The Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) is rewriting the rules for professional softball in 2025, launching its highly anticipated debut season with a format unlike anything fans have seen. Kicking off this Saturday, the league features four teams—Bandits, Blaze, Talons, and Volts—who will compete in a 24-game regular season barnstorming tour across cities, rather than being tied to a single home base.
AUSL’s season will culminate in a best-of-three championship series in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, from July 26-28, pitting the top two teams against each other for the league’s first-ever title The league’s unique structure is designed as a “tryout” for future city-based franchises, expected to launch in 2026.
ESPN is doubling down on its commitment to softball, broadcasting 40 AUSL games this summer, including the championship series, while MLB Network and MLB.TV will also provide coverage for select matchups The league boasts a roster stacked with former collegiate stars and Olympians, and is backed by an unprecedented partnership with Major League Baseball, signaling a new era for women’s pro softball.
With Olympic legends like Jennie Finch, Cat Osterman, and Jessica Mendoza advising the league, and a surge in TV ratings for women’s softball, the AUSL is poised to capture a national audience hungry for elite competition The full AUSL schedule and game times are available on ESPN platforms and the league’s official site, promising nonstop action for softball fans all summer long.
