Ultimate Frisbee Association

The UFA was founded by Josh Moore in 2012 as the American Ultimate Disc League (AUDL).

The first AUDL game was won by the Connecticut Constitution on April 14, 2012, over the Rhode Island Rampage by a score of 29 to 23, and the first goal was scored by Brent Anderson of the Constitution.{{cite web |title=Week 1 Results |url=http://theaudl.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=78:week-1&catid=13:featured-news&Itemid=71 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001043136/http://theaudl.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=78:week-1&catid=13:featured-news&Itemid=71 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |access-date=April 16, 2012 |work=American Ultimate Disc League}}{{Failed verification|date=January 2024}} The first championship was held on August 11, 2012, and was won by the Philadelphia Spinners by a score of 29 to 22 over the Indianapolis AlleyCats.

In the first season, the league consisted of eight teams broken into the Eastern and Western conferences. Jonathan "Goose" Helton of the AlleyCats was named league MVP for the inaugural season. Helton, alongside Evan Boucher, Cameron Brock, Rob Dulabon, Dave Hochholter, John Korber, and Jake Rainwater were named to the first All-AUDL Team.{{Cite web |date=2018-09-14 |title=2012 Season Index |url=https://theaudl.com/league/stat-index/2012 |access-date=2022-05-31 |website=AUDL |language=en}}

In May 2012, the AUDL announced its plans for expansion for the following season, including franchises in New Jersey, New York, and Boston. Owners of the Connecticut Constitution and Rhode Island Rampage contended that the Boston and New York franchises impinged upon their Territory Licensing Agreements, which specified a non-compete radius of 100 miles. Separately, the league compensated the Philadelphia Spinners for the encroachment of the New Jersey and New York franchises. Negotiations between the Constitution, the Rampage, and the league reached an impasse in early June and the franchises' owners threatened legal action. The league preemptively sued the owners on June 17. As negotiations wore on, the league (at least twice) offered various settlements to the owners of the Constitution and the Rampage, but those offers were rejected. On July 5, the Constitution suspended team operations due to legal fees, missing two games. The league then fined the team the maximum fine of $10,000 per game, which Constitution owner Bryan Ricci called "severe and excessive" and refused to pay. Both the Constitution and Rampage had games cancelled near the end of the season.{{cite web|url=http://ultiworld.com/2012/07/19/a-timeline-of-the-audl-lawsuit-how-did-we-get-here/ | title = A Timeline of the AUDL Lawsuit: How Did We Get Here?| work = Ultiworld | date = July 19, 2012| access-date = August 14, 2015}} The Constitution would have earned a playoff berth but were disqualified due to their unpaid fines and the Rampage advanced in their place, losing to the Philadelphia Spinners in the Division final.

In December 2012, the league and team owners reached a settlement. Details of the settlement are unknown due to a non-disclosure agreement.{{cite web|url=http://ultiworld.com/2012/12/12/audl-settles-lawsuit-with-connnecticut-and-rhode-island-franchises/| title = AUDL Settles Lawsuit With Connnecticut and Rhode Island Franchises| work = Ultiworld | date = December 13, 2012| access-date = August 14, 2015}} Neither the Rampage nor the Connecticut Constitution returned to the AUDL in 2013.

For the 2013 season, the Indianapolis AlleyCats and the Detroit Mechanix were the only teams from the 2012 season to remain in their cities, while the Bluegrass Revolution relocated from Lexington, KY to Cincinnati, OH and the Buffalo Hunters relocated and rebranded as the Rochester Dragons.{{cite web|url=http://skydmagazine.com/2012/10/philadelphia-spinners-leave-audl/ |title=Philadelphia Spinners Leave AUDL |work=Skyd Magazine |date=October 5, 2012 |access-date=June 24, 2014}} Even with only four teams left, the league still managed to expand to twelve teams overall.{{cite web|url=http://www.theaudl.com/network/teams/ |title=AUDL Teams |work=American Ultimate Disc League |access-date=April 15, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119061015/http://theaudl.com/network/teams/ |archive-date=January 19, 2013 }}

