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

2024 All WUL Teams

2024 All WUL Teams

The All WUL teams spotlight the league's top talent, recognizing the standout players of the 2024 season. These elite teams are selected based on the voting results for the Most Valuable Player, Offensive Player of the Year, and Defensive Player of the Year awards. The top 7 vote-getters are recognized on the All WUL First Team, and the next 7 are recognized on the All WUL Second Team. Congratulations to all the incredible athletes! Check out the full list of players, listed alphabetically, and join us in celebrating their achievements!

FIRST Team

Abbie Thorpe (CO)
Brooke Stanislawski (UT)
Chip Chang (AZ)
Dena Elimelech (SD)
Han Chen (BAY)
Kaela Helton (SD)
Kelli Iwamoto (SD)

Abby Thorpe, Colorado Alpenglow

What else can be said about the MVP and league champ that hasn’t been said already? Well, “cheat code” from an opponent, “all around all-star on offense and defense” from a teammate, and “the best player we played against” from an opposing coach feel like good starting points. The goal of the game is to score more points than the other team right? Well, Thorpe scored 23 goals this season, 10 more than any other individual did. Which is also tied for 2nd most all time in a single season. She had the 2nd most receiving yards (total and per game) in the league, and was one of just 5 players with 700+ receiving and throwing yards this season. She set a new record for receiving yards in a single game, cracking the 400 yard barrier for the first time in WUL history with 406 yards against Utah. Not to mention her 7 blocks put her in the top 10 across the league as well. And when the lights were brightest, the MVP turned in 2 stellar Championship Weekend performances, going +6 in both the semifinal and championship games with 3G/2A/1B and 4G/3A/1B respectively while combining for 980 yards in both games. Across all levels of the sport, dominant downfield players are often harder to build offenses around, but to both Thorpe and Alpenglow’s credit, her involvement and dominance never looked forced. It was always in flow, with the entire team working in harmony to maximize Thorpe’s output and the team’s success.

Brooke Stanislawski, Utah Wild

A member of Utah’s vaunted offensive handler set in 2023, Stanislawski transitioned to more of a downfield role in 2024 and immediately made the most of it. In the first game of the 2024 season, she put up 4 goals, 4 assists and 3 blocks, a combination never done before in the league, and won the Player of the Week award. She finished the season with a team leading 10 goals and 15 assists, 1 of 3 players in the league to complete a season-long “double-double”, and the only player to lead their team in both categories. Looking at advanced metrics paints much the same picture: Stanislawski led the Wild in both Relative Offensive Efficiency and Relative Defensive Efficiency, again the only player in the league to lead their team in both metrics. And if stats aren’t enough, Wild players were effusive with their praise for Stanislawski as an athlete and teammate, remarking how she “brings out the best in every player she is on a line with”, “makes big plays when it matters most”, and “somehow gets better after each year.” If Stanislawski does somehow get even better in 2025, Utah’s season could end yet again in the championship game - but this time with a different outcome.

Chip Chang, Arizona Sidewinders

Last year, Chip Chang helped set a new season record with 23 assists across the 2023 regular season. This year, behind the return of LP Aragon to the Arizona Sidewinders, Chang became more of a dual threat on offense. She often started Offensive points for the Sidewinders downfield and created space for her teammates before coming into the backfield and playing more ball-dominant. Chang finished in the top 5 on the Sidewinders in goals, assists, blocks, throwing yards, and receiving yards. Chang’s teammates felt her critical impact on the Sidewinders too, saying, “she is an unbelievable teammate, captain, player - humble, wicked smart, and always pushing herself and her teammates.” The fact that she finished 2nd on the team in blocks (and top 10 in the league) is made even more impressive given that she played 6.5 times more offensive points than defensive ones. Her singular responsibility to do anything the Sidewinders needed manifested most in a 2G/2A/2B +5 performance in Arizona’s sole win of the year against (eventual runners-up) Utah, and a 3G/1A/3B Player of the Week winning performance despite a 11-10 loss to San Diego the very next game.

