POTY

2025 Western Ultimate League All-WUL First Team

2025 Western Ultimate League All-WUL First Team

The All-WUL teams recognize the all-around top players in the league for the 2025 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.

Abby Thorpe (CO)

Each year Abby Thorpe has played in this league, she has been nominated for Most Valuable Player (including winning both MVP and the title in 2024). Thorpe is zeroed in by her teammates even if she is not open at that time, and there is a reason for this – she will make it happen. Thorpe scored a single game record of eight goals in Colorado’s 2025 semifinal against Bay Area, demonstrating that even in their toughest matches, Thorpe is the fuel that keeps Colorado chugging forward. She ran for almost 1000 receiving yards during the 2025 regular season (playing in just 5 of 6 games), then notched an additional 600 receiving yards over Championship Weekend. She was the only player in the league with over 800 yards in both receiving and throwing yards, and one of just three players in the league to finish top five on her team in goals, assists, blocks, throwing yards, and receiving yards . Her teammates say “Abby Thorpe makes the impossible possible.”

Ari Nelson (CO)

Ari Nelson followed up on their 2024 Offensive Player of the Year campaign with a perhaps even more impressive season this year, becoming the first player to win back-to-back OPOTY awards. During the regular season, Nelson led the league in nearly every notable stat –  assists, throwing yards and total yards with 2,740 (300 more than the next highest). Those 2K total yards are also good for the third most in a single season, and the most by a player who played in less than eight games. Nelson averaged 417 throwing yards per game, but set a single game record in Week 1 with 622 throwing yards. With a league leading 20 assists and 2,506 throwing yards, Nelson has carried the  Alpenglow offense to the postseason over the past two years, and opponents have not yet figured out how to slow down their powerful arm. An opposing coach said about Ari – “I can’t get over how much of the offensive load Ari takes on for their team, they are just a force with the disc”. 

Dena Elimelech (SD)

One of the WUL’s preeminent receivers and block getters, Dena Elimelich completed yet another season in which she was a regular near the top of statistical leaderboards, finishing 2nd in the regular season in both goals and blocks. Perhaps most impressive this season was her throwing range, as she completed eight out of ten hucks, the highest completion percentage in the league among players who threw at least ten hucks. Now a 3x All-WUL First Team selection, Elimelech has been a regular on end-of-season Player of the Year awards lists as well, including a win for 2024 DPOTY. She is a force on either side of the disc with jaw dropping skies, full field hucks and unbelievable layout catches. Her teammates say “She is a game changing player on offense and defense” and her level of play throughout the 2025 season was one of the biggest factors in San Diego taking home their first championship.

Kaela Helton (SD)

The 2025 WUL MVP finally capped off a stellar pro season with a championship for San Diego Super Bloom. Helton, now a 3x MVP, has been the heart and soul of this Super Bloom team since its inception, and that was the case once again this year. Across five regular-season games, she had 772 throwing yards, 1104 receiving yards, 11 assists, 16 goals, nine blocks, and not a single receiver error – something no other player in her impact and usage stratosphere managed. Helton’s presence warped the defense towards her whenever she stepped on the field, and in doing so opened up more opportunities for her teammates than ever before. This was wonderfully exemplified in Super Bloom’s postseason run, where Helton turned in two dominant performances into San Dieg’s first-ever WUL title.

Robyn Fennig (BAY)

During our season preview, we anointed Robyn Fennig the Bay’s X-factor for the 2025 season, speculating how much control the Falcons coaching staff would hand to their prized signing. The answer was, of course, full control, which paid dividends right away as Fennig lit up the Arizona defense to the tune of 6 assists and 493 yards in her WUL debut. On the season, Fennig accumulated 2,471 yards - second in the league - and led the league with 18.7 completions above expected (the WUL’s throwing proficiency stat that measures the consistency and difficulty of a player’s completions to the average player). Her chemistry with cutters Malina Wiebe and fellow handler Han Chen grew throughout the season and played a big part in Bay Area’s semi-final victory over previously undefeated Colorado. In short, Fennig’s rookie season was incredible and her impact should only grow as she further integrates into the team in the coming years.

Rory Veldman (CO)

Every year she’s been in the league, Rory Veldman has taken big strides forward for Colorado Alpenglow. Last year, she was a critical piece in Alpenglow’s championship puzzle. This year, Veldman fully emerged as a superstar force on the best regular-season team in the league. Veldman set career highs in goals (12), receiving yards (785), throwing yards (1205), and tied her career high with 12 assists, not to mention adding six blocks for good measure. Veldman is a nightmare matchup on both sides of the disc, and forces opposing offenses and defenses to be operating at their peaks if they want to get anything done while she is around. A 2025 MVP nomination and first team All-WUL nod is the least she’s earned for breaking into the top players in the league in 2025.

Sadie Jezerski (SEA)

Months ago during the early weeks of the preseason, the WUL stats team discussed what Seattle’s floor and ceiling were this year for the 2025 season preview. And the consensus became clear very early that Tempest would go as far as Sadie Jezierski could carry them. While the season didn’t end with a title, Jezierski’s dominance on Seattle’s D-line was a huge reason they worked their way back into Championship Weekend. Jezierski led the league with a stunning 16 blocks in the regular season, to go along with 17 assists, five goals, and over 1,600 yards as the D-line anchor – and earning her the title of 2025 DPOTY. Time after time, Jezierski provided a spark on defense at a critical moment, only to turn around the throw a huge huck for a break that shifted momentum to Tempest during this 2025 season, and added another goal, four assists, and four blocks as Seattle secured third in the postseason as well.


Note: Selections were based on voting results for the 2025 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

2025 Western Ultimate League All-WUL Teams

2025 Western Ultimate League All-WUL Teams

The All-WUL teams recognize the all-around top players in the league for the 2025 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.

