The bracket is live and you can cast your votes!
January 29, 2024 by Ultiworld in Awards, Opinion with 0 comments
Ultiworld’s 2023 Catch of the Year bracket is presented by Spin Ultimate; all opinions are those of the author(s). Find out how Spin can get you, and your team, looking your best this season.
One of our most popular series to begin each year, it’s time to look back at last year and let our readers decide some of the top plays of the year from 2023.
We watched many hours of game footage and asked for help from the community to hunt down the catches, grabs, yoinks and everything else. With so many players making big plays in 2023, it was too tough for us to even cut to a final 16.
This year’s voting tournament introduces two new elements, both of which are exclusive to our subscribers.
First, in our Subscriber Selection, they culled the initial nomination list down to the final sixteen (eight from MMP and eight from FMP) in this article. If you want to help decide who even makes the bracket and see all of the honorable mentions, plus get a bunch of other sweet benefits for 2024, check out our subscription plans.
We are also introducing the Subscriber Save. During the quarterfinal round, subscribers will vote to select one play on each side of the bracket to save from elimination and send to the semifinals. The semifinals will consist of three plays each.
It is time to decide the first matchups. Round 1 of voting starts now and closes on Wednesday, January 31 at noon Eastern.
Female-Matching Players
Matchup 1: Robert vs. Cheung
Pénélope Robert – Canada Women’s (WFDF U24)
Robert made this stretching layout to pull in a disc doing everything it could to outrun her grasp at U24 Worlds against Germany. Few people defeat the wind, but Robert got a catch everyone whose had a disc pop up in the breeze can appreciate.
Cheuk Yan Jane Cheung – Hong Kong Women’s (WFDF AOUGC)
Some catches are a lot more grit than grace. Cheuk Yan Jane Cheung’s multi-effort, multi-limb snag took concentration and will to make, but the outcome was special.
Catch of the Year 2023 (R1 - Matchup 1) (Results)
- Pénélope Robert
- Cheuk Yan Jane Cheung
Matchup 2: Trop vs. Robert
Claire Trop – DC Scandal (USAU Club)
The Claire Trop hype perhaps hit a fever pitch with her performance at the US Open, where she led the division in both goals and assists. This sky over a pair of Fury defenders in the final encapsulated Trop’s dominance.
Pénélope Robert – Canada Women’s (WFDF U24)
Robert had quite a turn at the World U24 Championships. Even high-paced shots could not evade her reach, as she makes this extended layout snag look routine in the back of the end zone for Team Canada against Colombia.
Catch of the Year 2023 (R1 - Matchup 2) (Results)
- Claire Trop
- Pénélope Robert
Matchup 3: Cardenas vs. Dos Santos
Manuela Cardenas – Macana (International Club)
It wouldn’t be Play of the Year without Manuela Cardenas. A two-time Block of the Year winner, this catch potentially marks her seventh play to selected for a bracket. And what an emphatic shot this sky was.
Brit Dos Santos – Canada Women’s (WFDF WBUC)
Everyone is going after the United States in international competition, and BDS landed another blow against the US in the Beach Worlds final with her trademark playmaking and athleticism.
Catch of the Year 2023 (R1 - Matchup 3) (Results)
- Manuela Cardenas
- Brit Dos Santos
Matchup 4: Soo vs. Schütz
Lindsay Soo – Raleigh Phoenix (USAU Club)
Much to the embarrassment of the Ultiworld video editor who both clipped this play and made it, Lindsay Soo’s sparkling layout grab was a full extension logo shot in the Club quarterfinals.
Lisa Schütz – Germany Women’s (WFDF U24)
The U24 Worlds matchup between Germany and Canada in the women’s division became a battle of attrition down the stretch, but the Germans emerged victorious, in no small part due to the efforts of Lisa Schütz, who tracked down this sailing huck to force universe.
Catch of the Year 2023 (R1 - Matchup 4) (Results)
- Lindsay Soo
- Lisa Schütz
Male-Matching Players
Matchup 5: Cable vs. Fairfax
Orion Cable – Boston DiG (USAU Club)
The big man makes yet another appearance in a 2023 Play of the Year bracket, fresh off his narrow Block of the Year victory. Can he run it back on the other side of the disc for this huge sky in the Club Nationals quarterfinal vs. Truck Stop?
Jacob Fairfax – Carolina Flyers (UFA)
The UFA’s unique games to time do create some dramatic moments, but it isn’t just the drama on this one. Fairfax springs above his competition with a hanging catch that makes it look as if, briefly, he can fly.
Catch of the Year 2023 (R1 - Matchup 5) (Results)
- Orion Cable
- Jacob Fairfax
Matchup 6: Burnett vs. De Marree
Justin Burnett – Emory Juice (USAU College)
The then-future-Callahan award winner made his biggest statement play on the road in California, going up and over defenders and teammates alike, positional advantages be damned.
Daan De Marree – Belgium Open (WFDF U24)
De Marree announced himself as one of Europe’s elite and did so on the world stage during the World U24 Championships. This flying catch against Team Canada was the flashiest of an impressive performance.
Catch of the Year 2023 (R1 - Matchup 6) (Results)
- Justin Burnett
- Dan De Marree
Matchup 7: Garvey vs. Henke
Harper Garvey – New York PoNY (USAU Club)
You’re not in the wrong place. This is Catch of the Year, not Throw of the Year. While Garvey may be more well known for putting up big throws, he gave his prospective receivers a little demonstration on how to do their job well.
Kyle Henke – Austin Sol (UFA)
Henke is known as a big playmaker, and he closed his playoff matchup against Carolina with signature flare. This EOQ layout came with both defensive presence and limited room.
Catch of the Year 2023 (R1 - Matchup 7) (Results)
- Harper Garvey
- Kyle Henke
Matchup 8: Abrahamsson vs. Brooks
Gavin Abrahamsson – UMass ZooDisc (USAU College)
An award-worthy rookie campaign for Gavin Abrahamsson took little time to kick off, as the freshman cutter made this spectacular catch in his first college tournament.
Tobias Brooks – Carolina Flyers (UFA)
The young star hadn’t even made his college debut when he completed this semi-pro highlight, a high and angled trailing edge grab that showed skill and springs.
Catch of the Year 2023 (R1 - Matchup 8) (Results)
- Gavin Abrahamsson
- Tobias Brooks