Round 2 to decide the 2024 Block of the Year!
February 20, 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). The wider public went all chalk through the first round! How will the rest of the bracket shake out?
Round 2 starts now and closes on Monday, February 24 at noon Eastern!
Female-Matching Players
Matchup 1: Cárdenas vs. Swinson
Manuela Cárdenas – Colombia Women’s (WFDF International)
An ever present star of the block of the year bracket, Manuela Cárdenas again makes a spectacular play with this explosive but controlled bid at the World Ultimate Championships.
Tessa Swinson – Misfit Ultimate (New Zealand Club)
Tessa Swinson saaaaaaves the gaaaaaame! Watch out Dylan Freechild, this Kiwi is coming for your “best clutch block of all time” title.
2024 Block of the Year Round 2 Matchup 1 (Results)
- Cárdenas
- Swinson
Matchup 3: Cárdenas vs. Maroon
Valeria Cárdenas – Colombia Women’s (WFDF International)
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.
Grace Maroon – UPenn Venus (USAU College)
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.
2024 Block of the Year Round 2 Matchup 2 (Results)
- Cárdenas
- Maroon
Male-Matching Players
Matchup 1: Bui vs. Diercks
Vinh Bui – Portland Rhino Slam! (USAU Club)
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.
Callahan Diercks – Huntsville Space Force (USAU Club)
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?
2024 Block of the Year Round 2 Matchup 3 (Results)
- Bui
- Diercks
Matchup 3: Goff vs. Davis
Nate Goff – Chicago Machine (USAU Club)
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.
Micah Davis – USA Open (WFDF International)
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?
2024 Block of the Year Round 2 Matchup 4 (Results)
- Goff
- Davis
