5 Strike Players to Watch in 2025

The start of a new PUL campaign is around the corner for the Minnesota Strike, who are chomping at the bit to get back on the field and bounce back, ready for a strong 2025 season. With many returning players, as well as a fair number of new players putting on a Strike jersey this year, we are highlighting our annual five players who you should keep your eye on when the team takes the field.

Emma Piorier

Coming off an incredible campaign in 2024 and kicking off the list is none other than Emma Piorier. An expert with the disc, Piorier saw a lot of touches last season, helping shuffle the team downfield on every offensive push. Her speed makes her a dangerous threat deep, while her disc handling proves her an invaluable bonus handler when the team needs a release valve or just a transition handler to keep the stack moving. No matter where she is on the field, you can count on Piorier making plays. 

As a practice player with the Strike in 2023, and making her roster debut last year, Piorier is bringing strong experience to this year’s team. I’m curious to see what role she’ll play, if she becomes more of a leading playmaker, or a support hybrid-esque role she took on last year, or something else altogether. In her second full year on the team’s roster, Piorier has an opportunity to really help shift the momentum of games, which will be key against tough opponents like Gridlock and Red.

Elly Fireside-Ostergaard

Coming onto the Strike scene in 2024, Elly Fireside-Ostergaard immediately made their presence known. Another player who seems to have speed embedded into their game, Fireside-Ostergaard brings another level of play-making to the Strike. Arguably the title holder of the team’s most impressive play last year, the cutter has an opportunity to really fill out their role a bit more in 2025.

The sophomore season for players in any sport is always one that is probably even more intriguing than their rookie season. While the first year can be chalked up to jitters, beginner’s luck, or anticipation, the second season is where fans and players alike get to see what they’re really all about. For Fireside-Ostergaard, this means continuing to bring that energy that they did in 2024; there seems to be a constant buzz around Elly when players are talking with them, and for good reason. Every play, every bid, seems possible when Elly is on the move, and with a whole season under their belt, I think they’re only just getting started. Look for Elly to continue to cement that position downfield, being utilized in key matchups to break opposing defenses and find ways to gain big yards for the Strike. 

Eugenia Garza

If you hang around the Strike players long enough, you’ll quickly learn that just about everyone has a nickname — Moon, Chucks, and yes, Yoshi. Eugenia “Yoshi” Garza is making her PUL debut this year, and she is ready to make a name for herself (that name being, of course, Yoshi!). A stout defender, Yoshi plays with a threatening eagerness, striking at every opportunity. Her teammate Julia “Chucks” Hill calls Yoshi a “tenacious defender,” and is pumped to have her as a teammate this season.

Having a chance to speak with Yoshi a bit at one of the Strike’s practices, I was curious about who on the team she was excited to call a teammate this year. She was quick to point out that she’s shared a roster with many of these players before, and at high levels, too. The Strike have a strong opportunity this season to leverage Garza’s high-level ultimate experience. With a spot on the 2025 U24 World’s roster, Garza has quickly established herself in the local, national, and international ultimate community. Look for Yoshi to round out the team’s defense and bring another level of dominance to offenses this season. Her competitive edge and big-game experience makes Yoshi a truly devastating defensive cutter.

Steph Wood

One of the longest tenured players on this list, Steph Wood has been a mainstay on the Strike’s offense since their inaugural season in 2020. Consistency in their lineup will be key for the team; the Strike have added approximately eight new players to the roster, which comes out to about a third of the team. Wood will be looking to step up as one of those critical carry-overs who can provide stability, experience, and of course, a whole lot of firepower to the team’s offense.

Wood brings hustle and grit to the Strike, setting the tone for the game early on and getting her teammates energized. Her ability to make adjustments on the fly enable Wood to make space, get open, and reign in any disc that comes near. Look for her to cover a lot of ground for the Strike this season, complementing the likes of Sarah Meckstroth and Julia Hill.

Allegra Johnson McKee

Coming off the Strike’s reserve roster in 2024, Allegra Johnson Mckee is looking to cement herself as a regular on the team this season. She is another player who is hungry to step up and find where she works within the team’s system. McKee has a knack to work around defenders with ease, whether she is cutting downfield or breaking her mark with a disc in her hand. 

Anecdotally, while I watched McKee run drills at the team’s practice, she literally made me do a double take with the moves she was working around her defenders; McKee is so calculated with her moves, even during practice. Every cut feels very intentional, and she makes smart heads-up plays that give her an edge over her opponent on every throw. Another fun fact about McKee — she’s a lefty, which throws another unique twist against opponents. I think the offense will click and elevate itself with McKee being a regular, and her 1-1 matchups will have their work cut out for them. As the season goes on, keep an eye on Allegra’s matchups and how she handles opposing defenses, especially as the team’s flow strengthens throughout the year. She’s bound to be a troubling force for teams all season long.

The Strike Season Starts on May 3!

Just a few days away, the Minnesota Strike are gearing up for their 2025 season. With a tough matchup against the New York Gridlock, the team will call on every player to step up and make an impact where they can. While these five will be particularly exciting to watch this year, the whole roster is ready to go and has a lot to bring to the table. The road to Championship Weekend starts now!