Dena Elimelech, San Diego Super Bloom

Dena Elimelech is the most impactful defensive player in the league. This statement alone would earn her a spot on this list, but throw in the fact that she led the league in total yards gained, receiving yards, and receiving yards per game and that makes her undeniable. The 2024 Defensive Player of the Year warped the field around her, and kept coaches up at night trying to gameplan for her. “Watching San Diego, it felt like Dena was everywhere,” was one refrain we heard from an opposing coach. Another took it even further saying, “Dena was the most important and impactful player for San Diego this season.” Her 15 blocks led the league and she racked up 7 blocks in one game against Bay Area which would’ve slotted her just into the top 10 league leaders of blocks this season had she only played that game. She led the league in points played, joined her teammate Kaela Helton as the only 2 players to go over 1,000 throwing and receiving yards, and was the only player to reach 10+ goals, assists, and blocks this year. Don’t forget she set a single game then-record for receiving yards with 373 against the eventual champion Alpenglow. The WUL’s all-time regular season leader in points played, receiving yards, and blocks only appears to be getting better.

Han Chen, Bay Area Falcons

A finalist for Offensive Player of the Year, Han Chen was a dominating handler that helped lead the Bay Area Falcons to a 5-1 record and Championship Weekend appearance. Her smooth and patient offense earned reactions such as “Han Chen might be the smoothest player in the league,” and “Han Chen has the best throws in the game” by opposing coaches and players alike. Those smooth and effortless handling skills helped her make her stamp on the league this season. Her 17 assists led the team by 9 and her 2002 total throwing yards were almost 2x as many as the next highest total, including a team-leading 1616 throwing yards. She was 3rd in the league in assists per game, 3rd in throwing yards per game, and 3rd in total yards per game for the season. She had 602 total yards in Week 1 which was the 3rd most in a game this year and the 7th most in the league’s history. That performance was among many standouts that got her nominated for Player of the Week twice during the season. She was an anchoring factor in Bay Area’s offense and one of the most dynamic players to watch in the WUL.

Kaela Helton, San Diego Super Bloom

“Kaela runs the show,” as stated by an opponent, is the perfect sentence to describe Helton’s impact on the San Diego Super Bloom. She is the most prolific offensive engine the league has ever seen and only continued her torrid output across the 2024 season. Helton almost defies positional categorization on offense, filling the ‘anything we need role’ for the Super Bloom. She played more WUL ultimate per game than anyone else this season by over 2 points per game. She averaged 4.4 assists per game in the regular season, over 0.5 more than 2nd place and an entire assist per game more than 3rd place. She led the league in total yards per game with 469, 2nd in total yards with 2344 despite only playing 5 regular season games, and was the only player to average 200+ throwing and receiving yards per game this season. And, she was the only player to finish 2024 with 1100+ throwing and receiving yards. Not to mention, she was good for over 1 block per game, too. Super Bloom was once again denied a title on Championship Weekend, but as long as Helton sticks around, they’ll be in with a chance to win.

Kelli Iwamoto, San Diego Super Bloom

A versatile handler with years of experience in the San Diego ultimate scene, Kelli Iwamoto has been an important piece of the Super Bloom puzzle over the past 2 seasons. But with 2023 throwing leader Avery Jones out due to injury after week 2, San Diego needed the always consistent and reliable Iwamoto to add a few more adjectives to her game this year - and add them she did. Described by her teammates and opponents as “dynamic”, an “engine”, and “fire”, Iwamoto increased her goals, assists, blocks, throwing yards, receiving yards, and usage from last season to this one, despite playing 2 fewer games. She made her impact in many ways, leading her team in throwing yards, ranking 4th among all handlers in the league in goals, and ranking 1st among all handlers in the league in blocks. She had the highest Relative Offensive Efficiency on Super Bloom and the 2nd highest Relative Defensive Efficiency. Whether she was running San Diego’s patented handler weave, beating her defender upline for an easy score, or laying out on defense to get the disc back, Iwamoto’s 2024 season was one to watch.

