Better Box Score Metrics: WUL Championship Weekend 2026

Seattle Wins 3rd Championship; Kauffman, Hsu Back Up Their MVP, OPOTY Awards.

Seattle Tempest celebrating with the 2026 Western Ultimate League championship trophy. Photo: Rowdy Webb – WUL

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Welcome to Better Box Score Metrics, our analytics column focused primarily on semi-pro statistics and discovering new ways to use data to explore ultimate. It is anchored by EDGE, which we can summarize as converting goals, assists, blocks, turnovers, and yards gained into one metric, while accounting for the scoring and turnover environment.

As the old saying goes, there’s more than one way to skin a cat or win a WUL championship.

In 2023, when Seattle Tempest won its second championship, the team’s production was so evenly distributed among its players that, not only did nobody on the team win MVP, OPOTY, DPOTY, or BPOTY, not even one player on this championship team was among the five finalists for any of the four awards. On Championship Weekend of that year, even in victory, Tempest placed just two players on the Top 20 Leaderboard in EDGE (including the 20th spot). It seems impossible to imagine a championship team any more balanced and less star-driven than Seattle that year.

Fast forward three years, with Tempest again defeating San Diego Super Bloom in the final. While again clearly a deep team, Seattle rocked it this year with its stars. Jamie Kauffman (League MVP), Cheryl Hsu (OPOTY), Meg Manning (DPOTY finalist), Gemma Munck (BPOTY finalist) and Jess Spaulding (Top 20 in EDGE-O) put up seven of the best 11 single-game performances of Championship Weekend (Table 1).

Table 1. Top 20 WUL Championship Weekend performances, based on GameRater, an 80:10:10 percent composite of EDGE, xE, and PER.

NameTmVsOPPDPPThrYRecYYEYGABTGmSEEDGE-OEDGE-BEDGExEOxEBxEPER-OPERGmRater
Ari NelsonCOLSD1414679356061525010.364.9004.9023.13.1426.2136129162
Jamie KauffmanSEABAY9824418943348624330.293.320.864.1919.25.3224.6114120151
Kennedy McCarthyCOLSD15211225837039542110.363.400.363.7619.24.1323.3115115144
Jamie KauffmanSEASD8413725639347032130.203.100.23.3021.34.1425.5113112139
Cheryl HsuSEASD8333613373542402.50.203.0203.0221.23.5124.7121116136
Alexi ZalkBAYSEA112371341711715120.50.292.260.582.8417.74.9422.7110114132
Cheryl HsuSEABAY932796334239512120.292.370.292.6618.54.3622.8115115130
Jess SpauldingSEABAY941931123053750300.50.292.5502.5519.43.5022.9124119130
Gemma MunckSEABAY933521725229551230.292.090.582.6717.75.2422.998104128
Kaitlyn WeaverSDSEA9310120330434211220.202.070.412.4817.84.3122.1108110126
Meg ManningSEABAY275514720223530210.291.710.582.2817.04.6621.7106110123
Blaise SevierCOLSD59758115615610200.361.270.711.9816.45.1221.5109114120
Kristen PojunisSDCOL51012711324028822120.361.750.362.1017.04.0521.1105106120
Sabina HartnettSEABAY192112614714811310.291.130.861.9915.75.3721.0101109119
Kaitlyn WeaverSDCOL7910212923124011110.361.630.361.9816.44.0920.5106107118
Julien MazoSEABAY3121368722328814020.291.9801.9817.43.0220.4112108118
Brogan JonesSEABAY310256-425230703130.291.470.291.7616.23.7620.0107107114
Abby ThorpeCOLSD1551133284415453015.50.361.650.362.0114.94.0118.98790113
Sarah ItohCOLSD55767114716401100.361.210.361.5616.24.2120.4112112113
Drea BaromaSEASD834513417917921010.201.6301.6317.23.5120.7106104112

In announcing the individual award winners during Championship Weekend, the WUL takes the risk of having runners-up steal the show in the season’s biggest games, but Kauffman and Hsu put exclamation marks on their selections with excellent performances in both the semis and finals, guiding Seattle to a championship they were not widely expected to win. Still, considering the team effort needed to limit potent Bay Area and San Diego to a total of 19 combined goals, it’s never just star power, is it?

