Standout Performances: Week One
Week one is in the books and these are the players on each team that stood out amongst the competition.
Rei Brodeur — Detroit Innovators (B)
No player was more central to the Detroit Innovators’ upset victory over the Chicago Prowl in game two, the biggest win in franchise history, than beater Rei Brodeur. Brodeur forced a key turnover that created a goal early in the tight low-scoring affair, helped to clear the space for seeker Neil Peterson to pull the flag, and took out an opposing beater on the final offensive possession to send the Innovators into celebration. It was a fitting performance from a player who has personified the turnaround in the Detroit program since her debut in 2022 and has taken significant steps forward every season.
Nathan Digmann — Chicago Prowl (K)
Playing short-handed without the services of Ryley Andrews, Darian Murcek-Ellis, or Ally Manzella in the quadball game, keeper Nathan Digmann put the Prowl on his back and saved his longtime team from what would have been an embarrassing series loss. He scored 11 goals and added nine assists, pushing the pace off turnovers in quick recognition of transition opportunities and threading shots through the narrowest of windows with pinpoint accuracy in the half court, when nothing else was working for the Prowl. He also notched 14 stops on defense, tops in the league in week one. He did what any leader is supposed to do and once again performed at the absolute highest level under pressure against tough competition.
Lindsay Marella — New York Titans (C)
As she has been doing ever since the very first season of MLQ in 2015, chaser Lindsay Marella was the player who made everyone go for the New York Titans in their dominant season-opening series victory over the Washington Admirals. Whether she was sitting back in a deep-lying playmaker role and using her passing and vision to get everyone, from 10-year veterans to MLQ rookies, involved in the offense or streaking into space en route to a clutch rally-killing goal, Marella shined once again for the Titans. She finished with six goals and six assists, not to mention six stops on the defensive end, where she is a major disruptive presence. She is an all-time great and she continues to perform at the peak of her powers.
Liz Stone — Washington Admirals (C)
A veteran of the sport, chaser Liz Stone rostered for only three games for the Washington Admirals last season, playing behind US National Team players like Rachel Heald and Julia Baer. With Heald and Baer out of the picture, Stone was among several chasers including Julia Rankin, Juli Nuetzel, and Jeannette High who stepped up and made their mark. Stone in particular scored three goals, tied for second-most on the team, and registered a team-high four stops. She made some timely hustle plays and impressive finishes around the hoops in addition to confident ball handling to keep Washington competitive against tough opposition.
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