Scottish University Women’s Indoor Regionals: 2025 Preview

by Aj Strang, Dan Lindsay and Lauren Wright

Dan: I’ve enjoyed the last two weekends much more from a Saints perspective! Now we turn to University Women’s Indoor Regionals (UWIR) this weekend, which AJ and I will be TD’ing. AJ, didn’t you fly back from your study abroad just to sideline last year’s UWIR?

AJ: Yeah, I just wanted to watch Sophie Chowgule and Marta Orzechowski crush some Scottish souls one last time. Last year, ten teams entered UWIR, with four Division 1 Nationals spots and four Division 2 National spots up for grabs. After a snowstorm, the women’s captains voted to postpone all the games to Sunday, but St Andrews still ran roughshod through the tournament. Led by five final-year students, Saints conceded only eight goals across their five matches, winning their fourth straight ScUWIR title with a 10-2 evisceration of Edinburgh in the final. Still, Edi’s strong performance in their own group earned them the silver, while the iron-manning Strathclyde took bronze and Aberdeen earned the final Division 1 spot (though I don’t believe they ever actually made the trip to Nottingham). Finishing 5th through 8th, Glasgow 1, Edinburgh 2, Stirling 1, and Dundee 1 took the four Division 2 places. However, the landscape has drastically changed in the last year. Last year’s third and fourth place teams aren’t even sending a squad this time around, Dan.

Dan: That is disappointing, but the turmoil opens the door for an exciting regionals where anything could happen, which also makes our job a bit more difficult. No longer the heavy favourites, Saints have finally lost the core that made them champions every year since COVID. Meanwhile, Glasgow have regained some familiar faces who missed last year, and Edinburgh have picked up some talented freshers. This mix up means that the title is completely up for grabs! 

AJ: Totally agree, Dan. Still, despite our success at UMIR (I don’t know if y’all heard, but Saints finished 1st AND 2nd, nbd), some may call us unqualified to pontificate on a division in which we do not participate. So, to bolster this preview with someone with actual experience playing these teams, we have invited my GUXYZ teammate and fellow T-Swizzle aficionado, Lauren Wright, to be our guest predictor this week. Lauren, I’d call you the Strathclyde women’s captain, but I’m afraid that team doesn’t appear to exist anymore.

Lauren: Thank you for having me, guys! I know you’re just sad that you won’t be seeing Becca this weekend, AJ, but I’m definitely still Strath’s women’s captain – we just opted out this year to spare everyone the embarrassment of being outplayed by a team with zero subs again. Once again, there are ten teams entering UWIR, but the competition looks completely different, with neither Strathclyde nor Aberdeen sending a team, which I’ll admit is personally rather heartbreaking to see. Still, Scotland has three Division 1 Nationals spots and four Div 2 spots up for grabs, so let’s get into the predictions!

1. Edinburgh 1

AJ: The big question heading into this weekend is who will prevail between Edinburgh and Glasgow at the top of the division. Dan and I have Edi taking gold after their women dissected the competition at UXIR. I think the separator here will be Edi’s depth and game IQ. I know the focus will be on the two GB U24 stars, but the rest of the squad repeatedly outsmarts and outworks their matchups. Also, special shoutout to my former neighbor Zoe Lopez for not only being relentless on the pitch, but also locating and returning one of my discs from mixed.

Dan: Edinburgh have shown themselves to be true contenders this year, with a strong performance at G1D as well as winning mixed regionals. These valuable experiences will be enough to bring them to the final and get over the line in my opinion. There’s also been some rumours circling around about the team picking up certain club players for this weekend, which could easily be the deciding factor…

Lauren: The top two spots seem destined to be contested by Edinburgh 1 and Glasgow 1, though I have the two swapped. Still, Edinburgh certainly brings firepower, having several strong FMPs including U24 World’s bronze medallists Sophie Wilson and Naomi Bond, so a finals appearance from this team would come as no surprise. Whatever the outcome, the matchup between these two teams looks set to be one of the closest and most exciting games of the tournament. Hopefully, my stance hasn’t given any of the Edinburgh women the ick again!

AJ: Don’t acknowledge the opps, Lauren. It only fuels their rage.

2. Glasgow 1

Lauren: I’m backing Glasgow 1 to win UWIR 2025. Their roster is stacked with impact players, including GUXYZ’s MVP Charlotte McFadzean, GB U24 Bronze medallist Alisa Cameron, and GB women’s indoor player, Alice Bates. While many teams will be familiar with Glasgow 1s established power line, it would be a mistake to overlook the newer FMPs who will be playing for Glasgow 1s this season. Although this indoor squad secured a victory against Edinburgh 1 en route to winning G1D, Glasgow did lose to Edinburgh at outdoor BUCS the other weekend, really establishing that it is still all to play for!

