Ultiworld’s 2024 Block Of The Year Bracket (Round 1)

Round 1 to decide the 2024 Block of the Year!

February 18, 2025 by Ultiworld in Awards, Opinion

Ultiworld’s 2024 Block 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 2024. Our Subscribers narrowed down and seeded the initial nomination list to the final sixteen (eight from MMP and eight from WMP). Now it’s time for the wider public to decide which play is the best of the best.

Round 1 starts now and closes on Thursday, February 20 at noon Eastern!

 

Female-Matching Players

Matchup 1: Cárdenas vs. Fernandez

Manuela Cárdenas – Colombia Women’s (WFDF International)

Manuela Cardenas

An ever present star of the block of the year bracket, Manueala Cárdenas again makes a spectacular play with this explosive but controlled bid at the World Ultimate Championships.

Jenny Fernandez – Colombia Mixed Master’s (WFDF WMUC)

Jenny Fernandez

Timing up a reset from this far out is no easy task, but Jenny Fernandez but correctly calculated the play and flew up with two hands for a smashing knockaway around the end zone.

Matchup 2: Swinson vs. Krebs

Tessa Swinson – Misfit Ultimate (New Zealand Club)

Tessa Swinson

Tessa Swinson saaaaaaves the gaaaaaame! Watch out Dylan Freechild, this Kiwi is coming for your “best clutch block of all time” title.

Jolie Krebs – SUNY Binghamton Big Bear (USAU College)

Jolie Krebs

The darling of the D-I division, Callahan winner Jolie Krebs made big plays all season but capped off her performance with a universe point layout block and assist for the upset in pool play.

Matchup 3: Cárdenas vs. Harris

Valeria Cárdenas – Colombia Women’s (WFDF International)

Valeria Cardenas

Weather? Valeria is no defensive slouch herself, having made it to the final round of the 2023 Block of the year bracket. But this year: context counts. Valeria makes this huge play on universe point of the Colombia Women’s first ever victory over USA Women’s team. Talk about momentous.

Shayla Harris – San Francisco Fury (USAU Club)

Shayla Harris

Shayla Harris flies in for the clean yoink in this women’s club championships semifinal!

Matchup 4: Harris vs. Lesnik

Grace Maroon – UPenn Venus (USAU College)

Grace Maroon

2024 was a star turn for Grace Maroon, who made her college debut. And when doing stuff like this, it is easy to see why she will be a fan favorite. This bounding block is a beauty to behold.

Aurora Lesnik – Grut (European Club)

Aurora Lesnik

Lesnik is a huge playmaker, and this sort of thing is becoming more common for one of Europe’s best. This one came in a fantastic Windmill final, a game-saving block on game point that came while soaring through the air.

Male-Matching Players

Matchup 1: Bui vs. Hanson

Vinh Bui – Portland Rhino Salm! (USAU Club)

Vinh Bui

This is an unusual block, but from a gritty defender. Bui’s made a career going up against more renowned stars, and here outsmarts Malks, seemingly overrunning the play but detecting a chance to come up with a surprising layout.

Taylor Hanson – Boston Sprocket (USAU Club)

Taylor Hanson

A breakout player on a breakout team, Taylor Hanson brought it on defense for Sprocket in the final. And while it does take a big layout to get on this list, extra credit for the footwork on the initial reset move.

Matchup 2: Diercks vs. Tulett

Callahan Diercks – Huntsville Space Force (USAU Club)

Callahan Diercks

The people love a Callahan. Sure, it is only worth one goal, but it feels like it is worth so much more. It is all the sweeter when it is on the first throw of the point and made after a booming pull with good coverage. Oh, and the defender’s name is Callahan. It doesn’t make the play better…but does it?

Tom Tulett – Australia Open (WFDF WUC)

Tom Tulett

Tom Tulett is famed for his throwing prowess and offensive production, making him an Australian all-timer. But don’t sleep on the defense. In America, cupcakes are soft and delicious. Maybe they make them differently down under.

Matchup 3: Goff vs. Spahlholz

Nate Goff – Chicago Machine (USAU Club)

Nate Goff

This play has everything great for defense. Smarts to read to come over for help; skill to make the play deftly without a foul; explosiveness to get up and make the play after the rundown. Somehow it is Goff’s first appearance in the Play of the Year brackets.

Alexander Spahlholz – Jetset (WFDF WBUCC)

Alexander Spahlholz

The epic men’s division Beach Club World Championship had its share of shocking moments and bracket-worthy plays. Austrian Alexander Spahlholz caught massive air for this interception on the sand.

Matchup 4: Davis vs. Gordon

Micah Davis – USA Open (WFDF International)

Micah Davis

The reset is supposed to be the safety valve for the thrower. But the Colombian handler found Micah Davis all up in that protected space, like Cole finding a ghost under the blankets in The Sixth Sense. Is anywhere safe with Davis on defense?

Leo Gordon – Brown Brownian Motion (USAU Club)

Leo Gordon

This block didn’t win Brown the title, but it might have felt like it. Gordon had one of the division’s best players in disbelief as he booted this attempted throw, roared, and then won a chip.