Players to Watch: Week 1 vs Utah Wild

Before every matchup, our Head Coach breaks down a few Sidewinders who could tilt the game. Whether it’s lockdown defense, clutch cutting, or deep-shot threats, these are the players to watch this week.

by Daphne Russell, Arizona Sidewinders Head Coach

#5 - Kody Lippincott

"Kody is returning to the Sidewinders roster ready to generate chaos on both sides of the disc. On offense, look for explosive cutting and innovative solutions that break defensive structures. Watch how she formulates systematic execution within Sidewinders offensive flow while generating unpredictable opportunities.

On defense, Kody is pure energy. She reads where the offense is breaking down and attacks aggressively. Her ability to generate defensive pressure through creative pursuit makes her a nightmare matchup.

Kody is a genuine playmaker, building novel solutions, executing them with precision, and energizing the entire team through her determined play."

#1 - Kristen Reed: 

"Former Colorado Alpenglow standout Kristen Reed brings strategic intelligence and systematic execution to every point she plays. On offense, Kristen reads defensive patterns before they fully develop and positions herself with precision. She understands why plays work and formulates her cuts to exploit space systematically. Kristen is a clever cutter, interpreting the game's flow and executing with technical excellence.

On defense, she analyzes offensive structures and positions to deny them before they can develop. Her ability to understand causality—reading what's coming before it happens—makes her a shutdown defender who disrupts through positioning and anticipation.

Kristen sees the why behind every play, builds systematic solutions, and executes with the kind of consistency that will bring Sidewinders to its next level."

#57 - Brittany Stettmeier:

"Brittany is returning to the Sidewinders as the 2025 WUL Breakout Player of the Year. On offense, Brittany executes with pure determination. She observes space clearly, cuts with explosive energy, and attacks every opportunity relentlessly. Her ability to see what's happening in real-time and react instantly makes her a dynamic threat who creates momentum through sheer will.

On defense, she brings the same energized execution. Brittany observes where threats are developing, positions accordingly, and pursues with intensity that disrupts offensive flow. Brittany’s grounded observation combined with explosive execution makes her the kind of player who turns half-chances into goals and defensive pressure into turnovers.

Brittany's presence on the field elevates team energy and creates the kind of momentum that changes games."

#19 - Madison Speagle: 

"Madison brings intensity, strategic depth, and coordinated facilitation to every point. On offense, Madison reads patterns in real-time and distributes the disc based on interpreting what the defense is giving. Her ability to understand causality and serve collective success makes her a quarterback-level presence.

On defense, Madison reads offensive patterns before they develop and coordinates team response. She understands why opponents make choices, communicates what she's seeing, and facilitates defensive alignment that shuts down opportunities systematically. Her ability to explore what's happening and coordinate others around that understanding creates gridlock.

Madison doesn't just read the game—she helps the entire team read it with her. Her presence elevates collective intelligence and creates the kind of coordinated execution that defines elite teams."

Tune into the Arizona Sidewinders vs Utah Wild game on Saturday, March 14 at 7pm PT, part of WUL Opening Weekend 2026.