AJ: It’s hard to overlook the newer FMPs when the 1s are only sending seven players. Still, Glasgow benefits from having the clearest identity of the division. We know they’re running 2-1-2. We also know their power line: Ailsa, Charlotte, and GUXYZ’s Siobhan “el trafficone” Moore will run the weave, while Alice and GUXYZ’s Faith Amifor roam the endzone. That starting five might be the best in Scotland, but I worry Flung 1’s small roster may cause them to fade on Sunday night.

Dan: There’s no doubt that this will be a very strong and talented squad. They will likely be pushed on by missing out on Div 1 last year, and there is no question that they will achieve that goal this weekend. I agree with AJ in predicting them to fall just short of the title in a closely contested final, but it is bound to be an exciting matchup.

3. St Andrews 1

Lauren: Leaving Saints 1 out of the conversation for the UWIR title feels strange given their sustained success over the past several years in this division. They’ve undoubtedly been hit hard by the graduation of several key players, but this creates room for others to step up. Both women’s captains, Olivia Kwan and Maggie Barlow, bring multiple years of experience, and I have no doubt that Saints 1 will remain a strong and competitive team. However, I just don’t think they have the collective indoor experience to claim another UWIR title.

AJ: I hate to say it, but I also view Saints as the clear-cut third best team in the division. After the dominant display of the Saints at UMIR, one could logically conclude that the FMPs were the reason Saints failed to win UXIR. I would not personally make that argument (because true scholars know the Mixed 1s true weakness was the lack of a certain Release Point predictor), but I fear the last few weeks have shown the Saints women have an identity crisis to sort out. Sophie and Marta are the obvious losses, but Saints have also struggled to replace the calm handling of Elena Chesser, the energy of Shizuka Seko, and especially the absolutely clinical endzone work of Emma Sewell. Newcomers Amy Flynn and Helen Gallagher have refreshed the squad, but I don’t think Saints will be able to replicate the chemistry of years prior, let alone the physical and psychological dominance.

Dan: Maybe it’s my bias or just my knowledge of the talents of this team, but I am far more wary of writing them off from making the final. This team is full of talented players who offer lots of different skills and roles, and many of them have been playing together for three years now. Although we are predicting them to come third, there is no limit to this team’s potential, and I’ll be rooting for them to go all the way this weekend.

AJ: Such a suck up. I thought we were meant to be impartial.

4. Stirling 1

Dan: Stirling is a really interesting one to predict. While the results from G1D suggest they could struggle, the core of this team is very strong, and I suspect that they could be a real surprise package this weekend. I’m more optimistic on Stirling than Lauren or AJ, backing them to not only make it to the semis, but make a serious bid for the Div 1 spots.

Lauren: I disagree slightly with Dan’s assessment: to me, the gap between the top 3 teams and the rest of the women’s divisions looks substantial this season. However, I do believe Stirling will be best positioned to lead the pack behind the frontrunners. Despite having a few tough losses at G1D and finishing 9th below both Edi and Glasgow 2, I expect/hope they will raise their level for regionals. I believe in mine and AJ’s GUXYZ teammate Milly Quigley, along with other strong FMPs like Terri Phua and Soffia Sigbjönsdóttir, though I still question whether their team chemistry and individual talent are enough to prevent them from any upsets from other teams.

AJ: I agree with Dan that Stirling possesses the skill and athleticism to compete for a medal, but the results show they can’t seem to put these pieces together. I swear every time I watch them I’m impressed by their talent, structure, and bids… until I look at the scoreboard. I don’t know what they’re missing – my current hypothesis is that they suffer from not practicing together as frequently as other teams and not having enough subs – but like Lauren, I can’t see them challenging the top 3 in their current form and am more concerned the teams below them could pose a serious challenge.

5. Edinburgh 2

AJ: I know they lost to Glasgow 2, but the team passed the eye-test for me at G1D. With such a large performance squad, I have faith these FMPs have been getting high quality reps at every training session and will be ready to return to Nationals. I wouldn’t even be surprised to see them in the semis.

Lauren: With such a large performance squad as AJ mentioned, Edinburgh probably has some hidden talent waiting to break through. Although Edinburgh 2 didn’t find as much success at G1D as Glasgow 2, it’s unlikely that the same lineup will be representing them at UWIR. With greater depth to draw from and the possibility of stronger players filtering down, Edinburgh 2 could look very different – and even more competitive against the first teams! 

Dan: Agree with everything that has been said above; the depth of the Edinburgh squad definitely seems remarkable. The battle of the second teams is always an exciting contest, and I think Edinburgh might just about take it and claim fifth place.

6. St Andrews 2

Lauren: With Saints fielding three teams this year, it is likely that Saints 2 – much like Edinburgh 2 – will look quite different from the squad we saw finish last at G1D. I think that Saints 2 will take one of the spots to head to Nationals, and maybe even cause some tough competition for some first teams. 

AJ: Lauren is absolutely correct that this is a really mixed squad, with representatives from the outdoor 1s and 2s, the indoor 1s and 2s from G1D, and the UXIR 2s and 3s. Like Saints 1, I struggle to make sense of this team’s identity, but the mixing of all these squads has undeniably left the pieces of a Nationals qualifier, though I still worry they won’t be able to gel in time.