WUL Championship Weekend Analytics

Table 2 shows full Championship Weekend box scores. Regular season totals are found in our the previous WUL update.

Note some tables have multiple pages.

 

Table 2. WUL Championship Weekend metrics for all playerss

NameTmVsWKOPPDPPThrYRecYYEYGABTGmSEEDGE-OEDGE-BEDGExEOxEBxEPER-OPERODSHCS
Abbi ShiltsSDCOL13968914022929620230.360.90.711.6114.505.3319.9931004061
Abbi ShiltsSDSEA138525628714911240.20.190.410.613.104.4617.693974471
Abby ThorpeCOLSD131551133284415453015.50.361.650.362.0114.904.0118.987902174
Adair AndreCOLSD130500000000.50.36-0.180-0.1813.203.4816.795941000
Alexa RomersaSEABAY131103846848410110.290.490.290.7813.803.8517.7989910055
Alexa RomersaSEASD1304757214719900040.20.1800.1813.903.3817.393918849
Alexandra GuyCOLSD1305081811030000.50.360.3700.3714.703.37189997100100
Alexandra StambaughSDCOL136367521191660200.50.361.0401.0415.703.3719.11101073344
Alexandra StambaughSDSEA1333-3615813010020.20.1900.1914.003.4917.5989643100
Alexi ZalkBAYSEA13112371341711715120.50.292.260.582.8417.704.9422.7110114778
Allysha DixonCOLSD137260359516100030.36-0.430-0.4310.903.3414.28786837
Amy NguyenSEASD1319981010813000030.20.1200.1213.303.2416.69593929
Anna PetteeSEASD1318-1762454500100.20.310.20.5113.703.8317.510010083100
Anna PetteeSEABAY1318-1052424200110.2900.290.2912.503.9416.59395100100
Ari NelsonCOLSD131414679356061525010.364.904.923.103.1426.2136129517
Blaise SevierCOLSD1359758115615610200.361.270.711.9816.405.1221.51091146952
Bridget WipflerBAYSEA1346000000100.2900.290.2913.804.2418100101730
Bristol LovoyCOLSD13371016264110110.360.030.360.3813.104.2517.495978062
Brogan JonesSEABAY13310256-425230703130.291.470.291.7616.203.7620107107940
Brogan JonesSEASD1315132401722230113.50.20.660.20.8714.803.7418.51001009223
Brooke NishidaBAYSEA136542731790001.50.29-0.220-0.2212.603.2415.994927387
Cameron HelmSDSEA1321034344800010.20.0300.0314.003.6017.6979540100
Cameron HelmSDCOL1323433375900030.36-0.820-0.8210.503.2713.880807589
Carolyn VlachCOLSD13212592685980201.50.360.4600.4614.303.1117.498968131
Cat ChungSEABAY1333830383810000.290.4700.4715.103.6718.81021003379
Charlie EideSEABAY13343122538600020.29-0.220-0.2212.903.5716.492916342
Cheryl HsuSEASD138333613373542402.50.23.0203.0221.203.5124.712111600
Cheryl HsuSEABAY13932796334239512120.292.370.292.6618.504.3622.8115115018
Ciona AntolinSEABAY13093911915815820010.291.201.216.603.2419.81019810075
Ciona AntolinSEASD1302043439910010.20.300.314.903.5818.510199100100
Colette PellegriniCOLSD1391551542092411001.50.361.0901.0914.303.2017.69996774
Dawn CultonBAYSEA1357815713827110140.29-0.010.290.2813.404.1017.592947541
Drea BaromaSEASD13834513417917921010.21.6301.6317.203.5120.7106104075
Drea BaromaSEABAY13833815219020301010.291.2101.2115.403.4718.9103101080
Eliza ChangBAYSEA1384626323200100.290.220.290.5113.704.0417.81011026281
Elizabeth PughBAYSEA131162183425230503030.291.4701.4715.502.9318.41061024414
Gemma MunckSEABAY13933521725229551230.292.090.582.6717.705.2422.998104086
Gemma MunckSEASD13629738210100210.20.350.410.7614.004.8418.999103089
Grace BrownCOLSD13052912414100010.36-0.080-0.0813.403.4116.8949210029
Hannah MimmackSEASD1305548629200020.20.0100.0113.503.471796958613
Hannah MimmackSEABAY131927174411510130.29-0.360.29-0.0711.704.0015.7899210039
