Athletes Unlimited Softball League Resumes play After Hiatus

The Athletes unlimited Softball League (AUSL) is back in action on July 7, following a planned two-week break that commenced on June 24. The league, which launched on June 7 with the support of Major League Baseball, quickly captured the attention of softball enthusiasts. The return kicks off with a doubleheader in Rosemont, Illinois.

Reason for the Athletes Unlimited Softball League Hiatus

The AUSL’s temporary pause stemmed from a scheduling conflict with international competition. Initially, the league schedule was designed to accommodate Team USA’s anticipated participation in the 2025 WBSC Americas Women’s Pan American Championship, a qualifier for the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup 2026/2027. Though, Team USA later received an automatic bid to the World Cup, eliminating the need to compete in the qualifier.

Did You Know? The Women’s College World Series attendance in 2024 reached record highs, demonstrating the growing popularity of women’s softball .

What Happened During the Break?

The two-week hiatus provided an opportunity for several AUSL players to participate in the U.S. Women’s National Team Camp & Showcase in Oklahoma City. This event featured Team USA facing off against top collegiate and professional athletes in a series of doubleheaders.

AUSL Players Participating in the U.S. Women’s National Team Camp & Showcase

A total of 20 AUSL players took part in the showcase, representing all four teams in the league:

• Bandits: Erin Coffel, Skylar Wallace, emiley Kennedy, Lexi Kilfoyl, Bubba Nickles-Camarena, Cori McMillan
• Talons: Bri Ellis, Megan Flippen, Megan Faraimo, Sierra Sacco, Sahvanna Jaquish
• Volts: Rachel Garcia, Amanda Lorenz, Dejah Mulipola, Tiare Jennings, Jessi Warren
• Blaze: Danielle Gibson Whorton, Baylee Klingler, Aubrey Leach, Kayla Kowalik

Notably, Aliyah Andrews (Blaze) and Maya Brady (talons) received invitations but did not participate. Brady, niece of NFL legend Tom Brady and by marriage, of former MLB All-Star Kevin youkilis, has been sidelined with an injury and has yet to make her AUSL debut, but is expected to return in the second half of the season.

Athletes Unlimited Softball League Season Standings and Key Stats

Through the first portion of the season, the bandits and Talons emerged as frontrunners, both holding 9-3 records. The Talons entered the break on a four-game winning streak, while the Bandits boasted a league-best plus-33 run differential. The Volts (4-8) and Blaze (2-10) face an uphill battle to reach the AUSL Championship, scheduled for July 26-28 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Pro Tip: Keep an eye on run differential as a key indicator of team strength in the AUSL. A high run differential frequently enough suggests a team’s ability to consistently outscore their opponents.

Key statistical leaders include Erin Coffel, who leads the AUSL with a 1.841 OPS. Morgan Zerkle of the Bandits leads the league with five home runs, and Baylee Klingler holds the highest batting average at .500.On the pitching side, Lexi Kilfoyl has a 2.66 ERA, while Rachel Garcia has pitched a league-high 35 1/3 innings with 31 strikeouts.

Athletes Unlimited Softball League: Team Performance Metrics

What’s Next for the Athletes Unlimited Softball League?

The AUSL resumes on July 7 in Rosemont with a doubleheader. The Volts will face the Bandits at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2, followed by the Blaze taking on the Talons at 9:30 p.m. ET on MLB.TV, MLB.com, and the MLB App.

The Volts and blaze will have an immediate opportunity to gain ground in the standings as the season progresses towards the championship series.

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