In 2014, the league expanded to 17 teams, including the introduction of the West Division.{{cite web|url=http://ultiworld.com/2013/10/25/audl-announces-2014-expansion-west-coast-montreal/ |title=AUDL Announces 2014 Expansion To West Coast, Montreal | publisher = Ultiworld | date = October 25, 2013 | access-date = November 25, 2014}} The league also reached a multi-year broadcasting deal with ESPN3 that covered 14 regular season games, a playoff game, and the Championship Weekend.{{cite web |url=http://theaudl.com/articles/ata/espn |title=AUDL Signs Multi-Year Broadcast Agreement with ESPN |work=American Ultimate Disc League |access-date=April 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508070453/http://theaudl.com/articles/ata/espn |archive-date=May 8, 2014 |url-status=dead }}

In 2015, the league expanded to 25 teams. The new expansion teams consisted of the Pittsburgh Thunderbirds, Ottawa Outlaws, Los Angeles Aviators, San Diego Growlers, Jacksonville Cannons, Nashville NightWatch, Raleigh Flyers, Atlanta Hustle, and Charlotte Express. In March 2015, the Salt Lake Lions announced that they would be suspending operations for the entire 2015 season; leaving the West Conference with only 6 teams. In October 2015, the AUDL announced that the Lions franchise had been bought back by the league, making that hiatus permanent. In the same announcement, the league welcomed the Austin Sol and Dallas Roughnecks to the South Division.{{cite web|url=http://ultiworld.com/2015/10/08/austin-dallas-joining-audls-south-division-in-2016/ |title=Austin, Dallas Joining AUDL's South Division in 2016 | publisher = Ultiworld | date = October 8, 2015 | access-date = October 29, 2015}} Shortly thereafter, the AUDL announced that the Rochester Dragons franchise was also being contracted and that the league was again hoping to start a franchise in the Boston area.{{cite web |url=http://theaudl.com/articles/ata/DragonsFranchiseContracted |title=AUDL Announces Contraction of Rochester Dragons Franchise |publisher=AUDL |date=October 29, 2015 |access-date=October 30, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031201950/http://theaudl.com/articles/ata/DragonsFranchiseContracted |archive-date=October 31, 2015 |url-status=dead }}

Also in 2015, the Raleigh Flyers of the AUDL signed the first ever female professional ultimate player, Jessi Jones, to play in their game against the Nashville Nightwatch. Jones, who was a team USA U-23 player in 2013, was signed as part of "Women's Ultimate Day".{{cite web|title = Raleigh Flyers Sign First-Ever Female Pro Ultimate Player {{!}} Livewire {{!}} Ultiworld|url = http://ultiworld.com/livewire/raleigh-flyers-sign-first-female-pro-ultimate-player/|access-date = August 13, 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://ultiworld.com/2017/03/24/first-female-player-jesse-shofner-makes-nashville-nightwatch-roster/ |title=In First For Female Player, Jesse Shofner Makes Nashville Nightwatch Roster |publisher=Ultiworld |date=March 24, 2017 |access-date=April 8, 2017}}

In September 2016, the Cincinnati Revolution and the Charlotte Express announced they would be ceasing operations.{{cite web|url=http://ultiworld.com/2016/09/02/audls-cincinnati-revolution-charlotte-express-cease-operations/|title=AUDL's Cincinnati Revolution, Charlotte Express Cease Operations|last=comments|first=Charlie Eisenhood in News with 2|date=September 2, 2016|website=Ultiworld|access-date=September 11, 2016}}

In the 2017 season, Jesse Shofner was selected to the roster for the Nashville Nightwatch, which made her the first female player to make a full season AUDL roster. Shofner subsequently scored two goals in the Nightwatch's first game of the 2017 season, making her the first woman to do so in any AUDL game.{{Cite web |date=April 4, 2017 |title=AUDL Throwaround: Shofner Makes History, Ugly Jersey Effect, Polk On SportsCenter |url=https://ultiworld.com/2017/04/04/audl-throwaround-shofner-makes-history-ugly-jersey-effect-polk-sportscenter// |access-date=April 6, 2017 |website=Ultiworld}}

Before the 2018 season, the Vancouver Riptide announced they would be leaving Vancouver.

Before the 2019 season, the Nashville Nightwatch and the San Francisco FlameThrowers announced they would be ceasing operations.

