Class of 2018
Dominique Fontenette

Dominique Fontenette
Hometown: Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Born: May 20, 1975 (Age 47)
Career Information
College
Club
National Team
U.S. National Championships
1x U.S. College Champion (1997)
4x U.S. Club Champion (1999, 2001, 2002, 2006)
1x U.S. Masters Champion (2015)
1x U.S. College Runner Up (1995)
4x U.S. Club Runner Up (2009, 2012, 2015, 2016)
1x U.S. Masters Runner Up (2013)
World Championships
7x World Champion (2005, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
1x World Runner Up (2001)
Awards
Callahan Award (1997)
Dominique has been a dominant force in the women’s division since she first began to play. Winning the Callahan Award and a national title during her time at Stanford, she continued playing with premier women’s teams in the Bay Area and Boston and currently plays in Seattle with Riot. Over the length of her career, Dom has been a key team member with four UPA National Championships in the club women’s division and six WFDF World Championship titles in multiple divisions, including being named to six U.S. National Teams – a remarkable feat. In addition to being continuously successful on the field, she has displayed exemplary sportsmanship and fair play at every level. Dom’s athleticism and versatility as a player contribute to her ability to fill many different roles on the team/field and has enabled her to easily integrate into new systems and teams.
Dom has participated in many teaching clinics over the last couple of decades (U.S., Japan, Uganda) and, more recently, organized a clinic for East African players (Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda) in Kisumu, Kenya. And throughout this exemplary ultimate career, Dom practices as an emergency medicine physician.
Contributions & Service
- 2000-2001: Stanford assistant coach
- 2012-2013: UCLA assistant coach/consultant
Championship Tournaments
U.S. National Championships
Year | Team | Placement |
---|---|---|
1994 | Stanford Superfly College Women | Regionals |
1995 | Stanford Superfly College Women | 2nd |
1995 | D’Fense Club Women | Pool Play |
1996 | Stanford Superfly College Women | Semifinals |
1997 | Stanford Superfly College Women | 1st |
1999 | Fury Club Women | 1st |
2000 | Fury Club Women | Semifinals |
2001 | Lady Godiva Club Women | 1st |
2002 | Lady Godiva Club Women | 1st |
2003 | Lady Godiva Club Women | Semifinals |
2004 | Lady Godiva Club Women | Semifinals |
2005 | Fury Club Women | Semifinals |
2006 | Fury Club Women | 1st |
2007 | Lady Godiva Club Women | Semifinals |
2008 | Lady Godiva Club Women | Quarterfinals |
2009 | Lady Godiva Club Women | 2nd |
2010 | Brute Squad Club Women | Semifinals |
2011 | Brute Squad Club Women | Pool Play |
2012 | Riot Club Women | 2nd |
2013 | Riot Club Women | Semifinals |
2013 | Baylands Kite Flying Team Masters Women | 2nd |
2014 | Riot Club Women | Semifinals |
2015 | Riot Club Women | 2nd |
2015 | Baylands Kite Flying Team Masters Women | 1st |
2016 | Riot Club Women | 2nd |
2017 | Riot Club Women | 5th |
2017 | iRot Masters Women | Semifinals |
2018 | Riot Club Women | Semifinals |
2019 | Riot Club Women | 5th |
World Championships
Year | Tournament | Team | Placement |
---|---|---|---|
2001 | World Games Akita, Japan | U.S. World Games Team Club Mixed | 2nd |
2002 | WUCC Honolulu, Hawaii | Lady Godiva Club Women | 3rd |
2005 | World Games Duisburg, Germany | U.S. World Games Team Club Mixed | 1st |
2010 | WUCC Praha-Revnov, Czech Republic | Brute Squad Club Women | Semifinals |
2012 | WUGC Sakai, Japan | U.S. National Team Masters Women | 1st |
2014 | WUCC Lecco, Italy | Riot Club Women | 1st |
2015 | WCBU Dubai, United Arab Emirates | U.S. National Team Masters Women | 1st |
2016 | WUGC London, United Kingdom | U.S. National Team Masters Women | 1st |
2017 | WCBU Royan, France | U.S. National Team Masters Mixed | 1st |
2018 | WUCC Cincinnati, Ohio | Riot Club Women | 1st |
Interview
What position(s) (e.g., handler, deep cutter, middle middle) did you usually play?
Early in my career, I was a defensive handler, then I transitioned to being an offensive cutter/receiver.
Please describe your major accomplishments - both as a teammate and individual.
I am proud of having been a part of several teams that went from developmental level to national championship quality teams. Excluding D’Fense and Lady Condors, I have held a leadership role on each of my club teams as well as my college and several of the national teams.
I also won the Callahan award in 1997.
Please explain why you stood out among the elite players of your time. What was it that you did best, or were known for?
I believe my athleticism and versatility as a player made me stand out. I was able to perform many different roles on the team well and in a spirited manner. This made it easy to integrate into new systems and teams.
What role did you play on the best (or most overachieving team) that you played on?
Difficult question. Every team I’ve played on has had a “best” category in my mind. Perhaps the most “overachieving team” was 1999 Fury. We won nationals after having not won any preseason tournaments. My role on that team was in the handling position.
What year was the peak of your career? During which years were you playing as the "stud" of your team? If you continued playing after your peak years, how did your role change? In what year did you stop playing at the top competitive level?
I believe my peak “athleticism” playing years were between 2001 and 2006 as a cutter. Now, I increasingly rely on intellect to counter balance the effect of 25 years of ultimate on the body. I am primarily an offensive cutter on a deeply talented team. In general, my role on the team is to create opportunities for each of our players on the field to do what they do best. A lot of times, that means creating space, making well timed utility cuts that draw defenses and being opportunistic instead of being the flashy player of the past.
Have you served in an official capacity as an officer, committee member, coordinator, or volunteer for USA Ultimate/UPA or other recognized ultimate or disc sports organization, or as a coach of a team? Describe role and dates served.
I was the assistant coach Stanford from 2000-2001, and an assistant coach/consultant UCLA from 2012-2013.
Have you made other contributions to the development of ultimate?
I have participated in many teaching clinics over the last couple of decades (US, Japan, Uganda).
In 2017, I organized a clinic for East African (Tanzania/Kenya/Uganda) players in Kisumu Kenya.
Why do you believe you are worthy of being inducted into the Ultimate Hall of Fame?
I think my on-field accomplishments are noteworthy, but really that is for others to decide.