'Strength in our position': Edenfield ready for Year 2 in AUSL with Volts
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ARLINGTON -- Michaela Edenfield grew up in the era of YouTubers.
The Florida State alumna and current Texas Volts catcher would spend hours watching tutorials from makeup artists like Jaclyn Hill, Tati Westbrook and Jeffree Star. The inspiration carried over in the new era of shortform vertical videos, now on Instagram and TikTok. Edenfield points out pop star Zara Larsson as one of her current makeup inspirations.
Makeup has always been an outlet of sorts.
Edenfield recalls being bullied throughout much of middle and high school. Makeup and softball became the two outlets for her. And soon, those two outlets became one.
Since her college days, Edenfield has stunned on the field, not only as an All-American and All-ACC catcher for the Seminoles, but also with the artistry of her makeup routine. It’s different, how Edenfield’s pregame routine includes extensive makeup preparation. But that’s part of what’s made her so confident both on and off the field.
“Confidence is overall a choice,” Edenfield said. “My coaches at Florida State, they really pushed me to find my ownership within myself. Because how am I supposed to be the best? How am I supposed to show up on the field, if I can't feel that way off the field, right? We talk about our strength in our position. I absolutely love catching, but again, I’m very much me. I love the razzle-dazzle. It's all about being yourself. If you’re being yourself, you're going to get to the stages that you really want to be. It's when you try to be something you're not, that’s when you get overshadowed by the pressures of it.”
Edenfield has brought her confidence and makeup routine to Texas this summer for her second year in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League.
It’s an opportunity that Edenfield never truly thought she would have.
“During my five years at Florida State, I always knew I wanted to be the best of the best,” she said. “I had no idea if I was even going to go Division I out of high school. So I was living the dream and keeping my head focused, keeping my head down and getting the work done. You just never know where you might wind up being. It was really a blessing. It really did surprise me when I got the Golden Ticket last year. I was the last Golden Ticket. I’m living the dream. I would have never thought this, but at the same time, I have put in every bit of work to get to where I am.”
Professional softball is going through a transition period following a number of failed attempts at leagues. Now the league has the backing of MLB, along with the momentum of college softball to try to make something sustainable.
It’s reaching an inflection point.
“We talk about the opportunity to grow the game, and this is absolutely what pro softball has done lately,” Edenfield said. “I think we've had 15 attempts at a professional softball league. The audience grew so much last year. We’re working year by year and wanting to grow and be a part of our community. That's what it's about. It's so cool to be in the position that we're all in. We’re just here to take it as it comes in. It’s super cool to build a fan base and really work on our community.”
In its inaugural season in 2025, the AUSL featured four teams playing a 24-game season in a traditional format. Year 2 will expand from four teams to six: Edenfield’s Volts, the Portland Cascade, the Oklahoma City Spark, the Chicago Bandits, the Carolina Blaze and the Utah Talons.
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AUSL is still waiting for its big boom, much like other women’s sports leagues in this country like the WNBA and NWSL. It takes time. But they just need the opportunity to grow.
“It's all about the past, the future and the present,” Edenfield said. “We are in the present day of this, and we're looking for something solidified. We are really able to work to make this what it is. It's just so cool. We've seen a growth in numbers in the Women's College World Series, and just seeing how much TV time that's been getting.
“You just need to give us space. Give women space. We will give you a reason to continue to watch this game, because it is super special.”