When Joe Spallina took over as the California Redwoods’ general manager in March 2025, one talking point he repeated in numerous interviews was how the team’s talent on the defensive side of the ball was elite.
One of those key returning pieces was Chris Fake, and after having the best season of his brief professional career, Fake will continue to anchor California’s defense after he signed a new three-year contract with the team.
“It was an easy decision to re-sign with the ‘Woods,” he said. “There’s no doubt that [head coach Anthony Kelly] and the rest of the staff have put us in the best position we could be in going forward, and the Redwoods have one of the best locker rooms in the league, both on and off the field.”
In his second year with the Redwoods, Fake posted career highs in ground balls (16) and caused turnovers (three); only seven close defenders picked up more ground balls than him.
In the team’s quarterfinal victory over the Carolina Chaos, Fake caused one turnover and picked up four ground balls. After the game, he was awarded the team’s brick, a postgame tradition where an individual player is recognized for a play, moment or effort that made a difference in both the game and in the culture and identity of the team.
“If there’s anybody who is all about our resolve and the ability to throw your body out there, if you asked around four o’clock if he was able to go tonight, he had no idea,” defensive coordinator Chris Collins said when awarding Fake with the postgame brick. “Our D is not the [expletive] same without you, Chris Fake.”
One of Fake’s greatest strengths is ability to cover some of the biggest and most imposing attackmen in the league. Nobody in the PLL defended more shots from Denver Outlaw Brennan O’Neill in 2025 than Fake (17).
Though the Redwoods reportedly pursued Gavin Adler, the 2025 Dave Pietramala Defensive Player of the Year and best player available, bringing back Fake was a priority of Spallina’s.
“He’s a No. 1 defenseman in this league. We asked him to cover the best guys,” Spallina said. “I think to be able to keep him in the fold and be able to develop the defense around him, he’s somebody every time stepping out, you know he’s going to be able to neutralize the other teams’ best guys. That’s what you want, knowing you have that, and Chris has been that.”
With his contract situation cleared up, Fake can now focus his attention on continuing to improve as an individual, as part of the defensive unit and as part of the team as a whole.
Fake said the team has unfinished business to attend to, and he is chomping at the bit to handle it.
“We started to really mature and show our potential by the end of the year as a young squad,” he said. “I’m just focused on getting back to camp with these guys and getting better as a unit from day one. Couldn’t be more excited to suit up and get to work with these guys in 2026.”
