League Update October 2024

October 31, 2024

Hello WUL Community!

What an exciting time it is to join the Western Ultimate League.

I had the distinct pleasure of attending Championship Weekend in Denver in June, where Colorado Alpenglow took home the 2024 WUL Championship title in front of their home crowd, and in just their second year as a team. Utah Wild joined them in the final, both teams having earned their spots in close semi-finals match-ups where teams competed with a tenacity that could have secured any one of them the Championship. Players commuted from as far as Oklahoma to play, and loyal fan bases traveled from across the country to witness the event in person. It was a contest between the technically precise throws that the women's division is known for and the seemingly impossible defensive bids that the professional level requires. It was a fitting end to a season packed with epic comebacks and high-scoring games won by mere inches. Being part of this event solidified my decision to join the league to invest in the professional playing opportunities and visibility of women and non-binary athletes.

Women’s sports and women’s ultimate continues to grow and thrive. This September, we welcomed the Oregon Soar franchise for the upcoming season. Oregon has a history of amplifying the talent of strong women and non-binary athletes and a deep enthusiasm for the sport of ultimate. In addition to Soar, we are happy to announce the return of all of last season's teams, filling out our now 7-team league for the 2025 season.

Our athletes have been busy during the off-season, with an incredible showing by WUL players in women’s and mixed divisions at both World Ultimate Championships and USAU Club Nationals – including many gold medals with Team USA. A big shoutout to players from the 2024 WUL season who represented Team USA this summer with gold medal wins – Dena ElimelEch (Super Bloom), Jade McLaughlin (Alpenglow), Kaela Helton (Super Bloom), Kendra Miller (Wild), Sadie Jezierski (Tempest), Sam Rodenberg (Tempest), Sharon Lin (Falcons), and Shayla Harris (Falcons).

As we head into tryout season in November and December, it is abundantly clear that the magic of this league isn’t happening only on the fields. The staff, coaching leadership, volunteers, and fans involved in the league and teams of the WUL are an essential part of this community. Behind the scenes is a massive year-round effort of teamwork (much of it volunteer) to make it all happen.

One key way to join this year-round effort is the 2025 Annual Be A Megafan campaign in January. With nearly 60% of Limited Edition Megafan Jersey sales going directly to the team you want to support, your purchases are crucial to funding your favorite team and the WUL. Investing in this limited edition merchandise is one way we’re working toward a profitable, sustainable professional sports business model.

We continue to be inspired by the rise of other women’s sports both domestically and internationally. This month’s WNBA Finals Game 5 peaked at 3.3 million viewers, closing out a season with record-setting social media engagement and sell-out games. The WNFC has raised $1 million to accelerate growth and equity for women in football. Women’s sports are poised to generate more than $1.28 billion globally in 2024, a 300% growth over the last three years. This year’s 50 Most Marketable Athlete list from SportsPro included 22 women with legendary Simone Biles as number No. 1, and influential athletes Caitlin Clark, Rebeca Andrade, and Ilona Maher in the Top 8.

This is what happens when we invest financially, physically and emotionally in women's sports and the fans of women’s sports.

Imagine what we can build together.

In community,

Nicole Neumiller

WUL Executive Director

Nicole Neumiller Appointed WUL Executive Director

[June 13, 2024] - The Western Ultimate League (WUL) proudly announces the appointment of Nicole Neumiller as its new Executive Director. Neumiller is a seasoned director specializing in program management and design, with leadership roles throughout the West Coast. Known for transforming organizational culture and fostering sustainable communities, Neumiller has supported early-stage and established non-profits, for-profits, and public schools.

With over 20 years of ultimate experience, Neumiller (she/they) is a respected player, organizer, and coach. They have coached since 2009, in all gender divisions from elementary to masters level, including club and youth nationals. Neumiller’s leadership extends beyond coaching; she has served with organizations such as the Ultimate Hall of Fame, the California Ultimate Association, and was the founding President of the Bay Area Disc Association's Girls Advisory Board.

“We're in an exciting time for women and non-binary athletes in professional sports,” said Neumiller, “and our league is right in the middle. I'm committed to moving forward in a way that stays true to our values and ensures our success in the long run. Ultimate stole my heart over 20 years ago, and I never imagined it would become such a big part of my life. It's a familiar story for many fans and players. I can't wait to open the doors for more people to fall in love, or rediscover their love, for this vibrant community. Looking ahead, our goal is to keep shining a spotlight on professional Ultimate with women and non-binary players, while also giving teams and players more resources to thrive.”

The WUL expresses its sincere gratitude to former Executive Director for the 2024 season, Megan Andrews, and wishes them success in their future endeavors.