On December 4, 2019, the league announced that a new Boston franchise (later named the Boston Glory) would join the league for the 2020 season, its first expansion since 2016.{{cite web |last1=Eisenhood |first1=Charlie |title=AUDL Adds Boston Franchise In First Expansion Since 2016 |url=https://ultiworld.com/2019/12/04/audl-adds-boston-franchise-first-expansion-since-2016/ |website=Ultiworld |date=December 4, 2019 |access-date=December 22, 2019}} That same day, the league announced a divisional realignment plan that saw the Midwest renamed the Central, the dissolution of the South into a combo South-East Atlantic Division, and the two Texas teams moving to the West division, among other moves.{{cite web |title=2020 AUDL Divisional Realignment |url=https://theaudl.com/league/news/2020-audl-division-realignment |website=American Ultimate Disc League |access-date=December 22, 2019 |date=December 4, 2019}}

The 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web |title=AUDL Cancels 2020 Season |url=https://theaudl.com/league/news/2020-audl-season-cancelled-covid |website=AUDL |access-date=10 July 2020 |date=June 24, 2020}}

Due to COVID-related travel restrictions, in the 2021 season the three Canadian teams played in an independent series, the Canada Cup. The 19 U.S. teams competed in three divisions: Atlantic, Central, and West. The Boston Glory and the New York Empire moved from the East Division, which did not exist in 2021, to the Atlantic Division.{{Cite web|date=2021-03-05|title=AUDL Exec. Council Approves Return To Play For 2021|url=https://www.theaudl.com/league/news/audl-2021-season-announcement-june-start-fox-sports-one|access-date=2021-05-23|website=AUDL|language=en}}

In December 2021, the league announced three new franchises, the Colorado Summit, Salt Lake Shred, and Portland Nitro.{{Cite web|date=2021-11-30|title=Colorado, Salt Lake, Portland To Join West In 2022|url=https://theaudl.com/league/news/2021-audl-three-expansion-teams-colorado-summit-salt-lake-shred-portland|access-date=2022-01-14|website=AUDL|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2022-01-11|title=Portland Nitro Join West Division In 2022|url=https://theaudl.com/league/news/2022-audl-portland-nitro-name-announcement|access-date=2022-01-14|website=AUDL|language=en}} With the addition of these teams the divisions were realigned, with a new South division in place of the Atlantic division.{{Cite web|date=2021-11-30|title=AUDL Will Return To Four Divisions In 2022|url=https://theaudl.com/league/news/2022-audl-divisional-realignment|access-date=2022-01-21|website=AUDL|language=en}} Also in December 2021, the Dallas Roughnecks announced that they were rebranding as the Dallas Legion.{{Cite web|date=2021-12-15|title=Dallas Announces New Branding and Staff Changes|url=https://theaudl.com/league/news/2021-dallas-legion-announces-new-branding-staff-changes|access-date=2022-01-13|website=AUDL|language=en}} In February 2022, the San Jose Spiders announced a move to nearby Oakland.{{cite web |title=After 6 Years, 2 Championships, and Many Memories, the Spiders Are Moving to Oakland |url=https://oaklandspiders.com/blogs/news/oakland-spiders |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214200701/https://oaklandspiders.com/blogs/news/oakland-spiders |archive-date=February 14, 2022 |access-date=11 February 2022 |website=Oakland Spiders}}

After the 2022 season, the league announced the addition of the Houston Havoc, and the departure of the Tampa Bay Cannons and Ottawa Outlaws.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-18 |title=Houston Set To Join League In 2023 |url=https://www.theaudl.com/league/news/2022-audl-houston-expansion-tampa-bay-ottawa-contraction |access-date=2022-11-20 |website=AUDL |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-12-14 |title=Houston Havoc Announced For 2023 Season |url=https://www.theaudl.com/league/news/2023-audl-houston-havoc-team-announced |access-date=2022-12-29 |website=AUDL |language=en}}

On January 17, 2024 the league announced it was rebranding the Ultimate Frisbee Association (UFA). The league partnered with Sport Dimension Inc. (SDI), owner of the Wham-O brand family which includes the Frisbee trademark to license the name for use across the league. Multiple new logos were designed as part of the league's new brand identity. In 2024 the UFA announced it would be streaming the "Super Series", top weekly games for free, live on YouTube. The season culminated with the 13th Championship Weekend, August 23–24, at Zions Bank Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah.

