2026 Western Ultimate League All-WUL Second Team
The All-WUL Teams recognize the all-around top players in the league for the 2026 season. The teams were decided based on a combination of voting results for the Most Valuable Player, Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards. The top seven vote getters are recognized on the All-WUL First Team, and the next seven are recognized on the All-WUL Second Team. The players on each team are listed in alphabetical order.
Before checking out this year’s All-WUL Team honors, we recommend reviewing the WUL stats and stat definitions page to get familiar with the advanced metrics featured in the selections below.
Abbi Shilts (SD)
Abbi Shilts established themself as the focal point of San Diego Super Bloom’s attack in 2026, pairing game-breaking athleticism with consistent production to earn recognition as a 2026 MVP finalist and a spot on the All-WUL Second Team. Whether skying defenders for highlight-reel grabs or generating momentum-changing blocks, they delivered impact plays in every phase of the game.
Shilts led San Diego with 16 goals and 1,204 receiving yards while also tying for third on the team with nine blocks, showcasing the two-way versatility that made them one of the league’s most dangerous matchup problems. Their ability to attack deep space and win contested discs gave Super Bloom a constant vertical threat, while their defensive instincts regularly created possessions.
Shilts erupted in Week 1 for six goals and 271 receiving yards against Bay Area to earn WUL Player of the Week honors. It was the kind of explosive performance that became their calling card throughout the season, combining elite speed, body control, and timing to produce plays few others in the league could make.
From acrobatic catches to momentum-swinging blocks, Shilts’ remarkable athleticism elevated San Diego on both sides of the disc and made them a deserving selection to the 2026 All-WUL Second Team.
Caitlin Fitzgerald (OR)
Caitlin Fitzgerald made an immediate impact in their first season with Oregon Soar, quickly establishing themself as one of the league's most disruptive defenders. After previously competing with Portland Rising in the Premier Ultimate League (PUL), Fitzgerald brought their trademark athleticism to the WUL and wasted little time announcing their arrival.
They burst on the scene with a dominant performance in Oregon’s doubleheader in Week 3, earning Player of the Week honors for 4 goals, 3 blocks, and 273 total yards against Utah, and 2 goals, 4 assists, and 394 yards against Colorado.
They finished tied for third on the team with 1.2 blocks per game and ranked fourth on Oregon in Relative Defensive Efficiency, a reflection of just how much stronger Soar became with them on the field. But the numbers only tell part of the story. Week after week, Fitzgerald seemed to produce at least one highlight-reel layout block, turning routine possessions into momentum-shifting plays and energizing their teammates in the process.
For a player adjusting to both a new team and a new league, Fitzgerald's consistency and game-changing defensive presence made them an easy choice for the 2026 All-WUL Second Team.
Eva Bell (UT)
Utah Wild relied on 19-year-old Eva Bell to do just about everything in 2026, and they delivered every time. Identified as a pre-season X-Factor, Bell captained the offense from the handler space while seamlessly shifting into an initiating cutter role, finishing as the team's leader in assists (21), throwing yards (2,666), and total yards (3,844)—ranking seventh, third, and second in the league in those categories, respectively. They also led the entire WUL with 373 completions, added seven blocks, and finished third on the team in receiving yards.
What made Bell's season especially impressive was the consistency. Even as Utah faced difficult matchups and often found themself playing from behind, Bell remained a fixture atop the league leaderboards, dictating flow and finding her teammates downfield. As one teammate put it, "Just give Eva the ball." Whether resetting under pressure, attacking as an initiating cutter, or launching the next big throw, Bell had an answer.
That versatility—and the trust it inspired throughout the roster—made Bell one of the league's most valuable all-around playmakers and a deserving 2026 Breakout Player of the Year nomination and 2026 All-WUL Second Team selection.
Kennedy McCarthy (CO)
Kennedy McCarthy's breakout season was impossible to ignore. In their first full campaign as a major contributor for Colorado Alpenglow and the WUL, they emerged as one of the league's most dynamic two-way stars and a driving force behind the team's success, earning the honor of 2026 Breakout Player of the Year.
