As the much anticipated Athletes Unlimited Championship Softball season approaches, more exciting news comes for fans. A professional women’s softball league, the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) will make its debut in May 2025. It will serve in a traditional format.
In its first year, the league will feature four teams competing in a 30-game season with games in 6-8 different cities. It is important to note that, beginning in 2026. the AUSL will become a city-based league.
More importantly, the new league will have major coverage thanks to the worldwide leader in sports: ESPN. The network has signed on as a broadcast partner of the AUSL, carrying at least 18 games solely on its platforms (ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU) next year.
Big Names Attached To The Athletes Unlimited Softball League
Without question, three of the best players in the sport’s history are aboard as advisors to the league. Jessica Mendoza was a two-time Olympic medalist who now serves as both a sportscaster and analyst for ESPN. Like Mendoza, Natasha Watley was a two-time Olympic medalist. Lastly, Cat Osterman is no stranger to Athletes Unlimited as she was the inaugural winner of the Athletes Unlimited Championship season in 2020.
“These women need a place to play and to stay.”@jessmendoza shares how the extensive list of stars in #WCWS need an answer to the question: what are they doing next week?
— Savanna Collins (@savannaecollins) June 4, 2024
Mendoza will serve as an advisory board member to the #AUSL pic.twitter.com/wRRts6mEba
All three will consult with leadership and current athletes in AU on the strategic course of the new league as USA Softball is a strategic partner.
Changes to Softball Championship Season Starting in 2025
Beginning in 2025, the current AU Pro Softball Championship Season will take place at the end of the AUSL season and will be renamed the AUSL Champions Cup. Here, Athletes Unlimited’s first-of-its-kind scoring model to crown an individual champion will still be in place.
Traditional League. City Based Teams. Athletes Unlimited Softball League. #AUSL pic.twitter.com/VVB5DTN3aQ
— AU Pro Softball (@auprosoftball) June 4, 2024
More details regarding the AUSL such as locale, competitors, schedule, and broadcast partners will be released at a later date. Until then, the anticipation grows for a new chapter in Athletes Unlimited and softball.
Head over to @AUProSoftball on all social media platforms to stay up to date on all things AUSL while following along for exclusive content during the future summer seasons.
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