After the 2024 season, the Portland Nitro changed their name to the Oregon Steel,{{Cite web |date=2024-09-15 |title=Oregon Steel |url=https://watchufa.com/league/steel |access-date=2024-11-11 |website=WatchUFA |language=en}} and the Dallas Legion suspended operations.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-27 |title=Dallas Legion Suspend Operations Following 2024 Season |url=https://watchufa.com/league/news/2024-ufa-dallas-legion-suspend-operations |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=WatchUFA |language=en}} In January 2025 the league announced a division realignment{{Cite web |date=2025-01-09 |title=New Divisional Alignment Set For 2025 UFA Season |url=https://watchufa.com/league/news/new-divisional-alignment-set-2025-ufa-season |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=WatchUFA |language=en}} and the addition of the Vegas Bighorns.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-02 |title=Ultimate Frisbee Association Welcomes Expansion Vegas Bighorns For 2025 |url=https://watchufa.com/league/news/2025-ufa-vegas-bighorns-expansion-team-announcement |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=WatchUFA |language=en}}

{{Further|Ultimate (sport)#Rules}}

The UFA features a number of rule changes from the traditional set of rules laid out and established by USA Ultimate (USAU) and the World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF).

The field area is expanded to {{frac|53|1|3}} yards wide and 80 yards long with 20-yard end zones (the same size as an American football field, but with the end zones taking up twice as much of the field as in American football). Games are timed with four-quarters of 12 minutes each, including a 15-minute halftime. If the score is tied, a five-minute overtime period is played. If the score remains tied after overtime, a second overtime is played in which the first team to score wins.

Notable changes from the USAU format include the use of referees, a drop in the stall count from 10 seconds to 7, a ten-yard penalty for travelling when catching the disc, no prohibition of double-teams, and a yardage penalty for travelling when throwing the disc.{{cite web |title=AUDL 101 |url=http://theaudl.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=40&Itemid=68 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525214921/http://theaudl.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=40&Itemid=68 |archive-date=May 25, 2012 |access-date=April 15, 2012 |work=American Ultimate Disc League}} There are also other infractions, such as too much physicality, that result in 10- or 20-yard penalties depending on the severity of the infraction. While different from the USAU and WFDF rules, many of these changes were also seen in the MLU.

The UFA consists of 24 teams divided into four divisions. During the regular season, each team is allowed an unlimited number of players on its roster; only 20 of these may be active/rostered (eligible to play) on game days.{{Cite web |title=AUDL Official Rules – 2023 Season |url=https://watchufa.com/sites/default/files/AUDLRuleBook2023.pdf |access-date=January 26, 2024 |website=watchufa.com}}

Every UFA team is based in North America.

The 24 teams are organized into four geographic divisions with a varying number of teams in each.

{{Location map+ | United States

| width = 512

| float = none

| caption = UFA team locations (East in green, Central in blue, South in red, West in yellow)

| places =

{{Location map~ | United States

| label = Hustle

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{{Location map~ | United States