McCarthy stuffed the stat sheet from every angle, finishing second on Colorado with 20 goals and 10 blocks while adding 13 assists, a team-best 129 Player Efficiency Rating, and 1,957 total yards. Whether generating turns, stretching the field deep, or taking command after the disc changed hands, they consistently found ways to impact winning.
Their season was also filled with unforgettable moments. Against Seattle Tempest in Week 2, McCarthy became the first player in WUL history to record a 3-goal, 4-assist, 4-block performance, punctuated by a layout Callahan that helped earn the first of two Player of the Week honors. They later became the only player in 2026 to win the award twice after erupting for 5 goals, 3 assists, and 416 total yards in another dominant outing.
From game-breaking defensive plays to offensive takeovers, McCarthy proved they could do it all, making their selection to the 2026 All-WUL Second Team a fitting recognition of one of the season's brightest stars.
Kristen Reed (AZ)
Kristen Reed entered 2026 as Arizona's preseason Player to Watch and spent the season proving why. A finalist for 2026 Defensive Player of the Year and former Colorado Alpenglow captain and scoring stand out, Reed anchored the Sidewinders' defense while simultaneously emerging as their most dangerous deep threat.
On defense, they tied for the team lead with 11 blocks and 1.4 blocks per game while ranking third in defensive points played, consistently taking the toughest matchups and generating momentum-shifting turns. On offense, Reed was just as impactful, leading Arizona with 19 goals and 1,590 receiving yards. Their 19 scores also set a new franchise single-season record, showcasing an uncanny ability to get open when it mattered most.
Few players influenced games on both sides of the disc for Arizona as completely as Reed. From erasing possessions with timely run-through blocks to finishing scores in the end zone, they embodied the definition of a two-way star and earned a well-deserved place on the 2026 All-WUL Second Team.
Meg Manning (SEA)
Meg Manning's impact on Seattle Tempest went far beyond generating turnovers—they made sure those turnovers ended up on the scoreboard. Manning, who joined from PUL’s Raleigh Radiance, combined relentless defense with explosive counterattack offense to become one of the league's most dangerous D-line weapons, earning a nomination as 2026 Defensive Player of the Year.
They finished second on Seattle with 13 blocks, tied for fifth in the WUL in both total blocks and blocks per game (1.6), consistently disrupting opposing offenses. But once the disc changed hands, Manning transformed into a premier deep threat. Despite playing primarily defensive points, they tied for sixth in the league with 19 goals, ranked fourth with 1,712 receiving yards, and finished second in Receptions Above Expected (15.9), routinely turning defensive stops into instant scores.
Manning's ability to stretch the field culminated in a new WUL single-season record with 17 huck receptions, underscoring just how lethal they were in transition. That two-way ability played a large part in Tempest’s championship campaign and their selection for the 2026 All-WUL Second Team
Sarah Itoh (CO)
Sarah Itoh didn't just win 2026 Defensive Player of the Year—they authored one of the most dominant defensive seasons the WUL has ever seen. After transitioning into a full-time defensive role this season, Itoh became the centerpiece of Colorado Alpenglow's relentless pressure, turning routine possessions into takeaways with remarkable consistency.
They led the league with 19 blocks, tying the WUL single-season record, while also finishing second in both blocks per game (2.4) and block rate (11.9%). Every week seemed to bring another momentum-shifting play, including a five-block masterpiece against Utah that matched the highest single-game total recorded in 2026. Their anticipation, closing speed, and impeccable timing made throwing windows disappear and offensive game plans unravel.
But Itoh's value extended beyond the stat sheet. They elevated Colorado's entire defensive identity, routinely creating short-field opportunities and changing the complexion of games through sheer disruption. By pairing elite athleticism with exceptional field awareness, Itoh established themself as the league's premier defensive force and an undeniable selection for the 2026 All-WUL Second Team.
Note: Selections were based on voting results for the 2026 WUL Awards, but the views and opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and contributors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the WUL.
Contributors include:
Ben Sadis (he/him), WUL data collector and statistician
Noah Gumerman (he/him), WUL data collector and statistician
Kaetlynn Daoust (she/her), WUL Media Manager
Aly Steinfeld (she/her), WUL Marketing Director
