March 6, 2026
By Adam Ruffner

In a blockbuster signing just seven weeks before the start of the season, the New York Empire have added last year's Rookie Of The Year and MVP finalist Daan De Marrée for the 2026 campaign. As a member of the Chicago Union, the 24-year-old De Marrée had one of the best rookie seasons in league history, accumulating 33 assists, 45 goals, 19 blocks, and a league-leading +83 plus/minus mark while accumulating over 5,100 yards of total offense. 

“We are ultra excited to have Daan joining the team,” Empire General Manager Matt Stevens told Alex Rubin of Ultiworld about the signing. “He does everything at an extremely high level and will push the entire roster to be better. Perhaps most impressive is that he touches the disc a ton, puts up gaudy looking stats, and all the while plays within himself and is a selfless teammate.”

After scoring zero goals in his professional debut, De Marrée never scored fewer than two goals in any of his final nine starts of the season. And over a five-game stretch from late June through the end of July, the Belgian burner averaged 405 receiving yards per game while never scoring fewer than five goals in any contest. 

“The Empire are known for being an excellent professional organization,” De Marrée said at the time of the signing. “And I’m excited to experience what that feels like—to be treated as a professional athlete and to have the best resources possible.”

New York already added major talent this offseason with the signing of former All-UFA selection Alex Atkins, and are looking to bounce back after being eliminated from the first round of the East Division playoffs in each of the past two seasons. The Empire have made seven straight playoff appearances, and have a record three UFA titles over that time, the most recent coming in 2023. 

And as if this De Marrée signing wasn't juicy enough, he will have an opportunity to face his former Chicago team on July 10 in a must-watch "Friday Night Frisbee" showdown.