A Fresh Start for the Sidewinders

 After a winless 2025 season, new coaching leadership sparks a culture reset in Arizona 

By Desiree Camacho

Daphne Russell (left) and Joel Prushan (right) join Travis Dunn and Charles Hoppes as part of the 2026 Coaching Staff. Russell was named Head Coach, and Prushan will be one of the three Assistant Coaches.

This season, a change in coaching leadership is bringing in a brand new mentality to the Arizona Sidewinders professional women's ultimate frisbee team. After finishing the 2025 season with an 0-6 record, the team is looking to reevaluate, reset and find their flow. Under new Head Coach Daphne Russell, they will be focused on more than just technical skills and statistics. Instead, personal growth and joy in the game will be at the forefront. 

Russell has over 25 years of ultimate experience, both as a player and coach. She also served as the Sidewinders assistant coach during the team's inaugural season in 2022, bringing in a familiarity of the league and its players. This year, as Russell takes the reins, she and her staff are placing an emphasis on building a positive team culture. 

Ultimately, the goal is not to tell players who they are, says Russell, but assist them in seeing and reaching their full potential. Russell aims to be each player's biggest cheerleader, a mentality she learned from her dad, and had reinforced throughout her 36-year teaching career. 

“That's what I want to be -- all 25 players' biggest champion, rooting for them always. And that's the philosophy I'm taking in,” she said. 

“That's what I want to be -- all 25 players' biggest champion, rooting for them always. And that's the philosophy I'm taking in."

  Joining Russell is new Assistant Coach Joel Prushan, who has 15 years of experience playing and coaching disc sports at all levels, from high school to professional. He previously coached as Offensive Coordinator for the Philadelphia Surge in the Premier Ultimate League (PUL), but this will be his first stint with the Western Ultimate League (WUL). Although he has not previously worked with Russell, the two are aligned on their vision and values for the team. 

   “She's not necessarily an ultimate-first person, which I think most people think of needing to be as an ultimate coach. And I don't think that's true. I think we have the opportunity to do something really unusual and unique and exciting,” Prushan said. 

  Leading the team this season will be returning captains Kay Powell and Kez Gesell. Despite a roster that is familiar on paper – 21 of the 25 players on the 2026 roster are returners – the two captains are expecting the on field product to look very different. 

  “With what Joel and Daphne are bringing in this year, I think people are going to show facets of their game that they haven’t been able to,” Powell said. “So even though a lot of people are familiar faces to our fans that are watching, I think they’re going to be seeing new stuff out of us.”   

   Along with Russell and Prushan, Assistant Coaches Travis Dunn and Charlie Hoppes are also returning to the coaching staff. Together, Russell has one message for fans ahead of the season: “Watch…because you’re going to see magic.” 

  Arizona Sidewinders will open their season at home on March 14 against Utah Wild. All games will be available to stream  live and free on the WUL YouTube channel.