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The Western Ultimate League was established to advance the sport of ultimate frisbee by showcasing and amplifying women and non-binary athletes. Recognizing the privilege that got us here, our mission is to: Increase accessibility, promote the visibility of underrepresented athletes, cultivate a culture of inclusion and equity, and use our influence and platform to broaden the spaces where our sport grows and develops.

Interested in becoming a sponsor or supporter of the Western Ultimate League? Contact marketing@westernultimateleague.com.

2024 Western Ultimate League Awards Winners

2024 Western Ultimate League Award Winners

The annual WUL Awards honor outstanding players and coaching staff who have made significant contributions to the league and their teams. Each nominee exemplifies excellence in their respective roles and was honored with an awards ceremony during Championship Weekend.

Most Valuable Player - Abby Thorpe

Abby Thorpe lead the league in goals with 23 goals — 10 more than any other player. Thorpe’s 23 goals not only led the league by 10, they were the second most in a single season. On her team, she was 5th in assists, 2nd in blocks, and 1st in receiving yards. Thorpe's +/- of 28.5 led the league by 5. Her 32.4 Offensive Impact Score (OIS) was 1st in the league and she had the highest block rate in the league, averaging nearly 1 block every 11 defensive possessions. Thorpe was also nominated for Player of the Week 3 times, and won the award in Week 5 while tying the single-game record for goals with 7 and setting the single-game record for receiving yards with 406.

Offensive Player of the Year - Ari Nelson

Nelson’s ability to accurately push the disc down the field took Colorado’s offense to the next level. Their 23 assists led the league and tied for the most assists in a single season. Nelson's 2007 throwing yards were second in the league, and of the seven players who threw for more than 1500 yards, Nelson had 5 fewer throwing errors than anyone else. Nelson completed 70% of their hucks and their 16 huck completions were the most in the league by 5. Colorado’s O-line scored on just 23% of their possessions without Nelson on the field, compared to 50% of possessions with Nelson. They were nominated for Player of the Week twice and finished the season with the highest Offensive Impact Score among handlers in the league.

Defensive Player of the Year - Dena Elimelech

Dena Elimelech ranked 1st in the league for blocks with 15, and ranked 1st in blocks per game, averaging 2.5 blocks per game. She has recorded at least 1 block in every game this season and has now recorded at least 1 block in 20 of her 22 career games. Her 7 blocks against Bay Area in Week 6 tied the single-game league record. She won the Player of the Week award in Week 2, recording 2 blocks in addition to setting a single-game record at the time of 373 Receiving Yards. Her 46 career blocks make her WUL’s all-time leader (with 8 more than any other player), and her teammates described her as the most important and impactful player for San Diego this season.

Breakout Player of the Year - Abbie Davis

Abbie Davis had a phenomenal first season in the WUL. She was 2nd in the league in blocks with 13, and 1st among qualifying players with a Block Rate of 13.1. On her team, she tied for 2nd in goals, 1st in blocks, and 4th in receiving yards. Most impressively, Davis recorded at least two blocks in every game this season — the longest such streak to start a career and tied for the longest ever. She averaged 2.3 goals and 194 receiving yards per game since moving to O-line in her fourth game. Davis also won Player of the Week for her outstanding performance in Week 9, scoring 5 goals, recording 2 blocks and 274 total yards.

Coaching Staff of the Year - Bay Area Falcons

Head Coach Manisha Daryani and Assistant Coaches Shaun Webb, Candice Tse and Byron Liu

The Bay Area Falcons' success this season is in no small part because of their excellent coaching staff. The Falcons finished with a 5-1 record and a +32 goal differential. No other team in the league has a goal differential above 1. During the regular season, they ranked 1st in Hold Percentage, Break Percentage, Defensive Efficiency, Completion Rate, Blocks, and Huck Completion rates. In Week 8, the Falcons tied a league record in Week 8 with 20 different players scoring or throwing an assist. On the season, Falcons had 29 different players score a goal (a league record), 26 players throw and assist and 28 players record a block (a league record).

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Check out the entire list of Award Finalists here.

League Update May 2024

May 30, 2024

Dear WUL Community,

What an exciting close to the regular season! While I’m eager to see Bay Area Falcons, Colorado Alpenglow, San Diego Super Bloom, and Utah Wild compete for the WUL Championship, I also want to show appreciation for Seattle Tempest and Arizona Sidewinders on a solid season full of competitive games and high level ultimate. All six teams contributed to an unforgettable third season of the WUL.

We have an incredible final weekend coming your way at Pinnacle Athletic Complex in Thornton, CO and whether you’re joining us in person or at a team watch party, all live streams of the games will continue to be free and available to all! 

