PUL Regular Season, Finals Award Winners Announce
Credit: Matthew Brooks
PUL Coaching Staff of the Year: DC Shadow
DC Shadow finished the 2024 regular season first place (6-0) in the South Division with an impressive +75 point differential and the lowest points against in the league (41).
Their success was in no small part due to the talents of their coaching staff: John Agan, Sara Handy, Duke Boylan-Kolchin, Kath Ratcliff, and Dylan Lederle-Ensign.
NOMINEES (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)
DC Shadow
Indianapolis Red
Austin Torch
New York Gridlock
Philadelphia Surge
Raleigh Radiance
Credit: Miguel Esparza
PUL Offensive Player of the Year: Genny De Jesus
It’s no question that the offensive talents of Genny De Jesus have been a constant in the PUL since her debut. New York Gridlock finished the regular season with a league high of 124 points for with 26 at the hands of De Jesus. The decisive league leader for goals—notching 10 more than the second highest—she also recorded the second highest yardage of caught pass gain at 1351.
NOMINEES (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)
NYGL - #00 Genny De Jesus
PHL - #16 Grace Maroon
RAL - #12 Katie Backus Meilstrup
PORT - #33 Yuge Xiao
NYGL - #20 Yina Cartagena
MINN - #04 Erica Baken
NASH - #10 Tori Taylor
ATX- #03 Madi Cannon
INDY - #40 Claire Milton
Credit: Matthew Brooks
PUL Defensive Player of the Year: Kami Groom
DC finished the regular season with the highest number of defensive blocks in the league at 91, with Kami Groom behind 12 of those. A league leader in defensive blocks, Groom recorded at least one in each game rostered with a high of three each against Atlanta Soul and 2023 PUL Champions Raleigh Radiance.
NOMINEES (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)
DC - #07 Kami Groom
ATL - #10 Mia Griner
MKE - #97 Eileen Bequette
PHL - #08 Emma Soiles
NASH - #21 Elena Rubino
PORT - #06 Chloë Rowse
DC - #01 Ashleigh Jentilet
PORT - #03 Liv Player
Credit: Matthew Brooks
PUL Regular Season MVP: Valeria Cardenas
Finishing the regular season with eight goals, 14 assists, and six defensive blocks, New York Gridlock’s Valeria Cardenas earned the title of regular season MVP. She was second highest on her team in assists and blocks and a pivotal piece to the team’s first place in the North Division (6-0).
NOMINEES (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)
NYGL - #33 Valeria Cardenas
ATL - #10 Mia Griner
DC - #07 Kami Groom
NYGL - #20 Yina Cartagena
ATX- #03 Madi Cannon
PORT - #33 Yuge Xiao
PHL - #11 Sara Liang
NASH - #10 Tori Taylor
RAL - #06 Jenny Wei
PUL Finals MVP: Valeria Cardenas
In addition to the title of PUL Regular Season MVP, Cardenas also secured the PUL Finals MVP. She recorded two goals, six assists and two blocks en route to a title—once again proving to be a key asset to New York’s wins.