Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL)

What is the AUSL?

The Athletes Unlimited Softball League is the professional women’s softball league run by Athletes Unlimited, the company founded in 2020 by Jon Patricof and Jonathan Soros, under commissioner Kim Ng, appointed in April 2025. Major League Baseball announced a strategic investment and partnership on 29 May 2025 — funding for operations and growth, distribution on MLB Network and MLB.com, and joint sales and marketing — with commissioner Rob Manfred citing confidence in Ng’s leadership and the league’s vision.^{[1] [2] [6]}

How does it work?

Six city-based teams — Carolina Blaze in Durham, Chicago Bandits in Rosemont, Oklahoma City Spark, Portland Cascade in Hillsboro, Texas Volts in Round Rock and Utah Talons in Salt Lake City, home venues announced on 13 January 2026 — played a 25-game regular season from 9 June to 20 July 2026, followed by a play-in between second and third and a best-of-three AUSL Championship, held in 2026 at Davis Diamond in College Station, Texas. ESPN carries 50 games a year including the championship. Players arrive through the AUSL College Draft, held on 4 May 2026 on ESPN2, and league signings; the individual-scoring AUSL All-Star Cup follows the team season.^{[1] [3] [5] [6]}

Since when does it exist?

Athletes Unlimited ran an individual-scoring Pro Softball Championship Series from August 2020; the league was announced on 4 June 2024 and opened on 7 June 2025 with four touring teams, expanding to six permanent-market franchises in 2026. Utah Talons won both championships, 2–0 over the Chicago Bandits each time — in Tuscaloosa in 2025 and in College Station in 2026, where Montana Fouts threw a complete game in the clincher. Lexi Kilfoyl won the 2026 All-Star Cup.^{[1] [4] [5] [6]}

Both AUSL champions to date.

Why does it matter?

The AUSL is the only US professional softball league with an MLB strategic investment and MLB Network distribution, and its 50-game ESPN schedule puts the sport on national television every summer. For a petition it is the professional league of a sport whose international governing body, the WBSC, reports on its seasons — and its rosters are drawn from the top of the college game through a televised draft.^{[2] [3] [5]}