Saturday, June 1

Semifinal #1: Bay Area Falcons vs Utah Wild, 1pm PT // 2pm MT

Semifinal #2: Colorado Alpenglow vs San Diego Super Bloom, 4pm PT // 5pm MT

Sunday, June 2

3rd Place Game: TBD, 10am PT // 11am MT

Championship Game: TBD, 1pm PT // 2pm MT

I do want to share that after Champ Weekend comes to a close, I will be stepping down as the WUL’s Executive Director. I accepted this role last year at a time when the league was in transition, and I’m pleased to report that my efforts on being a stabilizing force and investing in the areas where we needed the most support appear to be paying off.  I’m so proud to see what our league has accomplished this year and to know that we are in a position of strength moving forward.

However, my personal and professional bandwidth has recently shifted significantly as I’ve been offered a new job opportunity, and it is with a heavy heart that I hand the reins off to someone new.  I’m so impressed to see the progress this league has made in locating a new Executive Director, and an announcement will be made in the coming weeks as to my successor. 

I have marveled at the commitment and hard work of so many players, coaches, ownership groups, investors, and volunteers who make this league happen. It is no small feat to launch a professional sports league, nor the teams within it. It is the spirit and strength of our community that sustains the Western Ultimate League as it wraps up its third season this weekend.

The mission and vision of this league is unlike anything we’ve seen in professional sports and I see a bright future for us. If you too would like to see this league thrive, consider a donation or ask your local team how you can support their efforts. The WUL will always be driven by the power of our collective community. 

I am grateful for this opportunity and for the personal relationships I’ve formed with so many of you who are part of this league. See you out on the field!

Cheers,

Megan Andrews

Executive Director

Megan Andrews

WUL Executive Director

2024 Western Ultimate League Award Finalists

2024 Western Ultimate League Award Finalists

The annual WUL Awards honor outstanding players and coaching staff who have made significant contributions to the league and their teams. Each nominee exemplifies excellence in their respective roles. We invite you to join us in celebrating their achievements! Winners will be announced onsite throughout Championship Weekend.

2024 Most Valuable Player

Abby Thorpe - Colorado Alpenglow

Brooke Stanislawski - Utah Wild

Chip Chang - Arizona Sidewinders

Kaela Helton - San Diego Super Bloom

Kelli Iwamoto - San Diego Super Bloom

2024 Offensive Player of the Year

Ari Nelson - Colorado Alpenglow

Cheryl Hsu - Seattle Tempest

Han Chen - Bay Area Falcons

LP Aragon - Arizona Sidewinders

Paige Applegate - Arizona Sidewinders

2024 Defensive Player of the Year

Abbie Davis - Utah Wild

Allysha Dixon - Colorado Alpenglow

Blaise Sevier - Colorado Alpenglow

Cynthia Thomas - Arizona Sidewinders

Dena Elimelech - San Diego Super Bloom

2024 Breakout Player of the Year

Abbie Davis - Utah Wild

Blaise Sevier - Colorado Alpenglow

Lauren Pisani - Arizona Sidewinders

Margo Donahue - Bay Area Falcons

Merideth Byl - San Diego Super Bloom

2024 Coaching Staff of the Year

Arizona Sidewinders

Bay Area Falcons

Colorado Alpenglow

San Diego Super Bloom

Seattle Tempest

UtahWild

2024 Standings Tiebreakers

Ahead of the final weekend of the regular season, the WUL publishes our tiebreakers, unchanged from the 2023 season.

The 2024 WUL schedule returns to traditional home vs away games, keeping our two conference system developed in 2023: Northwest & Southwest. Each team plays every in conference team twice and plays two out of conference teams during the regular season.  The top two teams in each conference will go to Championship Weekend.

Northwest Conference Teams: Colorado, Seattle, and Utah
Southwest Conference Teams: Arizona, Bay Area, and San Diego 

All games (in and out of conference) are weighted the same and in the event of a tie, the following tie breaks will apply:

1. Win/Loss record overall

2. Head to Head record, between tied teams

3. Point Differential, between tied teams

4. Point Differential, amongst common opponents

5. Point Differential, full season

6. Coin flip

To keep up with all the exciting action, subscribe to our YouTube Channel, and keep an eye on our regularly updated Schedule & Standings page.

WUL Announces Championship Weekend in Colorado!

April 5, 2024

Dear WUL Community,

We are thrilled to announce that Colorado Alpenglow will be hosting the WUL’s 2024 Championship Weekend, taking place June 1-2 in Thornton, CO. The top two teams from each conference will qualify for a shot at the title.