Dan: This is a very strong second team without a doubt. As mentioned, there is a big mix of experience, but I actually think that can be used to their advantage. Those newer to the sport or just indoors in particular will learn a ton over the course of the weekend from the more experienced leaders, and the team has the collective potential to have a very strong weekend. Qualifying for Div 2 Nationals is an exciting yet attainable goal.

7. Dundee 1

Dan: I’m predicting Dundee to take the final spot for Division 2 Nationals just like last year. Last year, they earnt their way in by routing Saints 3 and Saints 2 in back-to-back games, so I’m just hoping they don’t have to do that again. 

Lauren: Dundee did not field a team for G1D in the women’s division, but it was encouraging to see them enter a beginner team. However, Dundee this indoor season doesn’t seem to have much luck when it comes to injuries for both FMPs and MMPs! Hopefully they can stay injury free and put up a strong fight against the university second teams. 

AJ: If the last BUCS day at St Andrews was anything to go by, Dundee has recovered from their injuries and will be ready for any challenge. Despite only fielding 8 players, Dundee took down St Andrews 2s. Furthermore, Dundee’s lack of numbers will be less of a concern indoors. While I can’t see them challenging the other 1s teams, they could definitely beat every 2s and 3s team.

8. Glasgow 2

AJ: Maybe we’re undervaluing the highest placing 2s team at G1D, but I’m personally chalking that result up to homefield advantage. The mixed 2s and 3s underperformed Charlotte’s high predictions for them at UXIR, and just as a matter of principle, I trust the second teams from uni’s that sent three or more teams to a tournament, more.

Dan: I’m less dismissive, AJ. This team includes a good number of the players who went to St Andrews two weeks ago for the BUCS day and lost a tight game to Edinburgh, before bagelling Dundee. These valuable learning experiences should help them in their challenge for a Nationals spot.

Lauren: I agree with Dan: Glasgow 2 could be a genuine challenger to the other university second teams this year, demonstrated by their impressive run at G1D and further highlighted by wins over both Stirling and Edi 2s. If they can replicate that level of performance, they’re more than capable of causing problems for some 1s teams as well. Although AJ’s right in pointing out the Glasgow 2s and 3s had an unfortunate run at UXIR, much of Glasgow 2’s success at UWIR may depend on the depth of the opposition they have, especially as Saints and Edi may be spread too thin across three teams. Should the matchups fall in their favour, Glasgow 2 could well confirm themselves as the strongest second team in the division.

9. Edinburgh 3

AJ: This is the only team in Scotland across all three divisions I can confidently say I know absolutely nothing about.

Lauren: I too know absolutely nothing about Edinburgh 3. I am assuming that the Edi 3s will be a team with mostly frisbee freshers, but even that could be wrong! 

Dan: You might have to go rewatch our Edi Beginners footage, AJ.

Lauren: This is a whole new low if you are rewatching Edi Beginners footage…

10. St Andrews 3

AJ: I believe this team will be almost entirely beginners, composed primarily of members from the Saints 2s who finished last in the women’s division at G1D. Unfortunately, I believe this team is destined to repeat the results of last year’s iteration of the Saints 3s and finish tenth in the division again. That being said, they could have improved dramatically over the last month now that indoor beginner’s practices have transitioned to single-gender sessions and they no longer have to listen to me.

Lauren: If AJ is correct in saying that the team will be made up largely of the Saints 2 players who competed at G1D, then I don’t expect them to perform as strongly as the other squads. Still, it’s great to see other universities able to send second and third teams to UWIR. I need to find out what their secret to getting women into frisbee is, other than the St Andrews method of importing Americans en masse.

Dan: Only 20% of the Saints 3s are American, Lauren. We just know how to recruit. I will be rooting for this team of *many* nationalities to win some games this weekend.

Dan and AJ’s Predictions:

1. Edinburgh 1
2. Glasgow 1
3. Saints 1
4. Stirling 1
5. Edinburgh 2
6. Saints 2
7. Dundee 1
8. Glasgow 2
9. Edinburgh 3
10. Saints 3

AJ: Thanks for joining us, Lauren! Do you disagree about anything on our list?

Lauren: There isn’t much that I would change, but I would personally swap Edinburgh 1 with Glasgow 1 at the top of the division and Edinburgh 3 with Saints 3 at the bottom.

Dan: That’s totally fair. If you also think AJ and I have made some mistakes, remember to put your own predictions here. Last time we only got three places right, but that’s only because we didn’t want the other teams to know just how good our Huck Two-ahs were going to be.

AJ: This is so true; our humility was our greatest weakness. Also, just an FYI for the teams playing this weekend: Dan and I are definitely bribable if you want the hooter to go a couple minutes early or a result to be misentered into the spreadsheet.

Dan: Bitcoin preferred.

AJ: A lift back to St Andrews would also be nice.

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