Hannah WalterSDCOL1344885013817211020.360.6400.6414.703.341897954436
Hannah WalterSDSEA1350321345591000.50.20.4100.4114.303.5117.8102100029
Hayley BanasCOLSD1309391958720001.50.36-0.140-0.1412.803.1715.992909133
Jackelyne NguyenBAYSEA131029710920625931240.291.080.581.6514.104.7418.99399053
Jamie KauffmanSEABAY139824418943348624330.293.320.864.1919.205.3224.61141203744
Jamie KauffmanSEASD138413725639347032130.23.10.23.321.304.1425.5113112065
Janelle LeeBAYSEA1326422668780010.50.290.320.290.6114.304.1418.41011028838
Jenna MansfieldSDCOL13213355888800000.360.600.615.203.4818.71041015063
Jenny LiBAYSEA131421024714916810120.290.640.290.9312.303.8516.19798032
Jess SpauldingSEABAY13941931123053750300.50.292.5502.5519.403.5022.9124119737
Jess SpauldingSEASD136216627811710120.20.330.20.5314.004.2018.19798080
Jesse SongBAYSEA13553623595900030.29-0.460-0.4611.703.2414.984836439
Julia MankoffBAYSEA1337147212100000.290.1400.1414.403.3217.7101999133
Julia PedenSDSEA1310-462200000.20.0100.0113.803.6217.4100980100
Julianna MadiganBAYSEA1382131629-400010.29-0.090-0.0911.503.2214.79290855
Julien MazoSEABAY133121368722328814020.291.9801.9817.403.0220.41121089339
Julien MazoSEASD130556429812511120.20.670.20.8815.404.0219.41011018843
Kaela HeltonSDCOL1347367411011020000.361.1601.1615.303.1718.41071035767
Kaela HeltonSDSEA13653820582400228.50.2-0.920.41-0.529.604.2413.886905335
Kaitlyn WeaverSDSEA139310120330434211220.22.070.412.4817.804.3122.11081104167
Kaitlyn WeaverSDCOL137910212923124011110.361.630.361.9816.404.0920.51061075556
Kaitlynne RolingSEASD13310601081681840223.50.20.840.411.2514.904.3919.3971006964
Karen EhrhardtBAYSEA1311143781211590010.50.290.680.290.9713.304.0717.4104105065
Kelli IwamotoSDCOL1345119412319101220.360.330.711.0413.305.2718.699106583
Kelli IwamotoSDSEA1342437506400120.2-0.070.20.1412.804.0416.994963614
Kendra MillerBAYSEA13508-35500000.290.0300.0312.903.4416.31009800
Kennedy McCarthyCOLSD1315211225837039542110.363.40.363.7619.204.1323.31151151070
Kristen PojunisSDCOL1351012711324028822120.361.750.362.117.004.0521.11051066747
Kristen PojunisSDSEA1374883212012611180.2-0.40.2-0.211.203.741579826027
Kyra KhoroujnikovaSDCOL1316-1751343410000.360.4400.4414.503.3017.81019989100
Kyra KhoroujnikovaSDSEA130400000000.50.2-0.10-0.113.803.5817.397961000
Laura BlumeSDSEA13741231613915801230.20.540.410.9514.104.3918.5991025412
Laura BlumeSDCOL1357895314221101130.360.10.360.4612.604.1716.792946037
Lauren PageSEASD1316298611511500410.20.580.821.3914.505.4219.9991079275
Lauren PageSEABAY13210398512412011130.290.390.290.6813.403.8217.389919369
Lily SteponaitisBAYSEA1356075758900030.29-0.360-0.3612.103.2715.4848367100
Linnea SooSEASD1321748828201100.20.760.20.9715.604.1719.81081082910
Linnea SooSEABAY132924-3214110020.29-0.230-0.2311.303.0214.39189870
Maggie O'ConnorCOLSD13591493418324501020.360.7400.7414.403.0817.4101987319
Margo DonahueBAYSEA1338717242400000.290.1600.1614.303.3517.7101988271
Margot NissenSDSEA134119315011000010.20.1400.1414.103.5517.6102993362
Margot NissenSDCOL1363700709100010.360.1200.1213.003.3716.49896330
Mars BauSDSEA13311333464600100.20.310.20.5214.604.2218.81021032072
Mars BauSDCOL1363-75649492000.50.360.5700.5714.303.3717.7989633100
