As the Athletes Unlimited Softball League enters its second season after a tremendously successful inaugural campaign in 2025, there are two new teams in the mix and new faces on each club’s roster.
Following an Expansion Draft and an Allocation Draft, the AUSL rosters look pretty different from just a few weeks ago. Here’s a look at each one as the six teams gear up for a new season:
The Oklahoma City Spark
As one of two new clubs in the AUSL, it’s an exciting time for the Spark -- not only has it joined the league, but it also had the No. 1 pick in the recent Expansion Draft, selecting UCLA superstar Maya Brady (niece of seven-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Tom Brady) from the Talons.
Between the Expansion and Allocation Drafts, the Spark placed a premium on defensive versatility and leadership as it enters its first AUSL season. More >
The Cascade
The other AUSL expansion team, the Cascade, is starting to see an identity take shape, with general manager Jami Lobpries going heavy on pitching early in the Expansion Draft -- Sam Landry (Volts), Carley Hoover (Blaze) and Payton Gotshall (Volts) were taken among the first four Cascade picks.
Another theme in the Cascade’s first crack at building the roster was speed. The club’s selections in the Expansion Draft included Sierra Sacco, Korbe Otis and Tori Vidales. More >
The Bandits
The Bandits had a lot of holes to fill with a couple of key members of the 2025 squad retiring and some other key players being taken in the Expansion Draft. But the team was busy in the Allocation Draft, selecting pitcher Kathryn Sandercock with its first pick. Sandercock pitched in Japan last year and owns a 2.29 ERA in her Athletes Unlimited career.
Later in the Allocation Draft, the Bandits added some balance on both sides of the plate with power hitters Jocelyn Alo and Jessica Clements. More >
The Blaze
The major theme for the Blaze in the Allocation Draft was defense. Already boasting a versatile defensive group, the club added corner infielder Alyssa Brito, middle infielder Jenna Laird and utility player Valerie Cagle.
Another focus was adding power, something the team lacked during the 2025 campaign. General manager Dana Sorensen went with the best power option on the board with the club's first selection (fifth overall), taking Brito despite not having a clear vacancy for her to fill defensively. And the Blaze’s fourth-round pick was Cagle, who finished tied for second in ACC history with 66 collegiate homers. More >
The Talons
The defending AUSL champs prioritized speed and versatility in the Allocation Draft. After losing the most players in the Expansion Draft, Talons general manager Lisa Fernandez went to work and selected Jayda Coleman, a speedy outfielder who hit .412 last summer with Team USA in the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, China.
Later in the Allocation Draft, the Talons chose more speedy defenders in Rachel Becker (Round 3, Pick 15), Maddie Moore (Round 4, Pick 21) and Aliyah Andrews (Round 5, Pick 27). While the club didn’t select any pitchers, that will likely be a focus in the upcoming AUSL College Draft in the spring. More >
The Volts
It was pitching -- particularly relief pitching -- and speed on the basepaths that were areas of interest for the Volts in the Allocation Draft. The team selected Ally Carda, Alyssa Denham and Aliyah Binford to bolster a staff led by Rachel Garcia, as well as Rylie Boone, who was one of the fastest players in the Draft pool.
As she looks ahead to the College Draft, Volts general manager Cat Osterman is confident that she and her staff will be able to round out a strong all-around roster for 2026. More >