Western Ultimate League

The Western Ultimate League (WUL) is a professional women's ultimate league founded in 2020 currently consisting of seven teams: Arizona Sidewinders,[1] Los Angeles Astra, Oregon Onyx, San Diego Super Bloom, San Francisco Falcons, Seattle Tempest,[2] and Utah Wild.[3] The WUL's stated mission is to "promote visibility, opportunity, and equity within women's ultimate."[4]

Western Ultimate League
SportUltimate
Founded2020
Inaugural season2020
CommissionerFelicia Yang
No. of teams7
CountryUnited States
Official websitewesternultimateleague.com

While not currently a part of the Premier Ultimate League (PUL), the WUL was formed to parallel the PUL in structure and provide competition opportunities in the western portion of the United States, with an eye toward a future merger with the PUL.[5][6] The WUL shares resources and communicates closely with the PUL.[5] The WUL was also built on 2017 and 2018 women's and mixed showcase games affiliated with the American Ultimate Disc League, and a 2019 series of professional women's showcase games along the West coast, including games between Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver-based teams; and between Los Angeles and San Diego-based teams.[7][3]

The inaugural 2020 Western Ultimate League season began with tryouts in January and February 2020 with seven teams.[8] Competition, which had been set to begin in March 2020 and continue through May, was postponed[9] and then canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10][11]

In January 2021, the Portland Swifts announced they were withdrawing from the WUL, reducing the Western Ultimate League to six teams.[12]

The six remaining WUL teams first competed in December 2021 at the Winter Cup in San Diego.[13] The Utah Wild emerged victorious,[14][15] while two plays from the Winter Cup were featured by ESPN SportsCenter.[16] Just after the Winter Cup, the league announced the addition of a seventh team, the Oregon Onyx.[16]

The WUL began 2022 regular season competition in March 2022.[17]

References
  1. Hopkins, William. "NAU Frisbee stars find home with AZ Sidewinders". The Lumberjack. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  2. Hayden, Kelsey (2020-12-15). "Seattle Cascades Women's Team Changing Name to Seattle Tempest". Ultiworld. Retrieved 2022-01-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. Zagoria, Adam. "Women's Professional Ultimate Frisbee League Announces Expansion". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-05-19.
  4. "About". WESTERN ULTIMATE LEAGUE. Retrieved 2020-05-19.
  5. comments, Charlie Eisenhood in News with 0 (2019-12-05). "Western Ultimate League To Spotlight Women's Competition With Eye Towards PUL Merger". Ultiworld. Retrieved 2020-05-19.
  6. comments, Charlie Eisenhood in News with 0 (2019-12-03). "Premier Ultimate League Adding Four Teams For 2020 Season". Ultiworld. Retrieved 2020-05-19.
  7. "WestCoast Women's Pro Ultimate takes off running". SAVAGE, The Ultimate Apparel Company. Retrieved 2020-05-19.
  8. comments, Kelsey Hayden in News with 0 (2020-02-28). "Inside The Premier Ultimate League, Western Ultimate League Tryouts". Ultiworld. Retrieved 2020-05-19.
  9. Vondersmith, Jason. "Update: Portland Swifts were set to soar - before coronavirus forced season postponement". Portland Tribune. Retrieved 2020-05-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. comments, Charlie Eisenhood in News with 0 (2020-03-12). "Western Ultimate League Postpones Start of Season Due to Coronavirus Outbreak". Ultiworld. Retrieved 2020-05-19.
  11. comments, Keith Raynor in News with 0 (2020-03-16). "Opening Pull: Ultimate Halted By Global Viral Pandemic". Ultiworld. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  12. "Statement regarding the Portland Swifts— WESTERN ULTIMATE LEAGUE- Women's Professional Frisbee". WESTERN ULTIMATE LEAGUE. Retrieved 2021-01-20.
  13. "Western Ultimate League - Women's Professional Ultimate". WESTERN ULTIMATE LEAGUE. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
  14. Hayden, Kelsey; Colvett, Mags; comments, Jenna Weiner in Recap with 0 (2021-12-13). "WUL Winter Cup 2021: Day One Recap". Ultiworld. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
  15. Stephens, Edward; Rubin, Alex; Hayden, Kelsey; comments, Mags Colvett in Recap with 0 (2021-12-13). "WUL Winter Cup 2021: Day Two Recap". Ultiworld. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
  16. Hayden, Kelsey; Rubin, Alex; comments, Keith Raynor in Preview with 0 (2022-03-11). "Western Ultimate League 2022: Season Preview". Ultiworld. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
  17. comments, Keith Raynor in News with 0 (2022-03-14). "Opening Pull: WUL Kickoff, PUL Player Sponsorship". Ultiworld. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.