Meg ManningSEABAY13275514720223530210.291.710.582.2817.004.6621.71061109273
Meg ManningSEASD1335338111410810100.20.980.21.1915.803.9219.71051056471
Megan JamesonCOLSD1302077700010.36-0.310-0.3112.803.5216.39190100100
Megan LouieSEABAY1328706113113000010.290.600.614.303.1117.4100979247
Megan LouieSEASD131510748421610050.2-0.240-0.2412.203.2215.591899188
Megan MaxfieldSDSEA1344-217717517530010.21.6101.6117.903.4721.310310033100
Megan MaxfieldSDCOL1358648545420200.360.780.711.514.505.1219.61041106389
Mei HechtCOLSD131211783821622402010.361.5301.5315.103.2318.3110106018
Merideth BylSDCOL1356515310410401100.360.910.361.2715.004.3019.31081095051
Merideth BylSDSEA13302120415700100.20.280.20.4814.104.2018.3103104049
Mika LeslieSDCOL13451183715521801020.360.5500.5514.003.2317.299976224
Mika LeslieSDSEA13644621678100010.20.2500.2513.303.2816.6100974731
Molly WieringaCOLSD133659-2577400010.360.0300.0313.303.2716.69795640
Naomi GuzmanSDCOL13622620464611100.360.730.361.0815.104.5819.71061082544
Naomi GuzmanSDSEA134180-3779900010.20.3200.3214.403.5117.9102100170
Nicole HavelCOLSD1313-218161600000.360.1100.1114.703.5218.21009883100
Nina FinleySEABAY138458911491731102.50.290.7100.7113.903.3517.295932061
Nina FinleySEASD1383862911514501030.20.3800.3813.603.5117.19795025
Olivia GossBAYSEA1312111220531736402050.291.1301.1314.503.2417.79189065
Peixian RongSEASD1304761490900010.50.20.510.20.7114.903.9918.91031038816
Peixian RongSEABAY130941-5365400000.290.2400.2413.403.0916.41041011000
Rachel StockdaleCOLSD1317033300200.360.020.710.7314.005.4419.510010790100
Rebeca EllisSDCOL1345979218918302010.361.3401.3416.203.2319.51051025849
Rebeca EllisSDSEA1335113211341750121.50.20.810.411.2215.004.4919.51061094616
Reeve GrobeckerBAYSEA1353-97-23700010.29-0.30-0.312.403.3515.7959356100
Rena KawabataCOLSD1345-19880010.50.36-0.120.360.2312.704.3017959867100
Robyn FennigBAYSEA1315222211133359914290.290.70.581.2812.204.5616.89398033
Rose BransfordCOLSD131132419521924921130.361.040.361.414.504.2518.790932789
Sabina HartnettSEABAY13192112614714811310.291.130.861.9915.705.372110110910086
Sabina HartnettSEASD13052064848400100.20.570.20.7715.203.9919.210310310076
Sanam Rozycki-ShahSDCOL1364598414315801110.360.820.361.1815.104.3919.41011044059
Sanam Rozycki-ShahSDSEA13412623497600010.20.1300.1314.003.5117.599973347
Sarah CombsBAYSEA1310227679414800060.29-1.090-1.098.603.1611.875751371
Sarah ItohCOLSD1355767114716401100.361.210.361.5616.204.2120.41121125848
Sarah LevinnCOLSD137102525250001.50.36-0.370-0.3710.903.3014.288878100
Sidra PiersonSEASD13052530555510100.20.580.20.7815.304.0919.41041048655
Sidra PiersonSEABAY1309-622162900010.29-0.180-0.1812.403.2415.79492100100
Theresa ZettnerSDCOL13363811415218520110.361.090.361.4515.504.1719.71011037575
Theresa ZettnerSDSEA1345338413600120.2-0.130.20.0712.603.8316.491926993
Tori GraySDCOL136749227112901220.36-0.020.710.6912.105.2217.3941015431
Tori GraySDSEA13470111600010.2-0.20-0.212.303.2415.5969469100
Vicki ChenBAYSEA1317167700100.290.050.290.3413.604.1717.81001027886
Yeh-Sun LeeSEABAY13834234767600010.290.2300.2312.903.5316.49795045
Yeh-Sun LeeSEASD1362-251495300010.20.1300.1313.403.5516.996950100
Yu IshiiSDSEA137354-4505701020.20.1400.1413.203.3416.69795500
Yu IshiiSDCOL1359435484801010.360.1800.1812.603.1115.897956510

