The Athletes Unlimited Softball League launched on June 7. And with the backing of Major League Baseball, this four-team foray into pro softball has made an instant impression on fans.
As planned since its inception, the AUSL has been on a two-week hiatus that began on June 24, but play is set to resume with a doubleheader on Monday in Rosemont, Ill.
ATHLETES UNLIMITED SOFTBALL LEAGUE
Here’s an explainer as to why the AUSL went on the brief break so soon after it started and what to expect when the season resumes:
Why did the AUSL go on a temporary hiatus?
The answer is rooted in international competition.
When the AUSL schedule was being put together, league organizers had to account for Team USA’s then-scheduled participation in the 2025 WBSC Americas Women’s Pan American Championship, a qualifier for the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup 2026/2027.
However, in the time since the AUSL schedule was finalized, Team USA received an automatic bid.
What will happen during the AUSL’s downtime?
The two-week hiatus is being utilized for various AUSL players to participate in the U.S. Women’s National Team Camp & Showcase, which takes place in Oklahoma City.
At this event, Team USA faces top collegiate and professional athletes in a doubleheader.
Which AUSL players will participate?
The 20 AUSL players taking part in the showcase include:
Bandits infielders Erin Coffel and Skylar Wallace, pitchers Emiley Kennedy and Lexi Kilfoyl, outfielder Bubba Nickles-Camarena and utility player Cori McMillan.
Talons infielders Bri Ellis and Megan Flippen, pitcher Megan Faraimo, outfielder Sierra Sacco and utility player Sahvanna Jaquish.
Volts pitcher Rachel Garcia, outfielder Amanda Lorenz, catcher Dejah Mulipola and infielders Tiare Jennings and Jessi Warren.
Blaze infielders Danielle Gibson Whorton, Baylee Klingler and Aubrey Leach and utility player Kayla Kowalik.
Additionally, Blaze outfielder Aliyah Andrews and Talons utility player Maya Brady were invited to take part but will not be participating.
Brady, the niece of NFL legend Tom Brady and, by marriage, three-time Red Sox All-Star Kevin Youkilis, has yet to appear in an AUSL game this season because of an injury, but could return in the second half of the season.
What have we learned in the AUSL season so far?
The Bandits and Talons came roaring out the gates with 9-3 records. The Talons hit the hiatus on a hot streak with four straight wins, but the Bandits have asserted themselves with a league-best plus-33 run differential so far.
It’s a different story for the 4-8 Volts and the 2-10 Blaze, both of whom will have their work cut out for them if they’re going to be one of the two teams to advance to the best-of-three AUSL Championship at Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on July 26-28. But with the Volts facing the Bandits and the Blaze facing the Talons when play resumes on July 7, there will be an opportunity to make up ground right away.
Coffel leads the AUSL with a 1.841 OPS, while Bandits outfielder Morgan Zerkle has a league-best five homers. Klinger has a league-best .500 average through 32 at-bats.
On the pitching side, Kilfoyl’s 2.66 ERA in 23 2/3 innings has helped put the Bandits in a playoff position, while Garcia has been the AUSL’s workhorse, with a 3.17 ERA and 31 strikeouts in a league-high 35 1/3 innings.
What’s on tap when the AUSL resumes?
The July 7 resumption in Rosemont will feature Bandits vs. Volts at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and Blaze vs. Talons at 9:30 p.m. on MLB.TV, MLB.com and the MLB App.