Athletes Unlimited Softball League Opens Season With MLB Backing

The Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL), backed by Major League Baseball and led by commissioner Kim Ng, launched its inaugural season with a sellout crowd in Rosemont, Illinois, where the Bandits defeated the Talons 3-1. The league features four traveling teams playing a 24-game schedule across 10 cities, culminating in a best-of-three championship series in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Stars like Erin Coffel and softball legends Jennie Finch, Jessica Mendoza, and Natasha Watley have highlighted the league's opening, with Watley emphasizing the potential for softball to mirror the growth seen in women's basketball and other professional women's sports. MLB's strategic investment includes marketing support during its All-Star Game and postseason broadcasts on the MLB Network and MLB.TV, raising the league's visibility. The AUSL also provides a professional platform for top players, including several former Oklahoma Sooners, to compete post-college, helping prepare athletes for international competition such as the 2028 Olympics in Oklahoma City. With games accessible via ESPN networks, MLB.com, and FOX Chicago Plus, the AUSL aims to build a sustainable pro softball culture and plans to transition to a city-based league in 2026.