The Athletes Unlimited Softball League, backed by Major League Baseball, launched in 2025 as the first sustainable professional women's softball league. With former MLB executive Kim Ng as commissioner — the first woman to hold such a position for a US major league — the league played across 10 cities to enthusiastic crowds.
When it comes to championing women in sports, 2025 delivered a milestone moment. The Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL), financially backed by Major League Baseball, launched on June 7 as the first sustainable professional women's softball league in history. The league appointed former MLB executive Kim Ng as commissioner, making her the first woman to hold such a position for a US major league.
The four inaugural teams played 24 games each across 10 cities through July 23, leading up to the AUSL Championship in Alabama. The championship was a complete shutout: on July 27, the Talons beat the Bandits 1-0 in Game 2 to win in a series sweep.
“The Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL), financially backed by Major League Baseball, launched on June 7 as the first sustainable professional women's softball league in history.”
The creation of the AUSL addresses a long-standing gap in professional sports. Despite softball's massive popularity — recreational participation increased by over 7% in 2024, and the Women's College World Series finals set viewership records with an average of 2 million viewers — there had never been a financially stable professional league for women.
"This is a watershed moment for women's sports and especially for softball," said Kim Ng. "MLB's investment will supercharge our efforts to build the sustainable professional league this sport has long deserved and sends a powerful message about the value of female athletes and the importance of creating professional opportunities for them."
The league was on a barnstorming tour in its inaugural year, but plans are already in motion for 2026, when teams will become city-based with permanent home venues. This transition signals the league's commitment to building deep community connections and a lasting fan base.
The AUSL joins a growing wave of investment in women's professional sports, alongside the WNBA's expansion, the National Women's Soccer League's growing attendance records, and increased media coverage of women's athletics. Together, these developments represent a fundamental shift in how the sports industry values and invests in women athletes.
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