Many of the top players at theWomen's College World Serieswon't end their playing careers altogether when the tournament is complete, instead going into the professional ranks. Athletes Unlimited has been around since 2020, but announced its intentions to launch a traditional softball league in 2025, starting with four teams. TheAthletes Unlimited Softball Leagueis also partnered with MLB. The AUSL is now set for a 24-game season, which starts June 7. The league is also run by commissioner Kim Ng, the former general manager of theMiami Marlins. Ng was the first woman to ever serve as general manager of a Big Four sports organization in the United States. WCWS bracket 2025:Full schedule, matchups for NCAA softball tournament Professional softball has had numerous leagues over the years, but none have quite stuck. The Oklahoma City Spark, the last-standing team from the now-defunct WPF, operate as an independent professional softball team. The Spark's roster includes former Oklahoma standout Jocelyn Alo, the NCAA's all-time home runs leader. Here's everything to know about the AUSL, which will feature multiple current college stars once the WCWS is over: The Athletes Unlimited Softball League is a new premier professional softball league, which launches in June. Athletes Unlimited softball started in 2020 but played in a format where players were the center of the league, not teams. Players rotated off being captains of teams, with a point system that determined a players' leaderboard. Athletes Unlimited also has professional women's leagues in lacrosse, volleyball and basketball, but debuted with softball. AUSL is launching with four teams – Bandits, Blaze, Talons, Volts – for its inaugural season. Each team has rosters of 16, with players making at least $45,000, according to its website. Players can also earn up to $75,000 with bonuses. The league has already signed some big names as general managers and head coaches. Cat Osterman (Volts), Jenny Dalton-Hill (Bandits), Dana Sorensen (Blaze) and Lisa Fernandez (Talons) are building rosters; Kelly Kretschman (Volts), Stacy Nuveman-Deniz (Bandits), Alisa Goler (Blaze) and Howard Dobson (Talons) are coaching. The AUSL plans to become a city-based league in 2026, but the inaugural 2025 season will be played on a touring basis, with the four teams traveling to 10 different cities in the 24-game season. The league is also signed by ESPN, with games airing on its family of networks. Some of the biggest names in softball are serving in advisor roles for the league — Jennie Finch, Osterman, Jessica Mendoza and Natasha Watley will all help with strategic direction, according to the AUSL. The old points-based system that revolves around player performance will stick around, with that play starting after the AUSL's season is completed. That league will be renamed the AUSL All-Star Cup, which takes place in Rosemont, Illinois; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Greenville, North Carolina. The AUSL had an inaugural 12-round draft in January, supplemented by a three-round college draft in April. Here's the full draft order for both the inaugural and college drafts for the AUSL: 1. Bandits | Lexi Kilfoyl, Pitcher, Oklahoma State 2. Blaze | Carley Hoover, Pitcher, LSU 3. Talons | Megan Faraimo, Pitcher, UCLA 4. Volts | Rachel Garcia, Pitcher, UCLA 5. Blaze | Aleshia Ocasio, Pitcher, Florida 6. Talons | Georgina Corrick, Pitcher, USF 7. Volts | Amanda Lorenz, Outfielder, Florida 8. Bandits | Taylor McQuillin, Pitcher, Arizona 9. Talons | Sharlize Palacios, Catcher, UCLA 10. Volts | Dejah Mulipola, Catcher, Arizona 11. Bandits | Skylar Wallace, Middle Infielder, Florida 12. Blaze | Aubrey Leach, Middle Infielder, Tennessee 13. Volts | Jessi Warren, Corner Infielder, Florida State 14. Bandits | Bubba Nickles, Outfielder, UCLA 15. Blaze | Aliyah Andrews, Outfielder, LSU 16. Talons | Hannah Flippen, Middle Infielder, Utah 17. Bandits | Mia Davidson, Catcher, 18. Blaze | Anissa Urtez, Middle Infielder, Utah 19. Talons | Maya Brady, Utility, UCLA 20. Volts | Tiare Jennings, Middle Infielder, Oklahoma 21. Blaze | Keilani Ricketts, Pitcher, Oklahoma 22. Talons | Sahvanna Jaquish, Utility, LSU 23. Volts | Payton Gottshall, Pitcher, Tennessee 24. Bandits | Erin Coffel, Middle Infielder, Kentucky 25. Talons | Ali Aguilar, Middle Infielder, Washington 26. Volts | Sis Bates, Middle Infielder, Washington 27. Bandits | Morgan Zerkle, Outfielder, Marshall 28. Blaze | Kayla Kowalik, Catcher, Kentucky 29. Volts | Erika Piancastelli, Outfielder, McNeese 30. Bandits | Delanie Wisz, Corner Infielder, UCLA 31. Blaze | Baylee Klingler, Corner Infielder, Washington 32. Talons | Tori Vidales, Corner Infielder, Texas A&M 33. Bandits | Sydney McKinney, Middle Infielder, Wichita State 34. Blaze | Alana Vawter, Pitcher, South Carolina 35. Talons | Montana Fouts, Pitcher, Alabama 36. Volts | Kelsey Stewart-Hunter, Corner Infielder, Florida 37. Blaze: Ciara Briggs, Outfielder, LSU 38. Talons: Caroline Jacobsen, Outfielder, Duke 39. Volts: Mariah Mazon, Pitcher, Oregon State 40. Bandits: Odicci Alexander, Pitcher, James Madison 41. Talons: Sydney Romero, Middle Infielder, Oklahoma 42. Volts: McKenzie Clark, Outfielder, Clemson 43. Bandits: Sarah Willis, Pitcher, UCF 44. Blaze: Taylor Edwards, Catcher, Nebraska 45. Volts: Sierra Romero, Middle Infielder, Michigan 46. Bandits: Bella Dayton, Outfielder, Texas 47. Blaze: Kalei Harding, Outfielder, Florida State 48. Talons: Victoria Hayward, Outfielder, Washington 1. Volts: P Sam Landry, Oklahoma 2. Talons: IF Bri Ellis, Arkansas 3. Blaze: P Emma Lemley, Virginia Tech 4. Bandits: UTIL Cori McMillan, Virginia Tech 5. Talons: OF Sierra Sacco, Mississippi State 6. Blaze: OF Korbe Otis, Florida 7. Bandits: P Emiley Kennedy, Texas A&M 8. Volts: C Michaela Edenfield, FSU 9. Blaze: IF Anna Gold, Duke 10. Bandits: P Devyn Netz, Arizona 11. Volts: UTIL Danieca Coffey, LSU 12. Talons: P Raelin Chaffin, Mississippi State This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:What is Athletes Unlimited Softball League?