In just its second season in the WUL, Alpenglow has established itself as a powerhouse both on and off the field. From throwing their very first pull last season in Utah, to scoring the league’s first point of our 2024 season in their home venue, we have been impressed with the diligence of their managers and owners, and the community they’ve built within the greater Denver area (and beyond!). We can’t wait for all of you to experience some of that high-altitude magic along with us in June.

The schedule features two semi-final matchups on Saturday, followed by the 3rd Place Game and Championship game on Sunday.

Saturday, June 1

1pm PT // 2pm MT - Semi-final Game 1

4pm PT // 5pm MT - Semi-final Game 2

Sunday, June 2

10am PT // 11am MT - 3rd Place Game

1pm PT // 2pm MT - Championship Game

To purchase tickets for the games, visit the Alpenglow website. For general inquiries about the weekend, please email info@coloradoalpenglow.com

Travel & Logistics

Thornton is located about 30 minutes north of Denver proper, and 30 minutes west of the Denver International Airport. The venue is Alpenglow’s home venue, the Pinnacle Athletic Complex, accessible via car with ample parking, and via bus. Of note, the US Women’s National Team (soccer) will be playing a game vs South Korea on Saturday, June 1 at 2pm in Commerce City, CO which is about 13 miles southwest of the airport. Please plan accordingly by checking traffic conditions and allowing extra commute time on Saturday.

WUL Releases Third Edition Rulebook for 2024 Season

March 21, 2024

The Western Ultimate League released the third edition rulebook to be applied for the 2024 season. 

There were no major changes to the ruleset. Any changes that were made were to add clarity to verbiage. 

Other Time Stoppages: 

• Clarified that the clock stops in the last two minutes of play when any call is made, when the disc becomes out-of-bounds, or when an in-bounds disc comes to rest completely in the end zone.

• Clarified that if time expires during or immediately after a call, the team that has possession following the call shall have one possession. 

Time Violations Between Points: Clarified that Observers may issue a technical violation to coaches and non-players that do not vacate the field prior to signaling readiness or upon the pull. As specified in the USAU Misconduct System, more than two technical violations will result in a Misconduct Penalty.

Timeouts: 

• Clarified that in the event a team calls a timeout but does not have a timeout, play stops and the marker shall resume the stall count with the number last uttered before the call plus three (3). If this results in a stall count of seven or above, this is a turnover.

• Clarified that upon a change of possession in the central zone, the coach of the team that is now on offense can only call a timeout once a player on said team has physical possession of the disc.

Stall Counting: Clarified in the event of a retracted defensive call, the stall shall resume at stall 1.   

Movement After Calls (Not Applicable to Resolved Instant Referral Calls or Timeouts):

• Re-named this process to “pre-check” so as to minimize confusion with the 10 second and 20 second pre-stall. 

• Clarified that if a pre-check occurs when the disc is in possession of a player in the end zone, during the pre-check period the thrower may move to the spot on the end zone line where the disc is to be put into play. 

• Clarified that a pre-check is used when an injury substitutions occurs while a team is in possession of the disc and a pre-stall has not commenced

Rosters: Gameday roster: 22 players max, 17 players minimum. 

Special Thanks to Manisha Daryani, Qxhna Titcomb, Remy Schor, Brian Bradburn, Janna Hamaker, Kate Monforti, Mike Ferguson, and Wally Kwong for their feedback and assistance in creating the Third Edition.

March Means One Thing - Opening Weekend!

March 11, 2024

Dear WUL Community,

As we welcome March, we can feel the excitement building for our 2024 season!

Before we get to that, we’d like to take a moment to thank all of you who participated in our Be A Megafan sale. You all collectively generated just shy of $100,000 in revenue through player jersey sales, and another $500+ in donations to the league. Your financial support is a huge reason why the league is still here today, so thank you again for showing up for our players and our teams.

We’re now just two weeks away from Opening Weekend, which will feature three games and a chance to see all six WUL teams in action: 

3/23: Arizona Sidewinders @ Colorado Alpenglow, 1pm PT
3/23: Bay Area Falcons @ Utah Wild, 4pm PT
3/23: San Diego Super Bloom @ Seattle Tempest, 5pm PT

Can’t make it in person? We will once again be streaming all WUL games free of charge on our WUL YouTube channel. Here’s a link to our full season schedule – mark your calendars now!

There’s something special about seeing this season take shape, and experiencing all the time, energy, and effort that goes into making this league what it is. In January, we welcomed three new At-Large Board Members – Brenda Stevens, Kalene Morozumi, and Karen Ko. Each brings their own experience in the sport, along with unique backgrounds and perspectives that will contribute to the growth of our league. They’ve all jumped into their Committee assignments and Task Forces with ease, and we look forward to the impact they’ll have on our Board. You can see our full leadership team here.

