After watching the registrations for the 2022 United States Women’s Disc Golf Championships roll in, Paige Pierce, Holly Finley and Kona Panis all reflected on how far women's disc golf has come over the past decade.

Those memories are what make this already record-setting USWDGC event even more special.

Paige Pierce putts at the 2015 USWDGC. Photo: PDGA Media

“It’s truly incredible,” Pierce said. “I remember when I was playing U.S. Women’s back in 2010 and there were maybe 20 of us (in FPO). At that state in the game, you’re having to prove that there are women playing. It was, ‘when I go play practice rounds there are women out there playing, but when they don’t show up to events, it’s ok, how really committed are they?’”

“So now, showing all of you, showing the people watching, showing the PDGA, the DGPT that hey, the numbers are here now, make more room for us.”

Check In: Preparation for 2022 USWDGC Well Underway in Wisconsin »

The total registration record of 183 players from the 2021 USWDGC was broken in just over 24 hours, prompting the PDGA and the local organizing committee to adjust the pools, division sizes and overall field size even more to fully accommodate the demand.

Group photo from the 2018 USWDGC. Photo: PDGA Media

Just nine days after opening registration, 314 players were registered (as of March 30) across 19 divisions from FPO to FJ10. That number includes 95 players in the FPO field.

2022 USWDGC Registration & Information »

“It gives me chills,” Panis said. “It brings me back to when I was like 15 when I entered my first tournament and there were no girls. I was playing with the young boys.

“It’s crazy to see our growth, not only on the amateur side but in FPO as well. We’re growing, we’re here to stay and people are starting to see our value.”

Finley remembers petitioning tournament directors to make room for the flourishing women’s field.

Holly Finley at the 2016 USWDGC. Photo: PDGA Media

“It’s incredible because I remember many years ago when I first started when we were amazed with 40 players,” Finley said. “I remember writing TDs and asking if we could get more spots. I was told that 40 is usually the maximum that we’ve seen and we’re allocating the number of spots based on past data.

“Now, we’re just seeing the numbers explode.”

The 2022 USWDGC is set for June 30 through July 3, 2022 in Madison, Wisconsin.