November League Update

November 30, 2020

WUL community,

With 2021 just around the corner, I wanted to provide you with an update about what the WUL has been working on over the last eight months, and our focuses and priorities for the new year. I have some exciting updates to share and, given the ongoing uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, some thoughts on a safe return to play.

First, the league has used our time away from the field to refine our mission and goals for the league. That process has included restructuring our board of directors, rewriting our bylaws, and creating functional committees within the board, including a DEI committee that is meant to keep diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at the forefront of the work that we are doing. We have also formalized a committee of representatives from each of our teams to ensure open channels of communication with our teams and our players.

I encourage you to visit our website to meet our new board members. They are a passionate and dedicated group of people that bring diverse institutional knowledge and conscientious perspectives that I believe will make this league successful. 

In planning for our future, the safety of our athletes remains paramount and we will not return to play unless we can assure, at a minimum, that it will be as safe as possible for all of our players and staff to participate. With the recent progress toward a COVID-19 vaccine, we remain optimistic about returning to play sometime in 2021. But, while we will rely on the recommendations of the medical experts, we will consider our athletes’ mental health, and how to ensure they are given sufficient time to properly train and prepare. We are also acutely aware of the equity concerns regarding distribution and access that will undoubtedly follow the release of any vaccine. 

Outside of navigating COVID-19, we are developing a roadmap that will enable the WUL to be sustainable and equitable for this upcoming season and beyond. We want to provide high quality entertainment for our fans and ensure that our athletes are highlighted and celebrated in the ways that they deserve. To that end, we are in the process of building a partnership with an equity consultant, are organizing more widespread outreach strategies, and are considering ways to be more intentionally inclusive of transgender and non-binary players.

It has been a long eight months away from the field but we are excited and hopeful that we will finally kick off the Western Ultimate League’s inaugural season in 2021. In the meantime, we wish all of our players, staff, fans, sponsors, and supporters a safe and happy holiday season.

Sincerely,

Felicia Yang 

WUL Board President

WUL Update on Coronavirus Impact

March 16, 2020

We at the WUL have been monitoring the COVID-19 situation and heeding the recommendations of scientific experts for the ways in which we can ensure the welfare of our fans, our players, and our communities. While it quickly became clear that delays were necessary, there still remains the question of when it might become possible to host events.

With each day we learn more about the magnitude and breadth of measures needed to contain the spread of this virus and the amount of time recommended to ensure the effectiveness of those measures. With the latest guidance from the CDC to limit gatherings of 50+ people for the next 8 weeks has come the painful realization that the WUL will be unable to implement the kind of season we had been working so fervently to bring to life. Therefore the originally scheduled 2020 season games will not take place.

We remain hopeful that we may be able to organize a series of showcase games later this year to celebrate the incredible talents of the womxn who form our rosters, but only if it becomes safe and appropriate to do so. This is in accordance with our league’s mission to create opportunity, visibility, and equity in our sport.

Changing minds and debunking stigma takes unwavering belief in ourselves and each other. To say that the formulation of this league has been a labor of love simply does not do justice to the time and efforts of the committed individuals who banded together to breathe life into the premise that womxn are worth investing in.

We are so appreciative of all the support we have received and want to reassure our fans and supporters that, in the event we cannot bring these showcase games to fruition this calendar year, we remain committed to ensuring that the WUL returns in Spring 2021.

Thank you for your understanding.

Sincerely,

Felicia Yang

Commisioner

WUL Statement on Coronavirus Impact

As a new organization, we are grateful for the support we have received and appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate this uncertain time. With the commencement of our inaugural season quickly approaching, we want to make it clear that we are prioritizing the health and safety of all involved parties, especially our players and our fans.

According to the CDC, the current immediate risk of being exposed to COVID-19 is thought to be low if individuals adhere to the recommended guidelines for prevention. However, the WUL recognizes that our regions’ various Public Health Departments and other professional sports leagues around the country have been taking a more proactive approach to COVID-19 mitigation, particularly in the context of large group events.

In consideration of the current recommendations, the WUL has decided to postpone the start of our 2020 season. Games currently scheduled for the month of March are being rescheduled for the month of May. However, we will continue to monitor the situation and may adjust our plans as circumstances evolve.

