Upcoming season or competition: 2026 AUSL season | |
 | |
| Sport | Softball |
|---|---|
| First season | 2025 |
| Commissioner | Kim Ng |
| Organising body | Athletes Unlimited |
| No. of teams | 6 |
| Country | United States |
| Most recent champion | Utah Talons |
| Most titles | Utah Talons (1) |
| Broadcaster | ESPN |
| Official website | theausl.com |
The Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) is a women's professional softball league in the United States, founded in 2024 and run by Athletes Unlimited.
History
On June 4, 2024, Athletes Unlimited announced a new softball league, that will feature four teams playing a 30-game season in a traditional format, complementing the existing Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball Championship season.[1][2] ESPN has signed on as a founding broadcast partner.[1] The AUSL will become a city-based league beginning in 2026, while the inaugural season in 2025 will be touring with games in six to eight different cities.[3] The average salary for a player will be $40,000–45,000, with salaries up to $75,000 achievable through bonus payments.[4][5] Lexi Kilfoyl was drafted first overall by the Bandits in the inaugural AUSL draft.[6] Kim Ng was appointed AUSL commissioner on April 16, 2025.[7]
On May 29, 2025, Major League Baseball (MLB) announced a strategic investment in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League to help establish the AUSL as a sustainable organization.[8][9]
Champions
| Year | Team | Location | Opponent | Series Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Utah Talons | Tuscaloosa, AL | Chicago Bandits | 2–0 |
Teams
| Team | Location | Stadium | Founded | Joined | General manager | Head coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bandits | Rosemont, Illinois | Parkway Bank Sports Complex | 2005[a] | 2025 | Jenny Dalton-Hill | Shonda Stanton |
| Carolina Blaze | Durham, North Carolina | Duke University Softball Stadium | 2025 | Dana Sorensen | Alisa Goler | |
| Portland Cascade | Hillsboro, Oregon | Hillsboro Ballpark | 2026 | Jami Lobpries | Tairia Flowers | |
| Oklahoma City Spark | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Tom Heath Field | 2023[b] | 2026 | Kirk Walker | Amber Flores |
| Utah Talons | Salt Lake City, Utah | Dumke Family Stadium | 2025 | Lisa Fernandez | Howard Dobson | |
| Texas Volts | Round Rock, Texas | Dell Diamond | 2025 | Cat Osterman | Kelly Kretschman | |
Notes
- ^ As part of National Pro Fastpitch.
- ^ As part of Women's Professional Fastpitch.
[10]
References
- ^ a b Wilson, Dave (June 4, 2024). "Athletes Unlimited announces softball league to start in 2025". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
- ^ "Athletes Unlimited Softball League to Launch in 2025". auprosports.com. June 4, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
- ^ Brunt, Cliff (June 4, 2024). "Athletes Unlimited to add traditional team-based softball league in 2025". Associated Press. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
- ^ Bachman, Rachel (June 4, 2024). "George Soros's Son Has Found a New Cause to Back: Pro Softball". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on June 4, 2024. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
The average salary for players who compete in both the new league and the existing season will be $40,000. With bonuses, top players could earn up to $75,000.
- ^ Mazzeo, Mike (November 25, 2024). "Athletes Unlimited Softball League unveils GMs, coaches for inaugural season". Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal. Archived from the original on November 25, 2024. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
The average salaries are projected to be $40,000-$45,000 for the season.
- ^ Wilson, Dave (January 29, 2025). "Lexi Kilfoyl picked 1st in Athletes Unlimited softball draft". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ Passan, Jeff (April 16, 2025). "Ex-Marlins GM Kim Ng to run AUSL as kimissioner". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 16, 2025.
- ^ Castrovince, Anthony (May 29, 2025). "MLB announces partnership with Athletes Unlimited Softball League". MLB.com. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
- ^ Hall, Cora (May 29, 2025). "Athletes Unlimited Softball League announces partnership with MLB for inaugural season". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
- ^ https://theausl.com/news/ausl-unveils-home-cities/
theausl.com January 13, 2026. Retrieved January 13, 2026.
External links
- Official website
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