What is Athletes Unlimited Softball League? Everything to know about AUSL
Many of the top players at the Women's College World Series won't end their playing careers altogether when the tournament is complete, instead going into the professional ranks.
Athletes Unlimited has been around since 2020 but announced its intentions to launch a traditional softball league in 2025, starting with four teams. MLB also purchased an equity stake in Athletes Unlimited Softball League on Thursday, according to ESPN.
The AUSL is now set for a 24-game season, which starts June 7. The league is also run by commissioner Kim Ng, the former general manager of the Miami Marlins. Ng was the first woman to serve as general manager of a Big Four sports organization in the United States.
Professional softball has had numerous leagues over the years, but none have quite stuck. The Oklahoma City Spark, the last-standing team from the now-defunct WPF, operate as an independent professional softball team. The Spark's roster includes former Oklahoma standout Jocelyn Alo, the NCAA's all-time home runs leader.
Here's everything to know about the AUSL, which will feature multiple current college stars once the WCWS is over:
What is the Athletes Unlimited Softball League?
The Athletes Unlimited Softball League is a new premier professional softball league, which launches in June.
Athletes Unlimited softball started in 2020 but played in a format where players were the center of the league, not teams. Players rotated off being captains of teams, with a point system that determined a players' leaderboard. Athletes Unlimited also has professional women's leagues in lacrosse, volleyball and basketball, but debuted with softball.
AUSL is launching with four teams – Bandits, Blaze, Talons, Volts – for its inaugural season. Each team has rosters of 16, with players making at least $45,000, according to its website. Players can also earn up to $75,000 with bonuses.
The league has already signed some big names as general managers and head coaches. Cat Osterman (Volts), Jenny Dalton-Hill (Bandits), Dana Sorensen (Blaze) and Lisa Fernandez (Talons) are building rosters; Kelly Kretschman (Volts), Stacy Nuveman-Deniz (Bandits), Alisa Goler (Blaze) and Howard Dobson (Talons) are coaching.
The AUSL plans to become a city-based league in 2026, but the inaugural 2025 season will be played on a touring basis, with the four teams traveling to 10 different cities in the 24-game season. The league is also signed by ESPN, with games airing on its family of networks.
Some of the biggest names in softball are serving in advisor roles for the league — Jennie Finch, Osterman, Jessica Mendoza and Natasha Watley will all help with strategic direction, according to the AUSL.
The old points-based system that revolves around player performance will stick around, with that play starting after the AUSL's season is completed. That league will be renamed the AUSL All-Star Cup, which takes place in Rosemont, Illinois; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Greenville, North Carolina.
AUSL draft 2025
The AUSL had an inaugural 12-round draft in January, supplemented by a three-round college draft in April.
Here's the full draft order for both the inaugural and college drafts for the AUSL:
Inaugural
Round 1
- 1. Bandits | Lexi Kilfoyl, Pitcher, Oklahoma State
- 2. Blaze | Carley Hoover, Pitcher, LSU
- 3. Talons | Megan Faraimo, Pitcher, UCLA
- 4. Volts | Rachel Garcia, Pitcher, UCLA
Round 2
- 5. Blaze | Aleshia Ocasio, Pitcher, Florida
- 6. Talons | Georgina Corrick, Pitcher, USF
- 7. Volts | Amanda Lorenz, Outfielder, Florida
- 8. Bandits | Taylor McQuillin, Pitcher, Arizona
Round 3
- 9. Talons | Sharlize Palacios, Catcher, UCLA
- 10. Volts | Dejah Mulipola, Catcher, Arizona
- 11. Bandits | Skylar Wallace, Middle Infielder, Florida
- 12. Blaze | Aubrey Leach, Middle Infielder, Tennessee
Round 4
- 13. Volts | Jessi Warren, Corner Infielder, Florida State
- 14. Bandits | Bubba Nickles, Outfielder, UCLA
- 15. Blaze | Aliyah Andrews, Outfielder, LSU
- 16. Talons | Hannah Flippen, Middle Infielder, Utah
Round 5
- 17. Bandits | Mia Davidson, Catcher,
- 18. Blaze | Anissa Urtez, Middle Infielder, Utah
- 19. Talons | Maya Brady, Utility, UCLA
- 20. Volts | Tiare Jennings, Middle Infielder, Oklahoma
Round 6
- 21. Blaze | Keilani Ricketts, Pitcher, Oklahoma
- 22. Talons | Sahvanna Jaquish, Utility, LSU
- 23. Volts | Payton Gottshall, Pitcher, Tennessee
- 24. Bandits | Erin Coffel, Middle Infielder, Kentucky
Round 7
- 25. Talons | Ali Aguilar, Middle Infielder, Washington
- 26. Volts | Sis Bates, Middle Infielder, Washington
- 27. Bandits | Morgan Zerkle, Outfielder, Marshall
- 28. Blaze | Kayla Kowalik, Catcher, Kentucky
Round 8
- 29. Volts | Erika Piancastelli, Outfielder, McNeese
- 30. Bandits | Delanie Wisz, Corner Infielder, UCLA
- 31. Blaze | Baylee Klingler, Corner Infielder, Washington
- 32. Talons | Tori Vidales, Corner Infielder, Texas A&M
Round 9
- 33. Bandits | Sydney McKinney, Middle Infielder, Wichita State
- 34. Blaze | Alana Vawter, Pitcher, South Carolina
- 35. Talons | Montana Fouts, Pitcher, Alabama
- 36. Volts | Kelsey Stewart-Hunter, Corner Infielder, Florida
Round 10
- 37. Blaze: Ciara Briggs, Outfielder, LSU
- 38. Talons: Caroline Jacobsen, Outfielder, Duke
- 39. Volts: Mariah Mazon, Pitcher, Oregon State
- 40. Bandits: Odicci Alexander, Pitcher, James Madison
Round 11
- 41. Talons: Sydney Romero, Middle Infielder, Oklahoma
- 42. Volts: McKenzie Clark, Outfielder, Clemson
- 43. Bandits: Sarah Willis, Pitcher, UCF
- 44. Blaze: Taylor Edwards, Catcher, Nebraska
Round 12
- 45. Volts: Sierra Romero, Middle Infielder, Michigan
- 46. Bandits: Bella Dayton, Outfielder, Texas
- 47. Blaze: Kalei Harding, Outfielder, Florida State
- 48. Talons: Victoria Hayward, Outfielder, Washington
College
Round 1
- 1. Volts: P Sam Landry, Oklahoma
- 2. Talons: IF Bri Ellis, Arkansas
- 3. Blaze: P Emma Lemley, Virginia Tech
- 4. Bandits: UTIL Cori McMillan, Virginia Tech
Round 2
- 5. Talons: OF Sierra Sacco, Mississippi State
- 6. Blaze: OF Korbe Otis, Florida
- 7. Bandits: P Emiley Kennedy, Texas A&M
- 8. Volts: C Michaela Edenfield, FSU
Third round
- 9. Blaze: IF Anna Gold, Duke
- 10. Bandits: P Devyn Netz, Arizona
- 11. Volts: UTIL Danieca Coffey, LSU
- 12. Talons: P Raelin Chaffin, Mississippi State