CHICAGO – Mary Iakopo had not been to a Chicago professional baseball game since joining the Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball League (AUSL) last season.
ATHLETES UNLIMITED SOFTBALL LEAGUE
But the catcher for the Bandits, who play out of the Parkway Banks Sports Complex in Rosemont, Ill., did more than just take in a game during Sunday’s series finale at Rate Field between the White Sox and Nationals. Iakopo threw out one of the ceremonial first pitches to Noah Schultz and did a pregame jersey exchange with second baseman Chase Meidroth.
“I’m probably going to frame it,” said a smiling Iakopo, while holding on to the Meidroth jersey. “I didn’t realize we are from the same area.”
Iakopo is from Carson, Calif., and Meidroth is from Torrance, just four miles away. Now, they are part of the same overarching Chicago pro sports crew.
This AUSL journey for Iakopo began last season as a pickup player with the Texas Volts, which seemed fitting considering Iakopo played collegiately at the University of Texas. She also played for the Bandits, where she is a fully rostered competitor in 2026.
“We have players who play in Japan year-round, so those girls would be missing part of our season, and I was supposed to join as just a pickup for three weeks,” Iakopo said. “An injury occurred for another team, so I originally joined one team, then hopped onto another team full-time.
“Injuries happen all the time, which is really unfortunate," she added. "Just a lucky draw, I guess. Just really lucky in how everything aligned.”
Players report on May 27 and the 2026 season opener is June 7. Iakopo spoke of the great fan support already in place, mentioning a ‘25 series with the Bandits at the Volt in Round Rock, where three of the four games were sellouts.
“That is what this game is today, and I can’t wait to see what we continue to do this year,” Iakopo said. “I never thought it would get this big.
“To have the support we do with MLB, their backing, and have their support has been huge for us because we’ve been trying to grow this game for the last 20 years. The women who have played before us that are still in our advisory committee, we are very grateful they kept pushing the needle for us to create a game that is what it is today.”
Iakopo also is grateful to have Kim Ng serving as commissioner of the AUSL.
“Oh, my goodness, the strategy she has behind all of this,” said Iakopo of Ng. “We are so blessed to have her transition from MLB to join us and lead the way.
“Everyone is trying to continue playing softball. Our goal in AUSL is to have the best of the best here," she added. "Get all the best athletes in softball in the world to play with us. That way you can see all the Olympians and the World Cup medalists come out of this league.”
Although Sunday’s game represented Iakopo’s first baseball visit, she has made trips to Chicago during her time with the Bandits.
“A fast city. The traffic, you find it everywhere,” said Iakopo, who is currently working on her Master's at Arizona State University. “Chicago and L.A. are very similar in that aspect. I love exploring the city and have been down here a few times with friends and family. I love seeing and trying new things out here.”