In addition to welcoming these new Board Members, I’ve been keenly aware of all the momentum and success we’re seeing across the women’s sports landscape. The Professional Women’s Hockey League rang in the New Year setting attendance records across the US and Canada, and the NWSL kicks off this month having just landed their largest broadcast deal to date. Caitlin Clark is selling out every stadium the Iowa Women’s Basketball team travels to, and we have March Madness, the WNBA Draft, and the WNBA season just around the corner. 

Just over a year ago, The Sports Bra in Portland hadn’t even opened yet. Now, we see women’s sports bars in Seattle & Minneapolis, and coming soon to Long Beach, New York City, and even the United Kingdom. 

This is the spirit and the energy that carries us into our 2024 season. Our teams are clear-eyed and focused, ready to bring you another successful season showcasing our unbelievably talented female-matching and non-binary players across the league.

We can’t wait to see you out on the field!

Megan Andrews

WUL Executive Director

League Update December 2023

December 5, 2023

Dear WUL Community,

Earlier today, the Los Angeles Astra announced their departure from the Western Ultimate League. This decision came after many hard conversations between the LA Astra ownership group and the WUL leadership team.

Ultimate is a unique sport with a rich history and boundless potential. Our sport encompasses a vast and diverse group of players at every level – from youth to grand masters – and we take pride in the fact that we’ve created opportunities for every type of athlete. Our robust college and club communities have propelled our sport for decades and fostered incredible competition along the way. In the grand scheme of things, professional ultimate is actually the “new kid on the block”, particularly for women and non-binary players.

When the WUL formed in 2019, we had a strong vision for what the future of ultimate could be. We imagined a world where these extraordinary athletes, from every corner of our sport, could showcase their talents on a professional stage. Our inaugural season in 2022 included seven teams across five states in the Western U.S, supported by unique ownership groups who were willing to take the leap and invest in this sport and this community alongside us.

As with any new venture, the early days are filled with risk and uncertainty. The owners in our league have all committed immense resources and energy into the teams and have shaped the WUL into what it is today. The LA Astra ownership group has determined that their great experiment into professional ultimate for women and non-binary players may need to be reimagined. They have learned important lessons, and they are working to align their local community around future opportunities to support a team in a more sustainable way.

Their departure from the 2024 season is, in many ways, part of the reality of new sports leagues. They’ve made the decision that was right for them, and that reflects their commitment to building a strong and viable organization down the road. We encourage the LA community to reach out to Astra leadership and ask about how they can support and stay involved during this time.

The WUL is excited about a competitive 2024 season ahead, and we look forward to continuing to build our fan base across the country. We’ll be releasing our schedule very soon, so be sure to follow your favorite teams as they roll out ticket sales, new merch, rosters, and pre-season announcements!

Megan Andrews

WUL Executive Director

League Update October 2023

October 27, 2023

Dear WUL Community,

As we prepare for the upcoming 2024 season, we need to announce a significant change to our league's composition.

Oregon Onyx will not be returning as a participating team in the Western Ultimate League for the 2024 season. The WUL Board has voted Onyx’s ownership group - Pearl Sports Group - ineligible to operate a team.

Oregon Onyx has been a valued member of our organization, contributing to the growth and competitiveness of our sport and our league. We would like to express our gratitude to the players, coaches, staff and the many supporters of Oregon Onyx for their dedication and commitment.

We are hopeful new ownership will come together in the future to bring a WUL team back to Oregon.

The seven remaining teams participating in the upcoming season are committed to promoting the growth of our sport and providing a platform to showcase and amplify women and non-binary athletes.

We appreciate your support and look forward to a successful and memorable 2024 season!

Thank you for being part of our continued success.

Megan Andrews

WUL Executive Director

Introducing Megan Andrews as the New Executive Director of the Western Ultimate League

[June 28, 2023] - The Western Ultimate League (WUL) proudly announces the appointment of Megan Andrews as its new Executive Director. Andrews, based in the Bay Area, brings a wealth of experience and a deep passion for advancing women's sports and promoting gender inclusivity within the ultimate community.

As a leader in the sports industry, Andrews has demonstrated a strong commitment to fostering opportunities for female and non-binary athletes. Their appointment as Executive Director marks a significant milestone for the WUL, solidifying its dedication to empowering women in the sport.

"In just two seasons, the WUL has quickly established itself as a powerful league, creating an opportunity for high-level competition that showcases the enormous talent of female and non-binary athletes in our sport," says Andrews. "The athletes, owners, league leadership, and fans have all been a part of this historic moment together -- what a huge accomplishment!"