All options are being considered for the remainder of the 2020 season, including live streaming or tape delaying games without fans. We will continue to update our fans, sponsors, and vested community members as soon as possible.

Thank you again for your understanding and for your support.

99 Days of Ultimate Women: Perks of Pro

Our very own Felicia Yang wrote a post for 99 Days of Ultimate Women detailing the formation of our league. Check it out below!

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Day 2 of #99DoUW: Perks of Pro. by Felicia Yang.

One of the biggest challenges I took on this year was the formation of the West Coast Women's Ultimate professional series which comprised 4 games between Los Angeles Ninety-Nines, San Diego Wolfpack, and Seattle Cascades women's rosters. I'd like to spend some time talking about the benefits of professional ultimate from my perspective, particularly in comparison to club as the traditional format.

First and foremost, the VISIBILITY that the professional stage provides is unmatched. Having a stadium setting that's built for spectators to come see our sport makes it easier for people to come watch and enjoy our game. The announcers and stadium seating and game day experience only add to that to allow muggles, non-ultimate people, to get a taste and learn about ultimate in a welcoming environment. I found that my teammates and I were able to invite friends and family to come watch our games in ways that would not be possible in club. There, guests have to squeeze onto the sideline, fear being hit by discs or bidding players, and there's no one to explain what's going on while we are all busy playing. If we want our sport to be more watchable, there's a strong case for pro.

Another point about local communities being involved came to mind when following the Eurostars tour this year. Top tier club teams like Fury and Brute Squad posted that their Eurostars showcase game would be the ONLY opportunity to see them play locally all season. I'm betting that for a lot of the audience at those games, it was pretty incredible to see these world-class athletes in a live setting, and I expect they would love for more of those live high-caliber games to be ACCESSIBLE locally.

One more point on visibility-- the live stream. Coverage of all levels of ultimate are being covered at an unprecedented frequency. Even so, there's so much more that can be done. The benefit of pro here is that the revenue from promoting a professional level team and selling tickets and merchandise can go directly toward producing more streamed games and content to increase visibility. Companies like Ultiworld and Fulcrum and TVX are doing an amazing job already and I love being able to watch live games or video replay from distant tournaments, and adding another path to streaming more games is another benefit of pro, especially for people who may not be on club teams that tend to get featured in current filming schedules. Really it's about increasing the BREADTH of the coverage that's available.

Next point-- GAME FORMAT. 7-8 game tournament weekends are standard, and they are brutal on our bodies. They are difficult to strategize for, and the injuries that occur when we are fatigued can be extremely damaging and costly both physically, mentally, and financially. Professional ultimate offers a way to avoid that. 1 game per day. Maybe it's low efficiency if you're trying to squeeze in a bunch of games against a bunch of opponents in a short time (I do understand why club tournaments are the way they are). But it's really nice to be able to plan to be fresh for your one game, have your entire roster firing and ready to play at their highest level for a short period of time, and not be as concerned about staying fed and hydrated and healthy through an entire grueling tournament weekend. From the coaching perspective, this also allows time for more detailed film study and strategic planning against a particular opponent.

Last point, everyone's favorite. MONEY. I see this in terms of sustainability more than profitability. We know money makes the world go round, and we need it to play. In club, players pay their own way and often have to fundraise because club seasons with just 2 tournaments requiring flights can easily cost $1000+. Professional ultimate offers an avenue for that money to come from external sources rather than players own pockets. When fans pay to watch our games, when they buy our jerseys, when sponsors give us money or products because they can advertise to our crowds, they are diffusing the cost of playing at a high level. This means the things like marketing ourselves and promoting our games become an essential part of participating in a professional league. This also means that players are less limited by their socioeconomic status or financial burdens which generates more EQUITY in our sport and creates opportunity for more diverse representation. Maybe pro ultimate provides a goal to work toward, an opportunity to say, "If I can work hard and improve my game and make a professional team, I will not have to pay to play the sport I love."

My ask here is that people consider the benefits of a format that is different from what we are used to. I think professional ultimate can create opportunities for playing, visibility, and community that are distinct from club and are extremely valuable.