Players to Watch: Week 10 vs Bay Area Falcons

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

#1 Kristen Reed

"Reed leads the Sidewinders in goals and blocks—but honestly, it’s how her teammates look at her that is the most impressive.

She’s a silent leader. One who gives the game her all. Joel asked me if we can look at Reed to judge when people are getting tired. I laughed. How would you know? Either you can’t see it or she’s never tired. I wouldn’t bet money, that’s all I’m saying.

Defenders think they have position, and then she's past them, tracking the disc as if she were waiting on train and she’s ten minutes early. She's strategic about when to attack—not every point, but when it matters. Reed’s disarming determination is just one of the things I admire about her as a player and as a person."

#11 Mel Dunn

"Mel is relentless on offense—never backing down, never letting up, playing 100% - 100% of the time.

On offense, Mel facilitates execution toward the goal with unwavering intensity. She's consistent in throws and catches, making those around her better through her ability to coordinate flow and serve collective success.

She assesses priorities in real-time, positions to facilitate the next play, and executes with determination that elevates everyone. Her relentless energy combined with her ability to rally teammates through reliable execution makes her a force who creates offensive momentum. Melissa processes the game by understanding what serves the team and executing it with absolute commitment."

#40 Chip Chang

"Chip leads the team in assists and is second in blocks—and if you watch her play, you can see why those stats hold true.

On offense, Chip sees the entire field as if she has an eagle view of the opposition. She reads what's developing before it develops, understands why defenses position the way they do, and then seeks to dismantle them. Chip is elite strategic intelligence meeting elite execution. First in assists because she doesn't just throw the disc–she wills the catch into success.

On defense, Chip's athleticism is what you notice first—she's fast, she's relentless, she covers ground that shouldn't be coverable. But it's her mind that makes her dangerous. She reads offenses, anticipates what's coming, positions herself one step ahead, and then her athleticism finishes it. Second in blocks because she combines reading the game at the deepest level with the speed and pursuit to actually execute on what she conceives."

Tune into the Arizona Sidewinders vs Bay Area Falcons game on Sat. May 16 @ 7pm PT -- live and free on the WUL YouTube.