Softball League Announces Cities

The Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) just released the six cities which will host teams for the upcoming season. The league is evolving from a tour-based league to city-based franchises. 

The six cities are:

• Carolina Blaze: Durham, North Carolina (Duke University Softball Stadium)
• Chicago Bandits: Rosemont, Illinois (The Stadium at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex)
• Oklahoma City Spark: Edmond, Oklahoma (Tom Heath Field at Oklahoma Christian University)
• Portland Cascade: Hillsboro, Oregon (Hillsboro Ballpark)
• Texas Volts: Round Rock, Texas (Dell Diamond)
• Utah Talons: Salt Lake City, Utah (Dumke Family Stadium at University of Utah)

The league began play in 2025 as a tour-based league.  The Talons won the first AUSL championship defeated the Bandits 2 games to 0.

Major League Baseball (MLB) has invested in the league.

ESPN will broadcast games, including a marquee game on ABC, for the first time in professional softball history in the United States.

The 2026 regular season will begin on June 9th.  The AUSL playoff format will expand to include a play-in game between the second- and third-ranked teams, with the top-performing team earning a bye into the best-of-three AUSL Championship. The AUSL Championship and play-in game will take place at a neutral site to be announced at a later date. Following the AUSL Championship, a select group of players will be chosen to compete in the AUSL All-Star Cup, a high-stakes showdown held in Rosemont to crown the ultimate individual softball champion utilizing the innovative Athletes Unlimited format.

For more information on the league:  https://theausl.com/