "US" })),
+        ...INTL_IDS.slice(0, 9).map((id) => ({ id, name: `Team ${id}`, externalId: "Intl" })),
+        { id: "intl-10", name: "Team intl-10", externalId: "CANADA" }, // unrecognized
+      ];
+      setupMockDb(participants, makeEvRows(ALL_IDS));
+      await expect(new LLWSSimulator().simulate("season-1")).rejects.toThrow(/invalid externalId/);
     });
 
     it("throws when US team count is not 10", async () => {
       // 11 US teams, 9 International
       const participants = [
-        ...Array.from({ length: 11 }, (_, i) => ({ id: `us-${i + 1}`, externalId: "US" })),
-        ...Array.from({ length: 9 }, (_, i) => ({ id: `intl-${i + 1}`, externalId: "Intl" })),
+        ...Array.from({ length: 11 }, (_, i) => ({ id: `us-${i + 1}`, name: `US Team ${i + 1}`, externalId: "US" })),
+        ...Array.from({ length: 9 }, (_, i) => ({ id: `intl-${i + 1}`, name: `Team ${i + 1}`, externalId: "Intl" })),
       ];
       setupMockDb(participants, makeEvRows(ALL_IDS));
       await expect(new LLWSSimulator().simulate("season-1")).rejects.toThrow(/10 US teams/);
@@ -250,9 +265,9 @@ describe("LLWSSimulator", () => {
     it("throws when fixed pools have unequal A/B split", async () => {
       const participants = [
         // 6 in Pool A, 4 in Pool B
-        ...US_IDS.slice(0, 6).map((id) => ({ id, externalId: "US:A" })),
-        ...US_IDS.slice(6).map((id) => ({ id, externalId: "US:B" })),
-        ...INTL_IDS.map((id) => ({ id, externalId: "Intl" })),
+        ...US_IDS.slice(0, 6).map((id) => ({ id, name: `US Team ${id}`, externalId: "US:A" })),
+        ...US_IDS.slice(6).map((id) => ({ id, name: `US Team ${id}`, externalId: "US:B" })),
+        ...INTL_IDS.map((id) => ({ id, name: `Team ${id}`, externalId: "Intl" })),
       ];
       setupMockDb(participants, makeEvRows(ALL_IDS));
       await expect(new LLWSSimulator().simulate("season-1")).rejects.toThrow(/exactly 5 teams each/);
@@ -261,9 +276,9 @@ describe("LLWSSimulator", () => {
     it("throws when US externalIds mix pool suffixes and bare side", async () => {
       const participants = [
         // Some US:A, some "US" (no pool suffix) → mixed
-        ...US_IDS.slice(0, 5).map((id) => ({ id, externalId: "US:A" })),
-        ...US_IDS.slice(5).map((id) => ({ id, externalId: "US" })), // no pool
-        ...INTL_IDS.map((id) => ({ id, externalId: "Intl" })),
+        ...US_IDS.slice(0, 5).map((id) => ({ id, name: `US Team ${id}`, externalId: "US:A" })),
+        ...US_IDS.slice(5).map((id) => ({ id, name: `US Team ${id}`, externalId: "US" })), // no pool
+        ...INTL_IDS.map((id) => ({ id, name: `Team ${id}`, externalId: "Intl" })),
       ];
       setupMockDb(participants, makeEvRows(ALL_IDS));
       await expect(new LLWSSimulator().simulate("season-1")).rejects.toThrow(/mixed externalId formats/);
diff --git a/app/services/simulations/llws-simulator.ts b/app/services/simulations/llws-simulator.ts
index 212f811..1ac4b01 100644
--- a/app/services/simulations/llws-simulator.ts
+++ b/app/services/simulations/llws-simulator.ts
@@ -49,8 +49,8 @@
  * Admin setup:
  *   1. Create a Sport with simulatorType = "llws_bracket"
  *   2. Create a Sports Season and add exactly 20 participants (10 US, 10 International)
- *   3. Set externalId on each participant:
- *      Pre-draw:  "US" or "Intl"
+ *   3. Set externalId on each participant via Admin → Manage Participants (optional if names follow the convention):
+ *      Pre-draw:  "US" or "Intl"  (or leave null — names starting with "US " infer US, all others infer Intl)
  *      Post-draw: "US:A", "US:B", "Intl:A", or "Intl:B"
  *   4. Enter championship futures odds via Admin → Futures Odds (sourceOdds)
  *   5. Run simulation via Admin → Simulate
@@ -215,6 +215,17 @@ function parseExternalId(raw: string | null): { side: Side; pool: PoolSuffix } |
   return null;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Infer an externalId from a participant name when none is stored.
+ * Teams whose name is exactly "US" or starts with "US " (case-insensitive)
+ * are assigned to the US side; all others are assigned to Intl.
+ * The inferred value never has a pool suffix, so pools will be randomized.
+ */
+function inferExternalIdFromName(name: string): string {
+  const upper = name.trim().toUpperCase();
+  return upper === "US" || upper.startsWith("US ") ? "US" : "Intl";
+}
+
 /**
  * Determine whether pool assignments should be randomized for one side.
  * - If ALL teams on the side have a pool suffix → fixed pools (returns false).
@@ -253,7 +264,7 @@ export class LLWSSimulator implements Simulator {
 
     // 1. Load all participants.
     const participants = await db
-      .select({ id: schema.participants.id, externalId: schema.participants.externalId })
+      .select({ id: schema.participants.id, name: schema.participants.name, externalId: schema.participants.externalId })
       .from(schema.participants)
       .where(eq(schema.participants.sportsSeasonId, sportsSeasonId));
 
@@ -292,10 +303,11 @@ export class LLWSSimulator implements Simulator {
     // 4. Parse externalId for each participant to determine side and fixed pool.
     const teams: Team[] = [];
     for (const p of participants) {
-      const parsed = parseExternalId(p.externalId);
+      const raw = p.externalId ?? inferExternalIdFromName(p.name);
+      const parsed = parseExternalId(raw);
       if (!parsed) {
         throw new Error(
-          `Participant ${p.id} has invalid or missing externalId "${p.externalId}". ` +
+          `Participant ${p.id} has invalid externalId "${p.externalId}". ` +
           `Expected: "US", "Intl", "US:A", "US:B", "Intl:A", or "Intl:B".`
         );
       }