Three notable takeaways from Team USA's opening round win over Team Japan
August 12, 2025 by Matt Fazzalaro in Analysis, Recap
Ultiworld’s World Games 2025 coverage 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. The World Games is operated by the International World Games Association in collaboration with the World Flying Disc Federation.
The 2025 World Games have finally arrived. After what feels like years of news, preparation, and hype, the fabled tournament kicked off with a match featuring the United States versus Japan. Both the US and Japanese rosters have exactly seven returning players from the World Games in Birmingham three years ago, so this matchup was an exciting mix between old and new talent for both nations. The perennial favorite, United States, came out and traded blows with a very clean and fleet-footed Japanese side before locking things down and easily sealing the win in the second half by a score of 13-8. Below you will find some of my initial thoughts highlighting the US team in their first game of what will surely be a very entertaining tournament.
Returners Lead The Way
Everything is always easier the second1 time around. The returning US players from the 2022 World Games in Birmingham looked at ease and very much in control of the narrative of the game from the start. Grant Lindsley, Claire Trop, and Claire Chastain all dominated this point, and much of the contest, by using decisive fakes and chemistry that they have been building for years and years now. Furthermore, these three have a sixth sense when it comes to breaking zones down the middle. Whilst swinging the disc, Chastain was always looking to slide throws through the center of the field, sometimes just as the windows were closing. The level of game sense that this group possesses will be their not-so-secret weapon in Chengdu. Game 1 was no trouble for the Americans thanks to the bonds and experience of the storied players that litter the roster.
Defense Wins Championships
The adage continues to ring true in every sport where you must match up against an opponent. It was unsurprising to see that San Franciscans Michael Ing and Anna Thompson would be the ones to turn up the heat quickly when it came to putting the disc in the hands of the US D-Line. In these clips we see both players perfectly balance the challenge of staying tight to their person while also baiting the throw they know can be theirs. Both leave their feet in spectacular fashion to help their team break the Japanese O-Line. In this match the US seemed to have decided that if they were going to get beat, it was going to be deep. By using their bodies and constantly orbiting to the front of their matchup, the US defenders were able to slow down the cuts of the opposition and allow themselves extra time to set up and get the highlight reel blocks we were treated to time after time in this one.
Patented Dylan Freechild Throw-and-Go Could Be Troublesome
The coolest thing about this US World Games team, and any World Games team for that matter, is that the best players in each country are asked to put aside differences and styles, to come together and try to be the best in the world at their sport. Every player on a roster this summer is no doubt willing to do anything and play any role in hopes of winning it all in Chengdu. Especially with such small rosters, players will often find themselves in positions they may not usually be in with their club or pro teams. That’s why I find it fun to see a little bit of each player’s personal style coming through in their play on teams such as these.
Freechild is known for his throw-and-go mentality that often keeps teams on their back foot because he is coming at them full speed. In this clip we see him be slow and methodical when hitting his around and then a burst of speed, doing what he does best, and all of a sudden the US are at mid-field. The team that masters a “we over me” mentality will be able to go far in this tournament, but the one to win will be the one where each individual player can add their own flair and style to the symphony of their work together.
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