 Recognizing the undeniable momentum behind women's sports, Andrews believes there has never been a better time to invest in these exceptional athletes and emerging leagues.

In light of this transition, the WUL expresses its sincere gratitude to former Executive Director and WUL Founder, Felicia Yang. Yang played a pivotal role in shaping the league and fostering its growth during her tenure. Her visionary leadership and unwavering dedication have been instrumental in establishing the WUL as an undeniable force in the world of ultimate.

"I am so appreciative for what this organization has accomplished," says Yang. "What started as 3 ad hoc teams in the 2019 West Coast Women's Ultimate showcase series, to a delayed inaugural season when the world shut down due to COVID, to where we are here today - 8 teams in 6 states - it has been incredible to watch our sport grow and see our communities rally around our teams. I am deeply grateful for the support the teams, league, and I personally, have received during my tenure as Executive Director. From the bottom of my heart - thank you."

Yang's leadership laid the foundation for the Western Ultimate League, and the WUL looks forward to having Megan Andrews  continue to propel the league forward into 2024 and beyond.

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The Western Ultimate League was established to advance the sport of ultimate frisbee by showcasing and amplifying women and non-binary athletes. Recognizing the privilege that got us here, our mission is to: Increase accessibility, promote the visibility of underrepresented athletes, cultivate a culture of inclusion and equity, and use our influence and platform to broaden the spaces where our sport grows and develops.

Interested in becoming a sponsor or supporter of the Western Ultimate League? Contact marketing@westernultimateleague.com.

2023 League Award Winners Announced

The 2023 Western Ultimate League Awards were announced live at the conclusion of game one of semi-finals on Saturday, June 3rd in Seattle, Washington. Congratulations to all of our winners!

COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR

San Diego led the league in Offensive Efficiency and was second in Defensive Efficiency this season.

Congratulations to the coaching staff of the San Diego Super Bloom, led by Head Coach Angela Wells, with Assistant Coaches:

• Benjamin Eto

• Alisha Stoun

• Jonathan Helton

• Carlos Ruiz

• Shar Stuht

• Henry Argetsinger

• Jeremy Cho

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DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Congratulations to Molly Robbins of the Utah Wild!

On her way to leading the league in blocks, Robbins was one of two players to record a block in all eight games. Any way you look at it, Robbins got blocks. She led the league in blocks, led the league in blocks per game, and was fourth in block rate among qualifying players - the only player to be top-5 in each of those categories.

Finalists for Defensive Player of the Year Were:

• Avalon Igawa - LOS ANGELES ASTRA

• Dena Elimelech - SAN DIEGO SUPER BLOOM

• Kristen Pojunis - SAN DIEGO SUPER BLOOM

• Molly Robbins - UTAH WILD

• Rory Veldman - COLORADO ALPENGLOW

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OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Congratulations to Paige Kercher of the Utah Wild!

Kercher’s 3970 total yards led the league and were over 1,000 more than the next-highest total. She also tied for the league lead with 23 assists. Kercher led the league with 496 yards per game - almost 100 more than second place. Among handlers, she was first in usage and points played and fourth in offensive impact score, effective yards per turnover, and receiving yards per possession.

Finalists for Offensive Player of the Year Were:

• Alex Diaz - SAN DIEGO SUPER BLOOM

• Chip Chang - ARIZONA SIDEWINDERS

• Maggie O'Connor - LOS ANGELES ASTRA

• Paige Applegate - ARIZONA SIDEWINDERS

• Paige Kercher - UTAH WILD

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BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Congratulations to Kez Gesell of the Arizona Sidewinders!

In her first WUL season, Gesell recorded 15 goals and 9 blocks and led her team with 1319 receiving yards. Gesell was her team’s fourth most-played player over the course of the season, playing in 44% of Arizona’s points. She was second on the team in goal rate, scoring a goal on 8.4% of the offensive possessions she played, and second in yards per reception, gaining an average of 12.4 yards on every catch.

Finalists for Breakout Player of the Year Were:

• Abby Thorpe - COLORADO ALPENGLOW

• Blair Messner - SAN DIEGO SUPER BLOOM

• Kez Gesell - ARIZONA SIDEWINDERS

• Molly Robbins - UTAH WILD

• Raina Kamrat - OREGON ONYX

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MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

Congratulations to Kaela Helton of the San Diego Super Bloom!

Helton was the only player in the league to record at least 20 goals and 20 assists, and she finished third in the league in total yards while recording 13 blocks. Helton finished third in the league in goals per game, third in assists per game, eighth in blocks per game, 15th in throwing yards per game, and fifth in receiving yards per game - the only player to finish in the top 25 in each category.

