Athletes Unlimited Softball League: What to know about first player draft

Get Ready for the Inaugural AUSL Player Draft

Jan 29, 2025, 09:14 AM ET

Excitement is in the air as the new Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) gears up for its inaugural player draft on January 29. This event, which will be broadcast live at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN3 and YouTube, marks a significant milestone for the league. The AUSL will feature four teams competing in a 24-game season, adding a fresh dynamic to the existing AU Pro Softball Championship Season, which has been thrilling fans since its launch in 2020 with a 30-game schedule over five weeks in July and August.

As we anticipate the draft, here’s everything you need to know about the new league. Be sure to tune in on January 29 to see which players will be selected to form the first-ever AUSL rosters.

What is AUSL?

Launching in 2025, the Athletes Unlimited Softball League is set to complement the existing AU Pro Softball Championship Season, which will be rebranded as the AUSL All-Star Cup. This exciting event will follow the conclusion of the AUSL season and continue to use AU’s unique scoring model to crown an individual champion.

The AUSL season will kick off in June, featuring four teams: the Bandits, Blaze, Talons, and Volts. In its inaugural season, the league will tour 6-8 cities, with plans to transition to a city-based format in 2026. Fans can look forward to at least 18 games being broadcast exclusively on ESPN platforms, including ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU.

How are players being drafted onto teams?

The first player draft for the AUSL is set to take place on January 29 in Nashville, Tenn. The event will be available for viewing at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN3 and the AUSL YouTube page. Each team will draft 12 players from a pool of more than 80 available players. Among the notable names is former UCLA star Maya Brady, who recently signed with the league. The remaining four spots on each team will be filled by free agents and incoming college players completing their eligibility.

The Bandits won the lottery to secure the No. 1 overall pick, followed by the Blaze, Talons, and Volts. The draft order will rotate in subsequent rounds as follows:

• Round 1: Bandits, Blaze, Talons, Volts
• Round 2: Blaze, Talons, Volts, Bandits
• Round 3: Talons, Volts, Bandits, Blaze
• Round 4: Volts, Bandits, Blaze, Talons

— AUSL (@theAUSLofficial) January 23, 2025

Who will be drafting for each team?

Four teams will be making their selections on Wednesday night: the Bandits, Blaze, Talons, and Volts. Each team is led by a General Manager with a rich history in softball:

• Jenny Dalton-Hill (Bandits)
• Dana Sorensen (Blaze)
• Lisa Fernandez (Talons)
• Cat Osterman (Volts)

Coaching these teams for the first season are:

• Stacey Nuveman-Deniz (Bandits)
• Alisa Goler (Blaze)
• Howard Dobson (Talons)
• Kelly Kretschman (Volts)

Adding to the league’s expertise, former MLB Executive Kim Ng serves as a Senior Adviser, while softball legends Jennie Finch, Jessica Mendoza, and Natasha Watley are advisers to the AUSL.

Players available to be drafted

Here’s a look at some of the talented players available for selection in the draft:

Pitcher

• Alana Vawter — South Carolina
• Aleshia Ocasio — Florida
• Allie Light — SDSU
• Brooke Yanez — UCLA
• Carley Hoover — LSU
• Chenise Delce — Arkansas
• Estelle Czech — Texas
• Georgina Corrick — USF
• Hope Trautwein — Oklahoma
• Keilani Ricketts — Oklahoma
• Lexi Kilfoyl — Oklahoma State
• Mariah Mazon — Oregon State
• Megan Faraimo — UCLA
• Montana Fouts — Alabama
• Odicci Alexander — JMU
• Payton Gottshall — Tennessee
• Rachel Garcia — UCLA
• Sarah Willis — UCF
• Taran Alvelo — Washington
• Taylor McQuillin — Arizona

Catcher

• Dejah Mulipola — Arizona
• Jordan Roberts — Florida
• Jordyn Rudd-Lee — Northwestern
• Julia Cottrill — Texas A&M
• Kelly Torres — Duke
• Mia Davidson — Mississippi State
• Ryan Henry — Villanova
• Sharlize Palacios — UCLA
• Taylor Edwards — Nebraska

Middle Infielder

• Ali Aguilar — Washington
• Anissa Urtez — Utah
• Aubrey Leach — Tennessee
• Billie Andrews — Nebraska
• Erin Coffel — Kentucky
• Hannah Flippen — Utah
• Josie Muffley — Florida State
• Sierra Romero — Michigan
• Sis Bates — Washington
• Skylar Wallace — Florida
• Sydney McKinney — Wichita State
• Sydney Romero — Oklahoma
• Tiare Jennings — Oklahoma

Corner Infielder

• Andrea Filler — Northwestern
• Ashley Prange — Alabama
• Baylee Klingler — Washington
• Daisy Munoz — Cal State Fullerton
• Delanie Wisz — UCLA
• Jessi Warren — Florida State
• Kelsey Stewart-Hunter — Florida
• Lillian Piper — Ohio State
• Nadia Taylor — Texas
• Tori Vidales — Texas A&M

Outfielder

• Aliyah Andrews — LSU
• Amanda Lorenz — Florida
• Bella Dayton — Texas
• Bubba Nickles — UCLA
• Caroline Jacobsen — Clemson
• Ciara Briggs — LSU
• Ciara Bryan — Louisiana Lafayette
• Erika Piancastelli — McNeese
• Jadelyn Allchin — UCLA
• Jenna Kean — Louisiana Lafayette
• Kalei Harding — Florida State
• Madison Huskey — Washington
• Megan Wiggins — Georgia
• McKenzie Clark — Clemson
• Morgan Debord — Minnesota
• Morgan Zerkle — Marshall
• Victoria Hayward — Washington

Utility

• Ali Newland — LSU
• Allie Skaggs — Arizona
• Hayley Busby — Oklahoma State
• Karli Spaid — Miami of Ohio
• Kayla Kowalik — Kentucky
• Makena Brocki — SDSU
• Maya Brady — UCLA
• Pal Egan — Florida
• Sahvanna Jaquish — LSU
• Samantha Show — Oklahoma State
• Sara Fessler — Youngstown State
• Suzy Brookshire — Long Beach State
• Valerie Cagle — Clemson