Without a doubt, Kim Ng is a trailblazer as the first female general manager of an MLB team. Now, Ng can add the role of Senior Advisor to her resume for the upcoming (Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) season. Ng will work closely with softball greats and advisors Cat Osterman, Natasha Watley, and Jessica Mendoza along with the current players and leadership within AU strategically.
The former MLB general manager spoke on being a part of the new league and her role:
“I’m excited about this opportunity to be involved with Athletes Unlimited and the sport that I grew up playing, while helping to lead the AUSL as it prepares to launch. Given its growth at the grassroots and collegiate levels in recent years, softball is poised for tremendous growth at the professional level, and I believe the AUSL is well positioned for success.”
Ng played the sport of softball collegiately for the University of Chicago as a four-year player who earned a degree there in Public Policy.
Kim Ng and her MLB Experience
In November 2020, she made history when the Florida Marlins hired her as the general manager. She was not only the first female general manager in MLB history. Ng became the first in any of the major four North American men’s leagues. This was a position she held until she stepped down in October 2023. Before that, Ng held the position of Vice President and Assistant General Manager for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2001 to 2011.
Growing the Game 🥎
— AU Pro Softball (@auprosoftball) July 1, 2024
Kim Ng reflects on when she first heard about AU and how her unique skillset will lend to the launch of #AUSL as a Senior Advisor. ✨#AUProSB pic.twitter.com/nOo37rBBEY
Additionally, she was the Assistant General Manager of the New York Yankees from 1998-2001. Ng was the youngest person appointed to the position at the time.
Following her stint as Marlins general manager, Ng was hired as the Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations for Major League Baseball. In this capacity, Ng worked to grow the game in nations spanning the globe around the world while advancing the World Baseball Classic.
Photo Credit: Jade Hewitt (Athletes Unlimited)
Ng served as MLB’s representative on the board of USA Softball. Here, she worked with key former and present players for Team USA Softball to elevate the sport at its very core. Needlessly to say, having Ng join is a great asset for both Athletes Unlimited and softball itself.
About the AUSL
The AUSL is set to start with four teams playing a 30-game season (60 total games) in a standard format. This is accompanying the present-day AU. In 2026, the league will become a city-based league. The inaugural season in 2025 will showcase games in 6-8 different cities across the United States.
Also, the current AU Pro Softball Championship Season will follow the finale of the AUSL season as it will become the AUSL Champions Cup beginning in 2025. Here, it will continue to make use of the innovative scoring model of AU to crown a champion.
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