Finalists for Breakout Player of the Year Were:

• Abby Thorpe - COLORADO ALPENGLOW

• Jade McLaughlin- COLORADO ALPENGLOW

• Kaela Helton - SAN DIEGO SUPER BLOOM

• Kaitlyn Weaver - LOS ANGELES ASTRA

• Paige Kercher - UTAH WILD

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TRAILBLAZER AWARD

The trailblazer award recognizes someone who has put their heart and soul into the league. Their consistent investment in the sport of ultimate and the Western Ultimate League has made us all better players and people.

The winner of the Trailblazer Award has devoted the past three years to the Western Ultimate League. Without Felicia, the Western Ultimate League wouldn’t exist.

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AWARD CRITERIA

For DPOTY, OPOTY, and MVP, players were ranked according to the following metrics and those rankings were aggregated to produce an overall ranking. The top 21 players were then nominated given the following constraints:

• At least two players from each team

• No more than four players from each team

• Players must have played in at least five games

Finalists were determined through voting by WUL Players, Coaches, Staff, and members of the media.

Most Valuable Player Criteria

• Points Played %

• Usage

• Offensive Impact Score

• Effective Yards Per Turnover

• Block Rate

• Relative Offensive Efficiency

• Relative Defensive Efficiency

Offensive Player of the Year Criteria

• Offensive Points Played %

• Usage

• Offensive Impact Score

• Effective Yards Per Turnover

• Relative Offensive Efficiency

Defensive Most Valuable Player Criteria

• Defensive Points Played %

• Block Rate

• Relative Defensive Efficiency

2023 WUL Championship Weekend Fantasy Challenge

May 25th, 2023

Are you confident you can predict the top performers at Championship Weekend? Do you want to win a miniature trophy to showcase your prognosticating acumen? If you answered yes, we’ve got the game for you. The WUL fantasy challenge is back!

This year, we’re mixing things up. You can submit an entry to THE fantasy game where you compete against everyone else for massive bragging rights (plus a petite trophy and the right to vote for the Fan Favorite player award), or you can hold a league draft with your closest WUL MegaFriends and submit your rosters for scoring and safekeeping. We even created this sheet so you can keep track of who’s still available on the board.

The link to the form is here: LINK

Make sure to submit your rosters before 2 pm PT on June 3rd.

The rules are simple: pick eight players, set a captain, get points.

Scoring

• Goals: 1 pt 

• Assists: 1 pt

• Blocks: 2 pt 

• Throwing Yards: 1 point / 100 yards 

• Receiving Yards: 1 point / 100 yards

• Turnovers: -1 point

The points for your captain are doubled.

Happy fantasizing!

Disclaimers: (a) This contest will be open until the first pull of the first game of the stated week's play, (b) This contest is operated by WUL; players, coaches and other paid team staff are not eligible to win prizes, (c) Winners will be contacted by email and prizes will be delivered within a reasonable time frame, (e) WUL reserves the right to make updates, clarifications, and changes to the rules of this competition at any time, (f) Multiple entries by the same person are not permitted for the Fantasy Challenge. If you enter more than once, the last entry will be considered final, (g) Entries on behalf of other people are not permitted. Entries must be submitted by the person who is interested in entering the contest, (h) WUL reserves the right to contact individuals by email to verify the genuineness of the contest submission.

League Update April 2023

Apr 3, 2023

WUL community,

I can’t believe we are almost halfway through our second season!  We’ve already had plenty of exciting matchups, and it looks like who will qualify for Championship Weekend will come down to the wire!  As always, you can catch the replays of any of our games on our YouTube channel.  These games are available free of charge thanks to the generous donations you made to our GoFundMe last year.

We also need to take a moment and offer our gratitude for your support of our Be A Megafan (BAM) jersey fundraiser.  With over 1000 jerseys purchased, our teams and league brought in $122K+ in total revenue. This money helps the teams and league cover the cost of travel and gameday operations. Breakmark has been an invaluable partner in advancing the visibility of this league and currently is working tirelessly to deliver these one-of-a-kind jerseys to you and others around the country. You will see them in your mailbox soon!

If you missed a chance at getting one of the BAM jerseys, no worries! You can still represent your favorite teams and players with Official Replica apparel by visiting the Breakmark WUL Store and customizing your favorite gear. Also, I hope you’ve been enjoying the Breakmark Breakdown videos on our social media channels which highlight the unique features on each teams’ jerseys.

As we near the halfway mark of our season, I want to spotlight the incredible work being done by our stats team. If you haven’t yet checked out our new stats dashboard – which has an array of detailed search and filter functionalities – you are missing out!  After every weekend of games, our stats team works diligently to extract some of the most advanced stat metrics available in the game today, and each week we feature these stats in our social media updates.  Have a question about the stats? Just ask WULinsider on Twitter @WULinsider! Be sure to follow along so you’ll be ready for our Fan Fantasy Contest for Championship Weekend!