Key

Presented left-to-right on the table. Detailed descriptions of EDGE metrics can be found on the Reference Page.
Gms: Games played by the player, not the team
OPP: O-line Points Played
DPP: D-line Points Played
Tch+: Throws + Drops + (Goals *0.5)
ThrY: Throwing yards (does not include lateral distance)
RecY: Receiving yards (does not include lateral distance)
Y: ThrY + RecY
EY: WUL metric that adds distance of incomplete throws to yardage totals
G: Goals
A: Assists
B: Blocks
T: Turns
Qince: UFA-only count of quarter-ending incompletions, subtracted from a player’s turn total.
GmSE: Game scoring efficiency, Goals/(Goals +Turns) for both teams.
EDGE-O: Y* 0.007 (Approx) + (A+G)* 0.18 (Approx) – T*GmSE. Measured in Goal Equivalents. Actual coefficients depend on game environment and league averages.
EDGE-B: Blocks*GmSE. Measured in Goal Equivalents
EDGE: EDGE-O + EDGE-B. Measured in Goal Equivalents
EO_tg: EDGE-O per team game played, to account for imbalanced schedules during the season
EB_tg: EDGE-B per team game played, to account for imbalanced schedules during the season
E_tg: EDGE per team game played, to account for imbalanced schedules during the season
xEO: EDGE-O per 100 “expected offensive opportunities” (possessions * GmSE), sample-size adjusted
xEB: EDGE-B per 100 “expected defensive opportunities” (opponent possessions * GmSE),” sample-size adjusted
xE: xEO + xEB
PER-O: Player Efficiency Rating-Offense, a refitting of team efficiency (goals/(goals + turnovers)) to the player level, and presented as player efficiency relative to league mean (=100).
PER: Total efficiency, in which the likelihood of a player regaining possession through a block is incorporated into overall efficiency.
CP+: Completion percentage plus, with touches, turnovers, and sample-size adjustments. For season data only.
GR/SR: GameRater and SeasonRater, a composite of several metrics (described in table heading) to provide a distilled, but multifaceted, assessment. Only used on leaderboards.
ODS: O-Line/D-Line Scale, the percent of lines played that were D-lines.
HCS: Handler-Cutter Scale, the percent of yards thrown that were receiving yards. ODS and HCS, taken together, identify player roles, e.g. O-line cutter; 2-way handler.

  1. Paul Würtztack
    Paul Würtztack

    Paul Würtztack is an Ultiworld analyst.

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