Athletes Unlimited Softball
SportSoftball
Founded2020
Inaugural season2020
CountryUnited States United States
Most recent
champion(s)		Odicci Alexander
TV partner(s)CBS Sports Network
Bally Sports
ESPN+
Official websiteAthletes Unlimited

Athletes Unlimited 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]

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.[6] Danielle O'Toole won the inaugural AUX softball competition with 1,436 points.[7] Rachel Garcia won the 2023 AUX competition with 1,392 points.[8]

Champions

Year Champion Points Runner-up Ref
2020 Cat Osterman 2,408 Jessie Warren [9]
2021 Aleshia Ocasio 2,096 Amanda Chidester [10]
2022 Dejah Mulipola 1,782 Alyssa Denham [11]
2023 Odicci Alexander 1,994 Alyssa Denham [12]

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.[9]

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;[13] 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;[13] played 6 games

See also

References

  1. ↑ Latimer, Jolene (September 2, 2020). "The Creation of Athletes Unlimited". auprosports.com. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  2. ↑ Thomas, Louisa (June 3, 2021). "What if Pro Sports Leagues Were Controlled by Their Players?". The New Yorker. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  3. ↑ "How We Play: Softball". auprosports.com. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ Jorstad, Anders (July 24, 2020). "The End of the Dynasty". auprosports.com. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Athletes Unlimited Softball Announces Major Expansion". auprosports.com. December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Pitcher Danielle O'Toole wins Athletes Unlimited AUX Softball competition". ESPN.com. June 27, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Rachel Garcia crowned 2023 AUX Champion". auprosports.com. June 27, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  9. 1 2 "Cat Osterman crowned first Athletes Unlimited Champion". auprosports.com. September 28, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Pitcher Aleshia Ocasio wins 2021 Athletes Unlimited Softball Championship". auprosports.com. September 28, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Dejah Mulipola crowned 2022 Champion in thrilling finale". auprosports.com. August 28, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Odicci Alexander crowned 2023 Athletes Unlimited Softball Champion". auprosports.com. August 27, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  13. 1 2 "Ocasio draft-eligible again in Athletes Unlimited". ESPN.com. September 14, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
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