These big time scorers helped ensure their offenses would keep the points flowing.
June 16, 2026 by Zack Davis and TJ Lee in Awards
Each year, Ultiworld presents our annual College Awards. Our staff evaluates the individual performances of players from throughout the season, talking to folks around college ultimate, watching film, and look at statistics, voting upon the awards to decide those to be honored. The regular season and the college Series are both considered, with extra emphasis for performances in the competitive and high-stakes environment at Nationals.
Our awards continue with the Offensive Player of the Year, recognizing the individual, and two runners-up, who we felt had the most impactful and productive seasons helping their teams score. They set up goals, finished off points, and produced yardage at consistently high levels against the top defenders.
- All-American First Team
- Player of the Year
- All-American Second Team
- Offensive Player of the Year Award
- Defensive Player of the Year Award
- Breakout Player of the Year Award
- Rookie of the Year Award
- Coaches of the Year Award
- Full Awards Voting Breakdown
D-III Women’s 2026 Offensive Player Of The Year
Ella Widmyer (Middlebury)
Widmyer is crafting a case for all-time best in the division. She is a true field general with a rich understanding of the game that elevates not just her own play, but her team as a whole. The influence she has over the game is immediately apparent when watching her play, manifesting in both mechanical skill and game sense. Her throws are Club Nationals caliber, with elite range and accuracy, but Widmyer never overrelies on her incredible ability, willing to play slow and boring ultimate until she’s forced the defense to respond – and then she strikes.
Her throws are complemented by her footwork and cutting, and both are sharp and precise. Very rarely does Widmyer run into trouble securing an opening for a reset. It’s also quite uncommon for her to get bottled up by any sort of mark.
Beyond her mechanical ability Widmyer naturally levels up those around her, most notably as a leader for the Pranksters both on and off the field. On the field Widmyer is often drawing and outplaying the opposition’s best defenders. She’s never afraid to take over a point and go get the disc, but she’s also not overeager to do so, allowing her talented teammates room to breathe. Off the field, the Pranksters operate with no coach, so Widmyer’s game knowledge has been a boon for the Pranksters.
Whether it’s as an extremely efficient assist machine herself or as a multiplicative factor for her team, Widmyer is an offensive force, and a deserving second-consecutive OPOTY.
– Zack Davis
First Runner-Up
Claire Lee (Macalester)
Normally, seeing a regression of blocks hints at losing some defensive prowess and falling off. But for Claire Lee, the answer was much simpler: she dialed in her throws and had less turns. The Pursesnatcher went on a tear, ending the year with first in assists with 38, and a respectable seven goals and 17 blocks as well. Her throws were locked in, and her cuts consistently got the disc back in her hands. With 13 more scores and over 30 fewer turns than her 2024 campaign, Lee’s offensive consistency led Macalester back to Nationals and a very respectable fifth place finish.
– TJ Lee
Second Runner-Up
Gabbie Campbell (Whitman)
A force of will and sleek skill, Campbell is an incredibly dynamic player, with explosive cuts that came immediately after pinpoint throws. She led Whitman in assists over the course of Nationals with nineteen, all the while scoring thirteen of their goals herself. Campbell was dangerous in any position on the field, as comfortable launching deep from power position as she was dishing and resetting in the red zone. She abused defenders with her speed and agility in the handler space then caught them on their heels by streaking deep to the end zone. Campbell was the centerpole of a very talented Whitman Sweets roster and had ample influence in their run to the final.
– Zack Davis
