Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball
Upcoming season or competition: 2024 | |
 | |
| Sport | Softball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2020 |
| Founder | Jon Patricof Jonathan Soros |
| First season | 2020 |
| Country |  United States |
| Headquarters | Mesa, Arizona |
| Most recent champion(s) | Amanda Lorenz |
| TV partner(s) | CBS Sports Network Bally Sports ESPN+ |
| Official website | Athletes Unlimited |
Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball is a women's professional softball league in the United States, founded in 2020.
League history
Athletes Unlimited was founded by Jonathan Soros and Jon Patricof.[1] There are no team owners, and league investors are capping their returns. Athletes share in the league profits, and are involved in the daily decision making.[2]
Players are not committed to one team but switch teams every week of the season through a draft.[3] The top four players who earned the most points each week become captains for the next week and form new teams.[4] Players earn points based on both their team and individual performances, and are ranked accordingly. The champion is the player with the most points at the end of the season.[5]
On June 4, 2024, Athletes Unlimited announced the plan to launch the Athletes Unlimited Softball League in May 2025. The AUSL will feature four teams playing a 30-game season in a traditional format, complementing the existing AU Pro Softball Championship season.[6] ESPN has signed on as a founding broadcast partner.[7] The AUSL will become a city-based league beginning in 2026, while the inaugural season in 2025 will be touring with games in six to eight different cities.[8]
AUX Softball
On December 21, 2021, Athletes Unlimited Softball announced a new two-week competition titled AUX Softball. The competition will provide more playing opportunities and compensation to athletes. The inaugural competition featured 42 athletes playing 18 games and took place June 13-26, 2022, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Title IX on June 23.[9] Danielle O'Toole won the inaugural AUX softball competition with 1,436 points.[10] Rachel Garcia won the 2023 AUX competition with 1,392 points.[11] Bubba Nickles won the 2024 AUX competition with 1,344 points.[12]
Champions
| Year | Champion | Points | Runner-up | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Cat Osterman | 2,408 | Jessie Warren | [13] |
| 2021 | Aleshia Ocasio | 2,096 | Amanda Chidester | [14] |
| 2022 | Dejah Mulipola | 1,782 | Alyssa Denham | [15] |
| 2023 | Odicci Alexander | 1,994 | Alyssa Denham | [16] |
| 2024 | Amanda Lorenz | 1,800 | Lexi Kilfoyl | [17] |
2020 Season
The inaugural season was played in Rosemont, Illinois between August 20 and September 28, 2020. Two games were played each Saturday, Sunday, and Monday over the five week period, 30 games all together (15 per player). The top four players were named the medalists and Haylie McCleney was named the Defensive Player of the Year.[13]
| Name | Position | Rank | Points | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cat Osterman | Left-Handed Pitcher | 1 | 2,408 | Champion |
| Jessie Warren | Infield | 2 | 2,020 | 2nd place medalist |
| Victoria Hayward | Outfield | 3 | 1,860 | 3rd place medalist |
| Erika Piancastelli | Catcher | 4 | 1,840 | 4th place medalist |
| Gwen Svekis | Catcher | 5 | 1,710 | |
| Morgan Zerkle | Outfield | 6 | 1,710 | |
| Haylie McCleney | Outfield | 7 | 1,710 | Defensive Player of the Year |
| Tori Vidales | Infield | 8 | 1,690 | |
| Sahvanna Jaquish | Catcher | 10 | 1,680 | |
| Haylie Wagner | Left-Handed Pitcher | 10 | 1,662 | |
| Aleshia Ocasio | Right-Handed Pitcher | 11 | 1,584 | Missed Week 3;[18] played 12 games |
| Jordan Roberts | Catcher | 12 | 1,580 | |
| Katiyana Mauga | Infield | 13 | 1,530 | |
| DJ Sanders | Infield | 14 | 1,520 | |
| Anissa Urtez | Infield | 15 | 1,510 | |
| Danielle O'Toole | Left-Handed Pitcher | 16 | 1,434 | |
| Aubrey Leach | Infield | 17 | 1,430 | |
| Janie Reed | Outfield | 18 | 1,420 | |
| Hannah Flippen | Infield | 19 | 1,420 | |
| Abby Ramirez | Infield | 20 | 1,380 | |
| Samantha Show | Right-Handed Pitcher | 21 | 1,368 | |
| Lilli Piper | Infield | 22 | 1,300 | |
| Kelly Barnhill | Right-Handed Pitcher | 23 | 1,284 | |
