New York Gridlock Explained

NY Gridlock
Founded:2019
Sport:Ultimate
League:Premier Ultimate League
City:New York City
Coach Label:Head coaches
Coach:Eileen Murray and Ryan Thompson
Website:nygridlockultimate.com

The New York Gridlock is a professional women's ultimate team based in New York City which competes in the Premier Ultimate League (PUL). The team joined the PUL for the league's inaugural 2019 season.[1] Their stated mission is "to achieve competitive excellence on the field and equity in the sport of ultimate by increasing accessibility to and visibility of womxn ultimate players."[2]

Franchise history

The New York Gridlock formed in early 2019, and is one of the original eight teams in the Premier Ultimate League.[3] Their name likely references New York's common rush-hour gridlock traffic.[4]

The team would have played its second season in 2020, but the PUL cancelled the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5] [6]

Record

In their 2019 season, the Gridlock defeated the Indianapolis Red 14–9, the Columbus Pride 17–10, the Austin Torch 14–12, and the Atlanta Soul 21–17. They fell to the Raleigh Radiance 20–11. This record gave them a third-place finish in the league. In the league semifinals, they again lost to the Raleigh Radiance, 19–18.

YearReg. SeasonPlayoffsFinish
20194-1 (3rd)0-1[7] Lost in Semifinals
2020Season Cancelled0-0Season Cancelled
Total4-10-1

Current coaching staff

Roster

The team's 2020 roster was as follows:[8] [9]

2020 New York Gridlock
NamePronounsCollegeMost Recent Club Team
00Genny De JesusShe/HerNJ Jughandle
2Brittany "Bkap" KaplanShe/HerNew York BENT
4Nastasia "Stazi" TangherliniShe/HerNew York BENT
5Lindsay McKennaShe/HerWest Chester UniversityWest Chester Loco
6Janine HlavatyShe/HerNew York BENT
7Luisa NevesShe/HerUniversity of RochesterNew York BENT
8Kelly "Beezus" HylandShe/HerWashington DC Space Heater
9Sarah JohnsonShe/HerPhiladelphia AMP
10Natalie BovaPhiladelphia AMP
11Danielle WalshPhiladelphia AMP
12Amy ZhouShe/HerRutgers UniversityWashington DC Scandal
13Becca TuckerShe/HerAlbany Rebel Rebel
14Tulsa DouglasShe/HerSt. Olaf CollegeBoston Brute Squad
16Jessica ShatkinNew York BENT
17Margo CodyNew York BENT
18Wei GaoShe/HerNew York BENT
20Karen ChalifShe/HerNew York XIST
21Linda MorseShe/HerPhiladelphia AMP
22Lauren WoodsShe/HerNew York BENT
23Andrea DeSabatoShe/HerPhiladelphia AMP
24Casey GormanWashington DC Scandal
33Lauren PiontekShe/HerNew York XIST
41Martha GregoryNew York BENT
44Raha MozaffariShe/HerPhiladelphia AMP
71Cassie WongShe/HerBoston Brute Squad
88Nikki HairShe/HerNJ Jughandle
99Veronica Kolegue-SpalarisShe/HerAlbany Rebel Rebel
PPAbbey StolowskiNJ Pine Baroness
PPCaroline TurnerHudson Valley Funk
PPKyla DayerShe/HerUniversity of RochesterBrooklyn Grand Army
PPTricia SmitShe/HerNew York XIST

Social justice and equity

In 2020, the Gridlock raised over $10,000[10] for the National Bail Out collective, a Black-led and Black-centered collective of abolitionist organizers, lawyers and activists building a community-based movement to end systems of pretrial detention and ultimately mass incarceration.[11] Social justice and equity are built into their mission statement,[12] with text that centers gender and racial equity and accountability in community partnerships. These were elaborated further by Eileen Murray, owner and General Manager, and Khunsa Amin, Director of Community, Outreach, and Operations in an interview with Still Out of Your League.[13]

Notes and References

  1. News: New Women's & Non-Binary Semi-Pro League Set To Launch In April. Eisenhood. Charlie. January 22, 2019. Ultiworld. May 20, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20230407164256/https://ultiworld.com/2019/01/22/new-womens-non-binary-semi-pro-league-set-launch-april/. April 7, 2023. live.
  2. Web site: Mission Statement. New York Gridlock Ultimate. en-US. 2020-05-20.
  3. News: Zagoria. Adam. 2019-06-28. Born of a Boycott, a Women's Ultimate Frisbee League Charts Its Own Path. en-US. The New York Times. 2020-05-20. 0362-4331.
  4. News: Mather . Victor . Let's Hear It for Your Hometown Shortcomings! . May 14, 2023 . . July 30, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190801015138/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/30/sports/team-nicknames.html . August 1, 2019. live.
  5. News: Western Ultimate League Postpones Start of Season Due to Coronavirus Outbreak. Eisenhood. Charlie . 2020-03-12. Ultiworld. 2020-05-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20230407080911/https://ultiworld.com/2020/03/12/western-ultimate-league-postpones-start-season-due-coronavirus-outbreak/. April 7, 2023. live.
  6. News: Premier Ultimate League 2020 Season Has Been Canceled. Eisenhood. Charlie . 2020-04-14. Ultiworld. 2020-05-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20230406212846/https://ultiworld.com/2020/04/14/premier-ultimate-league-2020-season-canceled/. April 6, 2023. live.
  7. Web site: Results. Premier Ultimate League. en-US. 2020-05-20.
  8. News: PUL 2020: A Look At The New Rosters. Daniel. Prentice . 2020-03-05. Ultiworld. 2020-05-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20230406214349/https://ultiworld.com/2020/03/05/pul-2020-look-new-rosters/. April 6, 2023. live.
  9. Web site: 2020 Roster. New York Gridlock Ultimate. en-US. 2020-05-20.
  10. Web site: To all who donated, to all who amplified this campaign: THANK YOU. Without each & every one of you, this would not have been possible. We are feeling very energized and grateful after seeing how this community has responded to help free Black mothers in pre-trial detention.pic.twitter.com/wtaG0LJNGR. Ultimate. New York Gridlock. 2020-05-10. @ny_gridlock. en. 2020-05-22.
  11. News: Amid COVID-19 Pandemic, National Bail Out Is Freeing Black Mothers From Jail. McHarris. Philip V.. Essence. en-US. 2020-05-22. December 6, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20230513064426/https://www.essence.com/feature/covid-19-pandemic-national-bail-out/. May 13, 2023. live.
  12. Web site: Mission Statement. New York Gridlock Ultimate. en-US. 2020-05-22.
  13. Web site: this professional sports team is trying to dismantle white supremacy culture in their sport. Cretaz. Britni de la. britnidlc.substack.com. 2020-05-22.