The AUSL expansion and allocation drafts will take place tonight at 7 p.m. ET on ESPNU. For a list of all the players available in the allocation draft, click here. And head to MLB.com/AUSL for a full breakdown of the draft rules and formats.
Over 100 athletes declared for the Athletes Unlimited Softball League Draft and are available to be selected by teams for the upcoming season. The six teams – the Bandits, Blaze, Cascade, Spark, Talons and Volts – will build out their 2026 rosters live on ESPNU at 7 p.m. ET on Monday night.
The athletes available in the allocation portion of the draft are a mix of players from the 2025 AUSL reserved pool, returners from previous AU Pro Softball seasons and newcomers from other professional leagues.
These are six players that teams may seek to add to their roster early in the draft.
Jocelyn Alo, Utility
What Alo can do with her bat is unlike many in pro softball. The two-time USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year has been the face of the Oklahoma City Spark since its inception, and it's easy to imagine they will be aggressive in getting her back in a Spark uniform.
If the picks don't fall the Spark's way, expect Alo to be an early pick-up. When she competed with AU Pro Softball in the 2024 AUX season, she earned a second-place medal because of her power and consistency at the plate. Alo logged 14 hits and six homers in 36 at-bats during that 12-game season. It was good for 12 RBIs and a .944 slugging percentage.
Jayda Coleman, OF
Coleman tore it up on the world stage with Team USA this past summer and could be a key piece on a 2026 roster. Coleman was named to the All-World Team after putting together a .412 average (7-for-17) with three runs scored at the World Games.
For a team to use an early pick on a position player, they'll need a skill set that makes an impact. Coleman's defensive prowess, paired with speed and the further development of power over the last couple of years, makes her fit that bill.
Jailyn Ford, LHP
Remember Ford's top-notch college career at James Madison? Well, she's gotten even better since then.
She's spent most of her nearly decade-long pro career playing in Japan and will bring seasoned experience and poise to the team that drafts her. Not only will pitchers be at a premium in the AUSL Draft, but the value of a lefty like Ford will be even higher.
Kinzie Hansen, C
Throughout the inaugural season of the AUSL, catchers showcased how valuable they could be for a staff that was working together for the first time. That's why Hansen is a player predicted to come off the board early in the draft.
She's often been on Team USA rosters, competing in three straight Japan All-Star Series and the 2022 World Games while still in college at the University of Oklahoma. Expect her to be a valued target for the Spark, whom she's played for the last two years. The team started a catching clinic around the former Sooner, who is connected to the local community in OKC.
Kelly Maxwell, LHP
Maxwell is another lefty pitcher with overseas experience who could go in the first couple of rounds. She's competed with Toyota Shokki in the Japan Diamond Softball League and joined the Spark this past summer.
Maxwell is hardly two years removed from finishing her college career at Oklahoma and has been heavily used in the Team USA rotation at national team events. As a Sooner, she finished her senior season with a 23–2 record, maintaining a 1.94 ERA over 155 1/3 innings. Most recently for the red, white and blue, Maxwell made three appearances, including a start, at the 2025 World Games. She allowed six hits and two earned runs while striking out seven.
Kat Sandercock, RHP
Sandercock earned a reputation as a cold-blooded closer in the All-Star Cup seasons and would be a major get for any AUSL team's bullpen.
Her career stats with the league include seven saves and a 2.29 ERA in 25 appearances. Sandercock's ability to shut the door is unique. The Florida State standout was the 2023 ACC Pitcher of the Year, and after two seasons with AU Pro Softball, she competed in the top pro softball league in Japan. While competing there this past year, her ERA was even lower, sitting at 1.08 in 51 2/3 innings.