Maya Brady officially a part of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL). Image: LA Times.
Brady, 23, is a two-time first-team All-American and Pac-12 Player of the Year. The left-handed hitter, who also plays outfield, ranks second in career home runs at UCLA. Rather than heading to Japan’s top-tier Diamond Softball League, she’s opted to be part of this new venture.
The AUSL, led by former Miami Marlins GM Kim Ng, will feature four teams—the Bandits, Blaze, Talons, and Volts—playing a 30-game season across multiple cities before transitioning to a fixed format in 2026. Each team will draft 12 players, plus a free agent and three college prospects.
Other notable players in the draft include Rachel Garcia, Montana Fouts, and Tiare Jennings. AUSL boasts legends like Lisa Fernandez and Cat Osterman as team general managers, with Jennie Finch and Jessica Mendoza serving as advisers. With games set to air on ESPN, the league hopes to succeed where past pro softball leagues have failed. Ng believes the AUSL will finally provide the platform the sport deserves.
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