All-WUL First Team

Abby Thorpe - Colorado Alpenglow

Ari Nelson - Colorado Alpenglow

Dena Elimelech - San Diego Super Bloom

Kaela Helton - San Diego Super Bloom

Robyn Fennig - Bay Area Falcons

Rory Veldman - Colorado Alpenglow

Sadi Jezierski - Seattle Tempest

All-WUL Second Team

Georgia Cardosa - Bay Area Falcons

Jackie Riley - Oregon Soar

Kat Songer - Utah Wild

Kaitlyn Weaver - San Diego Super Bloom

Kelli Iwamoto - San Diego Super Bloom

Melissa Dunn - Arizona Sidewinders

Paige Kercher - Utah Wild


2025 Western Ultimate League Awards Winners

2025 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:

Kaela Helton

The league’s most decorated player, Helton delivered yet another electric season with San Diego Super Bloom. In 2025, she tallied over 1,100 receiving yards without a single receiving error—a feat unmatched by anyone else in the league, with the next closest player under 700 yards. Helton was one of only three athletes to rank top five on her team in goals, assists, blocks, throwing yards, and receiving yards—a testament to her dominance on every inch of the field. An opponent put it best: “Helton has reached another level this year.” A two-time MVP in 2022 and 2023 and a finalist in 2024, Helton now earns her third league MVP title, further solidifying her legendary status. Her Week 1 performance—11 combined goals and assists, 300+ throwing yards, 300+ receiving yards—marked her second career game with that stat line, something no other player has ever achieved even once. With career totals of 56 goals, 77 assists, and 55 blocks, Kaela Helton remains simply unstoppable.

Offensive Player of the Year - Ari Nelson

Colorado Alpenglow’s offensive engine, Ari Nelson, delivered another record-setting season in 2025—cementing their place as one of the league’s most formidable throwers. Nelson led the league in assists (20), throwing yards (2,506), and total yards (2,740), outpacing the next closest player by more than 300 yards. Averaging 417 throwing yards per game, Nelson set the single-game record in Week 1 with an astonishing 622 yards through the air. An opposing coach summed it up best: “I can’t get over how much of the offensive load Ari takes on for their team—they’re just a force with the disc.” With their unmatched field vision and cannon of an arm, Ari Nelson earns their second consecutive WUL Offensive Player of the Year title—and it’s easy to see why.

Defensive Player of the Year - Sadie Jezierski

With a league-leading 16 blocks this season, Seattle Tempest’s Sadie Jezierski proved once again that she’s one of the most disruptive forces in the game. Known for punishing opponent mistakes and instantly flipping momentum, Jezierski consistently turned defensive stops into offensive opportunities—racking up 17 assists, the second-highest in the league. Her 16 blocks not only led the WUL but also tied her for the fourth-most ever recorded in a single season. A fierce competitor and clutch playmaker, Jezierski anchored Seattle’s postseason push and elevated her game to new heights in 2025. Simply put, she was everywhere—and her impact was undeniable.

Breakout Player of the Year - Brittany Stettmeier


 Week after week, Brittany “Britto” Stettmeier delivered elite-level performances while taking on one of the heaviest offensive loads in the league. Leading all players in offensive points played, Stettmeier matched that volume with poise and efficiency—posting an impressive 91% completion rate.

Statistically, she was unmatched -- leading the league in both goals and receiving yards, with 17 goals and 1,337 receiving yards.. But it wasn’t just the numbers that stood out. Her game-saving layouts, end zone bids, and clutch resets showed a player with grit, vision, and intensity that lit up the field. Stettmeier didn’t just break out—she broke through, establishing herself as a cornerstone of the Sidewinders and a rising star in the league.

Coaching Staff of the Year - Colorado Alpenglow


Head Coach Madison "Badger" Oleson, Defensive Coach Lena Goren and Offensive Coach Thomas Echols

The Colorado Alpenglow coaching staff proved themselves as one of the most disciplined and effective units in the league. Colorado went undefeated in the regular season (6-0), led the league in goals scored and offensive efficiency, and tied for the highest point differential at +36.

Their leadership turned a talented roster into a dominant force, earning the respect of players across the league. Alpenglow athletes said it best: “They are a hardworking group that always found a way to keep pushing us forward.” This staff didn’t just coach a team—they built a culture of excellence.


WUL Award Ceremony Gallery

Photography Credit: Rodney Chen, Ultiphotos

2025 Western Ultimate League Award Finalists

2025 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 2025 Championship Weekend, June 7-8 in Oakland, CA

2025 Most Valuable Player

Dena Elimelech - San Diego Super Bloom

Robyn Fennig - Bay Area Falcons

Kaela Helton - San Diego Super Bloom

Abby Thorpe - Colorado Alpenglow

Rory Veldman - Colorado Alpenglow

2025 Offensive Player of the Year

Paige Applegate - Arizona Sidewinders

Melissa Dunn - Arizona Sidewinders

Kelli Iwamoto - San Diego Super Bloom

Ari Nelson - Colorado Alpenglow

Kat Songer - Utah Wild

2025 Defensive Player of the Year

Georgia Cardosa - Bay Area Falcons

Justine Cherwink - Utah Wild

Sadie Jezierski - Seattle Tempest

Jackie Riley - Oregon Soar

Kaitlyn Weaver - San Diego Super Bloom

2025 Breakout Player of the Year

Georgia Cardosa - Bay Area Falcons

Julia Hasbrook - Seattle Tempest

Rena Kawabata - Colorado Alpenglow

Brittany Stettmeier - Arizona Sidewinders

Noelle Takahashi - Oregon Soar

2025 Coaching Staff of the Year

Colorado Alpenglow

San Diego Super Bloom

Seattle Tempest

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!

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).


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