Whipsnakes Trade Zed Williams to Waterdogs for Matt Brandau
December 16, 2024
Kenny DeJohn
Premier Lacrosse League
The Maryland Whipsnakes traded a fan favorite on Monday, sending 2020 Premier Lacrosse League MVP Zed Williams to the Philadelphia Waterdogs for Matt Brandau.
The teams also exchanged picks in the 2024 PLL College Draft, with the Whipsnakes acquiring pick No. 17 and the Waterdogs acquiring pick No. 23. Dan Arestia reported Thursday that the two teams were working on a trade centered on Williams and Brandau. The PLL announced the trade on X Monday morning.
Williams tied for the league lead in scoring points in 2024 (28). Brandau played in just six games as a rookie over the summer after being selected seventh overall by Philadelphia. The move to the Whipsnakes will perhaps allow Brandau to move back to a more natural attacking position, as he ran out of the box at times under Bill Tierney.
The Whipsnakes attack found youth last season with the addition of TJ Malone via the draft. Head coach Jim Stagnitta embraced the youth movement in 2024 and was one of the hottest teams in the PLL entering the postseason.
The Waterdogs struggled to a 2-8 record last season, and the veteran presence of Williams on an attack line with Kieran McArdle and Michael Sowers could help stabilize things.
Kenny DeJohn has been the Digital Content Editor at USA Lacrosse since 2019. First introduced to lacrosse in 2016 as a Newsday Sports reporter on Long Island (yes, ON Long Island), DeJohn specializes in women's game coverage. His search for New York quality pizza in Baltimore is ongoing.
