McDermott brings relentless defensive pressure and rarely gives an attacker an easy matchup. Her positioning and footwork allow her to stay in front of opponents, while her strength makes her extremely difficult to beat around the crease. She is constantly looking for opportunities to regain possession, whether that means getting into a passing lane, challenging a stick, knocking down a feed, or attacking a ground ball. McDermott also reads slides and doubles well and is quick to move the ball upfield once her team earns possession. Her combination of fundamentals, physicality, and effort makes her a consistent presence on the defensive end.

Emily McDermott brought toughness and communication to the defensive end. It was very evident that she wanted to get the ball back for her teammates, constantly putting herself in position to disrupt offenses. She was willing to go after checks and get in passing lanes while always staying big in hopes of creating a knockdown or interception. Emily played with a gritty mindset and was consistently active throughout possessions, making life difficult for opposing attackers.