Oregon Announces Return to Professional Women’s Ultimate; Oregon Soar to Join WUL for 2025 Season
One of seven professional teams in the Western Ultimate League, 2025 will be the inaugural year for the Oregon Soar
[PORTLAND, ORE., September 15, 2024] – The Western Ultimate League (WUL) is thrilled to announce the addition of a new team in Oregon. The Oregon Soar becomes the seventh member of the league, further strengthening the growing landscape of professional women’s ultimate frisbee across the West.
“The local community has been incredibly supportive towards our efforts to raise the level of professional ultimate in the area," says Darci Fredricks, co-owner of Soar. "We wanted to make sure there was opportunity for all elite Oregon players to participate at that level. Games are an electric atmosphere for fans and players to engage, and local fans really wanted to support a WUL team again in Oregon."
Soar will hold tryouts in November and announce its inaugural roster in early 2025, which will include talent from across the state, including Portland Metro, Eugene, and Corvallis.
Oregon joins established teams from Washington (Seattle), Utah, Arizona, Colorado (Denver), and California (Bay Area and San Diego).
“We’re thrilled to see Oregon back in the league,” said Nicole Neumiller, Executive Director of the WUL. “The Pacific Northwest consistently produces top-level athletes, and we’re excited to see Oregon take the professional field once again.”
The Oregon Soar represents a fresh chapter for women's professional ultimate in the state, with new ownership steering the team’s direction. While Oregon has seen other WUL teams take the field in the past, Soar is ready to carve out its own legacy in the league.
The new ownership team, Darci Fredricks and Bill Freeman, have a long-standing history in the ultimate community and recently purchased the Portland Nitro of the Ultimate Frisbee Association (UFA). The Oregon Soar introduction came paired with the announcement to rebrand the Portland Nitro to the Oregon Steel. Both Soar and Steel will live under the umbrella company of Oregon Ultimate Alliance (OUA) which will manage both the teams, as well as youth development platforms, fan engagement, and community relations.
For questions, please contact Darci Fredricks at contact@soarultimate.com.
Western Ultimate League was established in 2020 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 Western Ultimate League? Contact marketing@westernultimateleague.com.