| label = Breeze

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| lon_deg = 77

| lon_min = 0

| lon_sec = 59

| lon_dir = W

}}

{{Location map~ | United States

| label = Phoenix

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| lat_deg = 40

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| lon_deg = 75

| lon_min = 8

| lon_sec = 0

| lon_dir = W

}}

{{Location map~ | United States

| label = Thunderbirds

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| mark = Blue pog.svg

| lat_deg = 40

| lat_min = 26

| lat_sec = 23

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| lon_deg = 79

| lon_min = 58

| lon_sec = 35

| lon_dir = W

}}

{{Location map~ | United States

| label = Flyers

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| lat_deg = 35

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| lat_sec =

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| lon_deg = 78

| lon_min = 38

| lon_sec =

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}}

{{Location map~ | United States

| label = Union

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| lat_deg = 41

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| lat_sec = 13

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| lon_deg = 87

| lon_min = 41

| lon_sec = 5

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}}

{{Location map~ | United States

| label = Mechanix

| label_size = 70

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| mark = Blue pog.svg

| lat_deg = 42

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| lon_deg = 85

| lon_min = 37

| lon_sec = 19

| lon_dir = W

}}

{{Location map~ | United States

| label = AlleyCats

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| lat_deg = 39

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| lon_deg = 86

| lon_min = 8

| lon_sec = 53

| lon_dir = W

}}

{{Location map~ | United States

| label = Radicals

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| mark = Blue pog.svg

| lat_deg = 43

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| lat_dir = N

| lon_deg = 89

| lon_min = 24

| lon_sec =

| lon_dir = W

}}

{{Location map~ | United States

| label = Wind Chill

| label_size = 70

| position = top

| mark = Blue pog.svg

| lat_deg = 45

| lat_min = 9

| lat_sec = 39

| lat_dir = N

| lon_deg = 93

| lon_min = 14

| lon_sec = 5

| lon_dir = W

}}

{{Location map~ | United States

| label = Glory

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| mark = Green pog.svg

| lat_deg = 42

| lat_min = 21

| lat_sec = 9

| lat_dir = N

| lon_deg = 71

| lon_min = 03

| lon_sec = 49

| lon_dir = W

}}

{{Location map~ | United States

| label = Royal

| label_size = 70

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| lat_deg = 45

| lat_min = 30

| lat_sec =

| lat_dir = N

| lon_deg = 73

| lon_min = 34

| lon_sec =

| lon_dir = W

}}

{{Location map~ | United States

| label = Empire

| label_size = 70

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| mark = Green pog.svg

| lat_deg = 40

| lat_min = 54

| lat_sec = 41

| lat_dir = N

| lon_deg = 73

| lon_min = 46

| lon_sec = 56

| lon_dir = W

}}

{{Location map~ | United States

| label = Rush

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| mark = Green pog.svg

| lat_deg = 43

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| lat_dir = N

| lon_deg = 79

| lon_min = 24

| lon_sec =

| lon_dir = W

}}

{{Location map~ | United States

| label = Sol

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| lat_dir = N

| lon_deg = 97

| lon_min = 44

| lon_sec =

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}}

{{Location map~ | United States

| label = Summit

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| lat_deg = 39

| lat_min = 44

| lat_sec = 21

| lat_dir = N

| lon_deg = 104

| lon_min = 59

| lon_sec = 6

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{{Location map~ | United States

| label = Aviators

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| mark = Red pog.svg

| lat_deg = 34

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| lat_dir = N

| lon_deg = 118

| lon_min = 15

| lon_sec =

| lon_dir = W

}}

{{Location map~ | United States

| label = Steel

| label_size = 70

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| mark = Yellow pog.svg

| lat_deg = 45

| lat_min = 31

| lat_sec = 12

| lat_dir = N

| lon_deg = 122

| lon_min = 40

| lon_sec = 55

| lon_dir = W

}}

{{Location map~ | United States

| label = Shred

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| mark = Yellow pog.svg

| lat_deg = 40

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| lat_sec = 39

| lat_dir = N

| lon_deg = 111

| lon_min = 53

| lon_sec = 28

| lon_dir = W

}}

{{Location map~ | United States

| label = Growlers

| label_size = 70

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| lat_deg = 32

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{{Location map~ | United States

| label = Spiders

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| lon_min = 16

| lon_sec = 15

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}}

{{Location map~ | United States

| label = Cascades

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{{Location map~ | United States

| label = Havoc

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| lon_min = 22

| lon_sec = 59

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}}

{{Location map~ | United States

| label = {{tooltip|2=Vegas Bighorns|Bighorns|dotted=no}}

| label_size = 70

| position = right

| mark = Yellow pog.svg

| lat_deg = 36

| lat_min = 10

| lat_sec = 2

| lat_dir = N

| lon_deg = 115

| lon_min = 8

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}}

• Team was a founding member of the UFA

• Josh Moore, Commissioner from 2012-2013
• Steve Gordon, Commissioner from 2013-2018
• Steve Hall, Commissioner from 2018–2024
• Tim DeByl, Commissioner from 2024-Present

• Major League Ultimate – defunct league which coexisted with the AUDL from 2013 to 2016
• Premier Ultimate League – women's league
• Western Ultimate League – women's league

{{Reflist}}

{{commonscat}}

• {{Official website}}

{{American Ultimate Disc League seasons}}

{{AUDL teams}}

{{Top sport leagues in the United States}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Ultimate (sport) competitions

Category:Professional sports leagues in the United States

Category:Sports leagues established in 2010

Category:2010 establishments in the United States