Speaking of Championship Weekend, the event will take place in Seattle on June 3-4, 2023 at Memorial Stadium.  We are thrilled to announce that we will, once again, feature an all women and non-binary observer crew and livestream commentators. It is going to be an incredible event, and you can get your tickets here!
Thanks for continuing to support our league and the incredible performances of our athletes. I hope that you find your way to a game soon! Ticket information for ALL games can be found on our website.

Felicia Yang 

WUL Executive Director

2023 Standings Tiebreakers Announced

The WUL announced 2023 standings tiebreaker procedures today, in advance of our season opening games to be played on Saturday, March 11, 2023.

The 2023 WUL schedule is a hybrid of traditional home vs away games intermixed with weekend-long special events. With the addition of an eighth team in 2023, we have also created two conferences: Northwest & Southwest. Each team will play every in conference team twice and play two out of conference teams during the regular season.  The top two teams in each conference will go to Championship Weekend.

Northwest Conference Teams: Colorado, Oregon, Seattle, and Utah
Southwest Conference Teams: Arizona, Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco 

All games (in and out of conference) are weighted the same and in the event of a tie, the following tie breaks will apply:

1. Win/Loss record overall

2. Head to Head record, between tied teams

3. Point Differential, between tied teams

4. Point Differential, amongst common opponents

5. Point Differential, full season

6. Coin flip

To keep up with all the exciting action, subscribe to our YouTube Channel, and keep an eye on our regularly updated Schedule & Standings page.

WUL Releases Second Edition Rulebook for 2023 Season

The Western Ultimate League released the second edition rulebook to be applied for the 2023 season.

Changes to the ruleset are minor, largely consisting of clarifications in the following sections:

• Observers: added the option to signal active calls via hand signal in addition to whistle.

• Flip: added clarification that “Teams shall defend the same end zone at the start of the first and second quarters (Q1 & Q2) and will switch for the third and fourth quarters (Q3 & Q4), as shown in the graphic below.”

• Time Prior to the Start of Each Quarter and Between Points: Added clarification to the 60 second limit, “The receiving team has up to 40 seconds to signal readiness after the previous goal was scored, but must wait a minimum of 20 seconds to signal readiness. The pulling team must release the pull within 20 seconds of the receiving team signaling readiness.”

• Other Time Stoppages: Added the following clarification, “During the last two minutes of play in each quarter (and any overtime period), if the pull lands out of bounds, the clock is stopped as soon as the disc makes contact with the out-of-bounds ground. If the pull rolls out of bounds, the clock stops as soon as the disc crosses out of bounds. Restart of the clock occurs when the disc is put back in play.“

• Time Violations Between Points: added “If a time violation occurs, the pulling team has up to 20 seconds to check the disc into play. If the time limit is exceeded by either team, a player at the location where the disc is to be put into play may self-check the disc in without acknowledgement by the opposing team.  “

• Specific Usage of Pre-Stall: Added clarification to the “Do NOT Use” column to include Overruled Pick Calls and Overruled Stall Calls.

Finally, changes were made to the timing of dangerous play submissions and petitions.

View the first edition of the WUL rule set here.

StudySoup Signs on as an WUL Official Sponsor

StudySoup is partnering with the Western Ultimate League for the 2023 season to support the WUL’s mission of increasing opportunity, resources, and visibility for women and non-binary athletes .

Founded in 2014, StudySoup provides alternative and accessible methods of learning to help students achieve their academic goals. Many of the students StudySoup supports identify as women and non-binary, and have been historically undersupported by traditional academic materials. 

StudySoup offers study materials like study guides, textbook solutions, and class notes to help student-athletes achieve their goals both on and off the field.

WUL's mission is to amplify women and non-binary athletes and together, WUL and StudySoup believe this partnership will help inspire women and non-binary college athletes to pursue their dreams in professional sports.

"StudySoup is excited to help the WUL continue its mission of inspiring and motivating female athletes who want to play ultimate frisbee at an elite level,” says Jeff Silverman, the founder of StudySoup. “We have a vision: to be the ultimate college student empowerment platform, providing all the materials that nurture students' success. We now do that by sponsoring the Western Ultimate League to help more women and non-binary players follow their dreams. We believe in gender equity, like supporting women and non-binary players as they chase their dreams and helping them break new barriers in professional sports."

See what StudySoup is all about at StudySoup.com and stay tuned for an exciting season of WUL Ultimate, kicking off on March 11, 2023!