| Kelsey Stewart | Infield | 24 | 1,270 | |
| Morgan Howe | Outfield | 25 | 1,270 | |
| Taylor Edwards | Catcher | 26 | 1,150 | |
| Megan Wiggins | Outfield | 27 | 1,090 | |
| Nadia Taylor | Infield | 28 | 1,080 | |
| Ari Williams | Outfield | 29 | 1,070 | |
| Sami Fagan | Infield | 30 | 1,050 | |
| AJ Andrews | Outfield | 31 | 1,030 | |
| Amanda Chidester | Catcher | 32 | 1,030 | |
| Nerissa Myers | Infield | 33 | 1,020 | |
| Shelby Pendley | Infield | 34 | 1,006 | |
| Jazmyn Jackson | Outfield | 35 | 1,000 | |
| Amanda Sanchez | Infield | 36 | 990 | |
| Coley Ries | Right-Handed Pitcher | 37 | 976 | |
| Sam Fischer | Infield | 38 | 930 | |
| Jessica Burroughs | Right-Handed Pitcher | 39 | 928 | |
| Michelle Moultrie | Outfield | 40 | 920 | |
| Caleigh Clinton | Infield | 41 | 910 | |
| Mandie Perez | Outfield | 42 | 900 | |
| Kelsey Jenkins | Infield | 43 | 880 | |
| Kamalani Dung | Right-Handed Pitcher | 44 | 874 | |
| Emily Crane | Outfield | 45 | 850 | |
| Aubree Munro | Catcher | 46 | 840 | |
| Randi Hennigan | Right-Handed Pitcher | 47 | 830 | |
| Karissa Hovinga | Right-Handed Pitcher | 48 | 830 | |
| Joey Lye | Infield | 49 | 800 | |
| Kylan Becker | Outfield | 50 | 790 | |
| Taylor McQuillan | Left-Handed Pitcher | 51 | 784 | |
| Nicole Pendley | Outfield | 52 | 740 | |
| Paige Halstead | Catcher | 53 | 710 | |
| Sashel Palacios | Catcher | 54 | 670 | |
| Nicole Dewitt | Infield | 55 | 630 | |
| Morgan Foley | Right-Handed Pitcher | 56 | 512 | |
| Trish Parks | Right-Handed Pitcher | 57 | 238 | Joined Week 4;[18] played 6 games |
See also
References
- ^ Latimer, Jolene (September 2, 2020). "The Creation of Athletes Unlimited". auprosports.com. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
- ^ Thomas, Louisa (June 3, 2021). "What if Pro Sports Leagues Were Controlled by Their Players?". The New Yorker. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
- ^ "How We Play: Softball". auprosports.com. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
- ^ Minsberg, Talya (June 8, 2020). "New Pro Sports Venture Puts Women's Sports in the Players' Hands". The New York Times. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
- ^ Jorstad, Anders (July 24, 2020). "The End of the Dynasty". auprosports.com. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
- ^ "Athletes Unlimited Softball League to Launch in 2025". auprosports.com. June 4, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
- ^ Wilson, Dave (June 4, 2024). "Athletes Unlimited announces softball league to start in 2025". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
- ^ Brunt, Cliff (June 4, 2024). "Athletes Unlimited to add traditional team-based softball league in 2025". Associated Press. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
- ^ "Athletes Unlimited Softball Announces Major Expansion". auprosports.com. December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
- ^ "Pitcher Danielle O'Toole wins Athletes Unlimited AUX Softball competition". ESPN.com. June 27, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
- ^ "Rachel Garcia crowned 2023 AUX Champion". auprosports.com. June 27, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
- ^ Collins, Savanna; Lewis, Alexandra (June 26, 2024). "Bubba Nickles Crowned 2024 AUX Champion in Close Finish". auprosports.com. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
- ^ a b "Cat Osterman crowned first Athletes Unlimited Champion". auprosports.com. September 28, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
- ^ "Pitcher Aleshia Ocasio wins 2021 Athletes Unlimited Softball Championship". auprosports.com. September 28, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
- ^ "Dejah Mulipola crowned 2022 Champion in thrilling finale". auprosports.com. August 28, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
- ^ "Odicci Alexander crowned 2023 Athletes Unlimited Softball Champion". auprosports.com. August 27, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
- ^ "Amanda Lorenz crowned 2024 Athletes Unlimited Softball Champion". auprosports.com. August 25, 2024. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
- ^ a b "Ocasio draft-eligible again in Athletes Unlimited". ESPN.com. September 14, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
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