Seattle Tempest Win 2026 WUL Championship, Kauffman voted MVP and Hsu OPOTY
By Becca Weinberg
Portland, OR - For the first time since 2023 and third time in franchise history, the Seattle Tempest are Western Ultimate League (WUL) Champions. The Tempest earned a 13-8 win over the San Diego Super Bloom in the final round of WUL Championship Weekend on Sunday. During halftime, handler Jamie Kauffman was announced as the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP), and handler Cheryl Hsu took home Offensive Player of the Year (OPOTY) honors.
The Seattle Tempest celebrate Jamie Kauffman’s Most Valuable Player award during halftime of their 13-8 WUL Championship Victory over the San Diego Super Bloom on June 14th in Portland, Oregon (Photo by Rowdy Webb Photography).
The Tempest got out to an early lead in the first quarter against San Diego, but entered halftime tied 7-7. The third quarter brought variable weather challenges, with extreme heat and gusty winds, but Seattle continued unfazed. They held the Super Bloom to just one goal in the third quarter and zero goals in the fourth quarter, with gritty defensive plays and perfectly-placed throws. As they’ve done all season, the Tempest stepped up when it mattered most, and proved that they are highly deserving of this year’s WUL title.
Both Kauffman and Hsu received their awards during a brief ceremony at halftime, and were engulfed by thunderous cheers from the Tempest and surrounding crowd. Kauffman secured the elusive MVP award during just their first year in the WUL by producing arguably the league’s most complete season ever. In 2026, they became the first player in WUL history to lead the league in both goals (24) and assists (29), setting a new single-season assist record in the process. They also finished the season with 18 blocks, good for second in the league. Kauffman additionally led the Tempest in many team categories, which include goals, assists, blocks, and receiving yards. With this unmatched success, Kauffman became the first player to lead the league in major offensive categories while playing the majority of their points on the defensive line. Kauffman has quickly made a name for themself as an incredible talent across every league category, and was a major contributor to Seattle’s success this season.
While Kauffman produced a phenomenal rookie season, Hsu’s veteran presence on the Tempest also recorded one of the most efficient offensive seasons in WUL history. Hsu placed among the league leaders in assists (27) and goals (12), while recording 2,899 throwing yards and 3,331 total yards, the second-highest and fourth-highest marks in the league, respectively. Known partially for her incredible deep throws, Hsu now holds the highest ever huck completion rate in league history for a player with at least 15 huck attempts after she secured an 85% huck completion rate on 17 of 20 attempts. Hsu’s ability to consistently create scoring opportunities for the team with precision and efficiency made her an obvious choice for 2026 OPOTY.
The Seattle Tempest celebrate Cheryl Hsu’s Offensive Player of the Year award during halftime of their 13-8 WUL Championship Victory over the San Diego Super Bloom on June 14th in Portland, Oregon (Photo by Rowdy Webb Photography).
While these two standout players took home their deserved awards, it’s important to additionally highlight the depth of the Tempest’s roster. The team’s domination this season was in large part due to the fact that every player contributed to their success on both offense and defense. It was a true complete team, and one with the looks of a championship build from the first few weeks of the season. From the coaching staff to the players and everyone in-between, this championship is for the city of Seattle from a team that represents its most idyllic form. Congratulations to the 2026 WUL Champions, your Seattle Tempest.
The Seattle Tempest celebrate their 13-8 WUL Championship Victory over the San Diego Super Bloom on June 14th in Portland, Oregon (Photo by Rowdy Webb Photography).
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Instagram: @CirclingSeattleSports Twitter: @CirclingSports Threads: @CirclingSeattleSports Tiktok: @CirclingSeattleSports Facebook: Circling Seattle Sports BlueSky: @circlingseasports.bsky.social 〰️
Check out our previous Seattle Tempest articles here.
Check out our previous articles with writing for CSS by Becca Weinberg here, and her work with Lookout Landing here.
Cover photo and photos in this article by Robert Hanashiro, provided by the Seattle Tempest.
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