SECOND Team

Abbie Davis (UT)
Ari Nelson (CO)
Blaise Sevier (CO)
LP Aragon (AZ)
Margo Donahue (BAY)
Paige Applegate (AZ)
Sam Rodenberg (SEA)

Abbie Davis, Utah Wild

How often does a player start their 1st professional season with 2 blocks in their first game? How about 2 blocks in every game? Add in a Player of the Week-winning 5 goal, 245 receiving yard performance after a mid-season switch to O-line and you arrive at one player: Abbie Davis. The 2024 Breakout Player of the Year finished 2nd in the league in blocks, led the league in Block Rate and became the 1st player in league history to record at least 2 blocks in each of their first 6 games. She also caught the most hucks and 3rd most goals of any player on Utah and had the 3rd highest Completion % on the team. Oh, and she’s still in college. Her coaches said she was “absolutely vital to the success of the Wild this season” and it's “hard to overstate her impact”. Her teammates marveled at her talent, “intuitive cutting”, and “attitude towards the game”. She’s the most recent example of the prolific Utah youth pipeline coming into fruition, and she’s set to cause havoc to Wild opponents and dominate WUL stat-sheets for years to come.

Ari Nelson, Colorado Alpenglow

It’s hard to imagine having a better return to the WUL after a one-year hiatus than Ari Nelson did. Nelson seamlessly slid into the role of primary disc-handler on the O-line of a championship-caliber team, went out, and led them to a championship. Nelson was 1 of just 2 players to crack 2000 throwing yards in this 6-game regular season format, led the league in assists with 23, and won the 2024 Offensive Player of the Year award. Nelson’s connection with Thorpe was a revelation for the Alpenglow and the engine that powered them to a title. The real separator for Nelson was their efficiency. They finished with the least turnovers of any player in the top 10 for throwing yards this season, and every other player in the top 5 of throwing yards had at least 5 more turnovers. Aggressiveness and efficiency are the 2 forces most at odds for handlers. Nelson managed to embody both, pushing the disc downfield for an offense that loved to go deep, but remaining dependable and reliable both looking long, and in tighter, higher-pressure situations in the red zone.

Blaise Sevier, Colorado Alpenglow

After making a name for herself on the east coast, Blaise Sevier introduced herself to the Colorado ultimate scene in 2024 with a layout block in her 1st game at Pinnacle Athletic Complex. She continued making mind and physics-bending plays game after game, from more layout blocks to impossible swimming catches. While the highlights grabbed the attention of fans, her velcro-tight defense led to players and coaches voting her a finalist for both Breakout Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. A rival coach described her as “one of the most intimidating defenders I’ve seen.” She routinely took away the other team’s favorite downfield option, making the Alpenglow defense significantly better - her 11.5 Relative Defensive Efficiency was the best on Colorado and the 6th highest mark in the league. With Sevier anchoring a tenacious defensive line, Alpenglow should be well positioned to defend their WUL crown.

LP Aragon, Arizona Sidewinders

After finishing 2nd in the league in throwing yards in the inaugural 2022 season and then taking the 2023 season off to have a baby, LP Aragon was back in full force in 2024. She led her team in multiple throwing categories, ranking 1st in assists with 18 for the season (3rd in the league) and leading the league in throwing yards with 2030. She also contributed 3 goals and 4 blocks, led the league in throwing yards per game with 338, and set a league record in Relative Offensive Efficiency. A stalwart leader who has proven herself to be one of the most consistently great players and throwers in the WUL, Aragon has been an integral part of the Sidewinder offense each season she has played. Her chemistry with Arizona’s array of fast receivers was on full display in a barn-burning 20-18 loss to San Diego in week 5, in which she threw for a then-record 551 yards and 5 assists. If she can replicate the performance a few more times next year, the Sidewinders might find themselves back at Championship Weekend for the first time since 2022.

