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
