Athletes Unlimited Softball League Debuts: MLB-Backed, Star-Studded, and Poised to Elevate Women’s Pro Softball

Professional softball in the United States is set for a transformative chapter with the launch of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL), a bold new venture blending elite talent, innovative structure, and unprecedented backing from Major League Baseball.

Athletes Unlimited — the company behind this new league — is no stranger to revolutionizing softball. Over the past few years, the organization has successfully run a fantasy sports–style professional league where individual player points determined champions. Now, Athletes Unlimited is taking the next step by introducing a more traditional four-team format while retaining its mission to empower athletes and engage fans in new ways.

The inaugural AUSL season will feature four teams: the Volts, Bandits, Talons, and Blaze. Unlike other pro leagues, these teams do not yet have city affiliations. Instead, the league will conduct a barnstorming tour this year, bringing high-level softball to fans across the country in cities like Rosemont, IL; Seattle, WA; Omaha, NE; Round Rock, TX; Salt Lake City, UT; and Tuscaloosa, AL. After this season, permanent home cities will be assigned based on fan engagement and market interest.

In a historic first for women’s softball, Major League Baseball is officially backing the league — a level of institutional support reminiscent of the NBA’s early role in growing the WNBA. With the NBA’s help, the WNBA is now a profitable, expanding league adding 3 teams to its current roster of 12 by 2023 and hoping to announce 5 additional teams by 2030.  The WNBA’s expansion has been fueled in part by the meteoric rise of megastar Caitlin Clark, and the MLB appears to see a similar path for women’s softball. The AUSL could be just one Caitlin Clark–style breakout star away from its own explosion in popularity.

Adding further credibility and experience to the league are softball legends Natasha Watley, Jennie Finch, Cat Osterman, and Jessica Mendoza, who are serving as advisors.  Additionally, Kim Ng will serve as commissioner of the league.  Ng was the general manager of the Miami Marlins from 2021 to 2023 and the first woman ever to serve as a general manager for a Major League Baseball team. With Ng as commissioner and 4 all-time greats as advisors, AUSL’s development is guided by some of the most respected minds in the sport.

The AUSL rosters are also loaded with star power, promising fans elite-level play and thrilling competition. Pitcher Keilani Ricketts anchors the Blaze, while the Talons boast Maya Brady — a versatile talent and niece of NFL great Tom Brady — along with slugger Sydney Romero. The Volts feature Sierra Romero (Sydney’s sister) and former Team USA pitcher Rachel Garcia, while the Bandits are led by former Athletes Unlimited champion and Team USA outfielder Bubba Nickles and the electric Odicci Alexander as their ace pitcher.

Simply put, this is the largest and most well-resourced effort ever made to grow professional women’s softball in the U.S. With MLB’s support, elite talent, and a creative league structure, fans and players alike are hopeful that AUSL marks the beginning of a new, sustainable era for the sport.