Margo Donahue, Bay Area Falcons

On defenses that are as deep and well-coached as Bay Area’s was this season, it can be hard to identify a player that stands out. It wasn’t hard for Margo Donahue’s teammates and opponents, who voted her a Breakout Player of the Year finalist, and lauded her impact in her 1st season out of college. That impact was summed up in the final point of Bay Area’s statement win against San Diego in week 6. With the game decided, and 1 point of goal difference all that hung in the balance, Donahue refused to let up her intensity - she executed one of her trademark inside-out blading backhand pulls, sprinted down to cover 2x WUL MVP Kaela Helton and knocked down the centering pass. She then immediately sprinted deep and was responsible for ~30 yards of offense as the Falcons scored to end the game. On a defense that set league records in Defensive Efficiency and Break %, Donahue played 55% of Bay Area’s defensive points, led the team in blocks, had the 2nd most receiving yards, and pulled every point she was on. She’s the heart and soul of the Falcons’ defense, and, as one of her opponents put it simply: “a dawg”.

Paige Applegate, Arizona Sidewinders

Paige Applegate joined the Arizona Sidewinders in 2023 and quickly made a name for herself as one of the premier offensive stalwarts in the league. This season was no different as the chemistry with LP Aragon and Chip Chang complimented Applegate’s abilities on the O-line for the Sidewinders. She was 2nd on the team in assists with 12 for the season and 2nd in throwing yards with 1207, and added 2 goals, 3 blocks and 212 receiving yards from the handler position. Her fantastic arsenal of break throws and composure under pressure were instrumental in the Sidewinder’s ability to create scoring chances, and the stats back it up: she maintained the 3rd highest completion percentage on Arizona while having the highest usage rate, and finished the season with the 2nd highest Relative Offensive Efficiency in the league. These stats and her offensive ability were recognized by teammates and opponents, who voted her an Offensive Player of the Year finalist. In her 2nd season in the WUL, Applegate cemented herself as an offensive powerhouse. Her ability to dominate in the handler space and dictate the rest of the O-line for the Sidewinders will be crucial in their hopes to return to Championship Weekend in 2025. 

Sam Rodenberg, Seattle Tempest

Seattle’s leading scorer over the 2022-23 seasons, Sam Rodenberg has always been a pivotal part of Tempest’s attack. However, after losing their 1st 2 games of the 2024 season, Tempest needed someone to step into a larger role, and Rodenberg answered the call. Starting in a victory over Utah in week 4, Rodenberg contributed 5 goals, 8 assists, and 920 total yards over the next 3 games, leading Seattle to 2 victories and keeping them alive in the Northwest Conference race. While maintaining her elite speed and cutting ability that has made her one of the league’s most lethal endzone threats, she started to help facilitate the Tempest offense, doubling her throws per game, while effectively pushing the disc downfield. She threw 3 hucks in that victory over Utah and completed every single one, and her accuracy and composure with the disc led to her committing just 7 turnovers all season and leading the team in Plus-Minus and Offensive Impact Score. One of the veterans of a deep Seattle talent pool, Rodenberg remains a vital piece of Tempest’s offensive puzzle and will look to lead them back to Championship Weekend in 2025.

Photographers: Rodney Chen (Ultiphotos), Sloth Jackson, Nathan Brodie, David Kocherans, Jonathan Red

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Footnotes:

1. Relative Offensive Efficiency measures the difference in a team’s offensive efficiency (% of offensive possessions that end in a goal) with a player on the field versus without that player on the field, adjusted for the proportion of offensive and defensive points the player plays.

2. Relative Defensive Efficiency measures the difference in a team’s defensive efficiency (% of defensive possessions that end in a turnover) with a player on the field versus without that player on the field, adjusted for the proportion of offensive and defensive points the player plays.

3. Offensive Impact Score is a statistic that adds yards to the traditional counting stats of goals, assists, blocks and turnovers and evaluates a player’s offensive output on a per-possession basis. A score of 10 is average while a score above 20 is exceptional. Read more about it on the WUL’s stats dashboard.

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Note: Selections were based on voting results for the 2024 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 Head of Social Media

Nicole Garnes (she/her), media contributor for the WUL

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