Quarterly League Update July 2021

July 1, 2021

WUL community,

I know you all have been anxiously awaiting the announcement of our return to play plans. After considering the extensive player and team feedback we solicited in March, and after consulting with epidemiologists regarding the evolving status of COVID restrictions, we have decided to hold our full inaugural season in 2022, from March to May. 

The full season will feature six games per team, consistent with the originally planned 2020 season. Teams are permitted to begin holding tryouts as early as October 1, 2021, and rosters will be set no later than January 31, 2022.  At the end of the regular season, a championship event between the teams with the top two records will be hosted at a location to be determined.  

In the interim, our plan is to hold a pre-season kickoff event featuring all six teams in one location, the WUL Winter Cup. We are working to secure dates and venues and for now we anticipate the weekend-long event taking place in Southern California in Winter 2021. This event will feature showcase-style games in a format to be determined and high quality video coverage that our players deserve. Please look out for additional announcements and updates soon. 

While our return to the field is a few months away, I do hope you all got a chance to watch our Open Side interview series hosted by Megan Tormey. In line with the WUL’s mission to increase visibility and access to women and nonbinary athletes in sports, we launched this series in May to help introduce our players to our fans and to allow our athletes to tell their stories about their jobs, their introductions to the sport, and other aspects of their life stories. 

Finally, I wanted to share the progress we’ve made with our equity consultant, Lunaria.  In the month of April we sent out to current and former players a team and league leadership survey so that we could assess our current practices and determine what changes need to be made. After reviewing the results, which included feedback from almost 100 athletes and nearly 30 team staff or owners, we are in the process of crafting an equity plan and policy that will become an addendum to our Bylaws.

It has certainly been a long year away from the field, and our goal is to spend the next few months ensuring that our organization, and the teams that comprise the WUL, are primed and ready to bring a quality season to our fans, sponsors and supporters. I’m so excited about what’s to come, and I want to thank our board, and our teams’ leadership, for all the hard work they are putting in to make this league possible.

Felicia Yang 

WUL Executive Director

Quarterly League Update April 2021

April 2, 2021

WUL community,

With the warmth of spring approaching, I’d like to provide an update on behalf of the WUL Board of Directors and share some of what we’ve been working on this last quarter.

First, given the recent and ongoing discussions about the use of “womxn” in reference to a group of women and non-binary people, we have decided as a league to no longer use “womxn” in any context. While we initially used this term with the intention of inclusivity, we recognize that “womxn” has held different meanings for different people, including acting as a term of exclusivity. Generally, “womxn” has served as an umbrella term that referred to a group that included cis women, trans women, and non-binary people. However, this framing separates out trans women from cis women, and lumps in non-binary people who, by definition, are not women, which makes “womxn” problematic. With that in mind, going forward we are going to use the phrase “women and non-binary” to describe the participants of our league. Additionally, we have had, and plan to continue having, active discussions about whether that phrase accurately captures all who we hope will participate in our league, since we are trying to be as inclusive as we can be for people of all marginalized gender identities.

Second, we are thrilled to announce that we have contracted with Lunaria Solutions as our external consultant in the areas of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. We have been working with Lunaria since February and have constructed a survey that is about to be sent to all of our players and team leadership/organizers. We hope to gain a deeper understanding of what equitable practices to incorporate and how to implement them moving forward. Additionally, as part of our agreement with Lunaria, we plan to leverage consultation hours available to us for our team organizers. Our goal is to use this partnership to create the most inclusive league possible and ensure that we are operating in a manner consistent with our values, including our Return to Play planning.

Third, we would like to provide an update on the WUL’s Return to Play plans. In March, we sent out a survey to the players in the league soliciting their feedback. We received substantial player engagement totaling nearly 120 responses, and an internal committee has reviewed the results as a means to understand our players’ needs and how to use their input to guide our thought process. Our decisions around returning to play are centered around public health, player safety, and equity. We continue to pay close attention to local guidelines as the situation evolves in each of our team locations, but at this point we are looking to formulate a plan to potentially return to the field in late 2021, and will update the community as soon as those plans are finalized.

Lastly, be on the lookout for an announcement about new WUL content dropping soon!

Sincerely,

Felicia Yang 

WUL Executive Director

Statement regarding the Portland Swifts

January 17, 2021

The Western Ultimate League (WUL) was born through the collaborative efforts of individual teams that believe that women and non-binary athletes in the sport of ultimate deserve to be showcased. 

There is no question that we live in an imperfect world, which is why the league has responded to the calls to ensure that our organization operates equitably. But we would be remiss not to acknowledge that individuals who are on our board, and many on the individual teams' leaderships, have already been proactive about committing to cultivating an inclusive organization and being advocates for underrepresented athletes.

While it is disappointing to learn that the Swifts wish to engage in this journey on their own, the WUL respects the choice of the Swifts to make decisions in their best interest and wishes them the best.

Sincerely,

WUL Leadership

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.