A New Innings Begins

Kim Ng, a name synonymous with breaking barriers in professional sports, is embarking on a new venture. After a distinguished career in Major League Baseball (MLB), culminating in her historic role as general manager (GM) of the Miami Marlins, Ng is now commissioner of the Athletes Unlimited (AU) Softball league.

Ng’s journey in baseball spanned over three decades, starting as an intern for the Chicago White Sox. She ascended through the ranks, holding assistant GM positions with the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers, and later becoming a senior vice president at MLB. In 2020, she shattered a glass ceiling by becoming the first woman to serve as a GM in a major men’s sports league.

Despite leading the Marlins to the post-season in her third season, Ng decided to step down in 2023 after the team owner proposed a new organizational structure. What followed was a planned cross-country road trip with her husband, a well-deserved break after years of dedication to baseball.

The Call That Changed the Course

Just as Ng was preparing for her road trip, Jon Patricof, CEO and co-founder of Athletes Unlimited, reached out. Athletes Unlimited is a network of professional women’s sports leagues featuring innovative scoring systems and player involvement in decision-making. Patricof’s proposition was compelling: to lead a new, more conventional professional softball league under the AU umbrella.

This new league would feature a consistent group of teams based in permanent locations, playing according to standard softball rules. Along with the traditional league, there would also be a tournament, the AUSL All-Star Cup, which would use AU’s innovative rules to crown an individual champion.

A return to Her Roots

While Ng’s executive career was rooted in baseball, her athletic background includes softball. She played as an infielder at the University of Chicago, and her four younger sisters also played softball, two at the college level. Her involvement with softball extended beyond her playing days. During her time in the MLB commissioner’s office, she worked on baseball and softball development and served on the board of USA Softball.

Ng recalled her first visit to Devon Park in Oklahoma City, the home of the Women’s College World series: I was, like, ‘Oh, my God, I’ve got to bring my mother. I’ve got to bring my sisters.’ This experience highlighted the significance and scale of women’s softball.

From Reluctance to Leadership

Initially, Ng hesitated at Patricof’s offer. Though, her inquisitive nature lead her to delve deeper into the possibility. Over several weeks,she and Patricof discussed the growing interest in women’s sports and the unique structure of Athletes Unlimited. Despite embarking on her cross-country journey, the conversations continued.

Ng and her husband reached Newport, Rhode Island, before she decided to except the role, initially as a senior adviser. This decision rerouted her travel plans. Instead of heading west, Ng flew to Wichita, Kansas, and Rosemont, Illinois, to attend AU softball games. Her husband later joined her, adjusting his travel plans to meet her.

The Athletes Unlimited Softball League Takes Shape

In April, Athletes Unlimited announced Ng as the commissioner of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League. The inaugural season begins this Saturday with four teams: the Talons, Bandits, Volts, and Blaze. Opening Day matchups include Talons vs. Bandits in Rosemont and Volts vs. Blaze in Wichita.

The league will travel to several cities, including Sulphur, Louisiana; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Norman, Oklahoma; Omaha, Nebraska; Seattle, Washington; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Round Rock, Texas.The championship series will be held in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, from July 26-28. Following the series, players will return to Rosemont and Holly Springs and Greenville, North Carolina, for 21 additional games in the All-Star Cup. Plans for the next year include expanding to six teams, each with a home city.

Riding the Wave of Women’s Sports Popularity

The surge in popularity of women’s sports is undeniable. Last year,the Women’s College World Series finals between Oklahoma and Texas drew an average of two million viewers and record crowds. Ratings for the women’s finals have consistently exceeded one million viewers on ESPN, sometimes surpassing the men’s series.

Previous attempts to establish a sustainable professional softball league have faltered. However, the landscape has changed significantly, and Athletes Unlimited is taking a different approach. Key figures in the sport are involved, lending credibility and expertise to the venture.

Patricof noted that Some of the people who have been sitting on the sidelines, waiting to see that the sport was in the right hands-Kim tipped the scales for a number of people. This highlights Ng’s influence and the trust she inspires within the softball community.

Cat Osterman, an Olympic medalist and one of the greatest pitchers of all time, will serve as the general manager for the Volts. Stacey Nuveman-Deniz, another Olympic gold medalist and head coach at San Diego State, will coach the bandits.Lisa Fernandez, also an Olympic gold medalist and a coach at UCLA, is the general manager of the Talons. Jennie Finch, a former College World Series champion, and Jessica Mendoza, an ESPN commentator and Olympian, are advisers. Cheri Kempf,former commissioner of National Pro Fastpitch,is an AU executive.

MLB has also made a long-term investment in the league,reportedly in the eight-figure range,along with broadcast and sponsorship support. Noah Garden,an MLB deputy commissioner,stated,usually a challenge getting everyone on the same page… That hasn’t been the case here. The visions are so aligned. I’ve almost never seen that.

A Player-Centric Approach

Athletes Unlimited’s entry into softball reflects it’s commitment to working closely with players. Patricof acknowledged the rapid growth and investment in women’s sports, exceeding his initial expectations. The challenge now is to capitalize on this momentum.

Patricof stated, I think what I did not anticipate was, honestly, the pace and growth and investment in women’s sports more broadly… I was the biggest bull and proponent. It even exceeded my expectations. He added, We do live in a really dynamic habitat where you have to be prepared for growth beyond your base-case expectation. Are we going to be set up to capture that growth?

A Different Kind of Camaraderie

Ng has ofen been reluctant to discuss the challenges of being the only woman in MLB’s highest ranks. Though, she acknowledges the difference in atmosphere when surrounded by softball players. At a National Fastpitch Coaches Association convention, she observed a unique camaraderie among the AU general managers and coaches.

Ng noted, I felt like I carried the torch in this certain way, just to try and open doors for women. In some ways, this feels-its just different. She elaborated on the feeling of kinship and opportunity,stating,Where I got to in baseball-that was inspiring,but how many people in reality actually get to become general managers? I think you open the door to dream…What we’re trying to do here-there are so many girls playing softball. This could truly be a reality.

Expanding Opportunities for Athletes

For many softball players,opportunities are limited after college. They frequently enough turn to coaching, scatter across underfunded leagues, or play professionally in Japan. Athletes Unlimited aims to concentrate talent and provide a platform for athletes to thrive.

Nuveman-Deniz, the Bandits’ coach, emphasized that The athletes that are on the advisory committee and are part of this are the best in the game… another thing that hasn’t always been able to be said. This underscores the league’s commitment to showcasing top-tier talent and providing meaningful opportunities for athletes.