Athletes Unlimited Softball League hosted a regular series in Omaha this weekend at Connie Claussen Field as a part of the league’s inaugural season.
The league, which launched in June, consists of four teams (Bandits, Blaze, Talons, Volts) that travel to 10 different cities in a “barnstorming” format with the goal to choose franchise cities for the 2026 season.
The first-place Talons won two out of three games against the Bandits in Omaha to clinch their spot in the championship series which will be hosted in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, June 26-28.
Senior Manager of Softball Operations Sam Fisher said that after visiting different stadiums, she felt that Omaha would be a great place for the teams to play.
“My goodness, that stadium is so awesome at the University of Nebraska at Omaha,” Fisher told Hurrdat Sports. “Thinking about a place that the players can enjoy and have a good experience … I know the people that we spoke to when we were there were excited to have us. It’s a really cool thing to feel welcomed and wanted.
“It was just overall feeling really positive for Omaha wanting to host us.”
Women’s sports have been on an uphill climb as of late with the Women’s College World Series setting a record with 1.3 million average viewers, surpassing the Men’s College World Series’ 1.2 million viewers per game on ESPN networks.
Fischer is a former softball player for Loyola Marymount University and Team USA and sees how impactful the league is for more opportunity beyond college.
“It’s been a really, really cool thing to witness and to be a part of,” Fisher said. “There’s more opportunity than there was for us and we’re actually seeing it happen right now in real time.
“It makes me so excited for our counterparts in the other sports. They’re finally getting their time to shine after working so hard for so many years to get there.”
The fans’ support in cities all over the U.S. have made the league a success thus far.
“It’s actually been a really cool experience seeing how many people do desire us to be in their area,” Fisher said. “We’ve had a lot of sellouts. That’s been so exciting. People are showing up in these different cities.”
AUSL commissioner Kim Ng brings a plethora of success to the league. Before joining the league in April, she served as GM for the Marlins, becoming the first woman to serve as general manager of a team in the major four leagues in North America.
“It’s been so cool getting to learn from [Ng], and just watch her work,” Fisher said. “It’s no wonder that she was able to have the career that she had in MLB, and in a place where she was the only woman for most of her time.
“I enjoy every single day getting to work with her, and kind of developing this really cool relationship. We have really good back and forth and she’s just an excellent leader and she’s an excellent teacher.”
On May 29, MLB announced its partnership with AUSL. Fisher said that this means a lot for the softball community.
“Growing up and playing ball, I looked at either the Olympics team every four years or I watched MLB every year,” Fisher said. “So, MLB is so close to the hearts of so many softball players because that’s what we got to watch.
“They’re taking us under their wing and it’s like a big brother kind of thing it feels [like].”
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said that he’s thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with AUSL.
“We think we can help them not only financially but in terms of exposure and engagement,” Manfred said on MLB Network.
Ng echoes this sentiment from Manfred.
“For MLB to be investing in the women’s pro landscape is just phenomenal,” Ng told MLB Network. “Obviously, this is a stage that is huge, and to be side by side [with] our logos, it’s an amazing day for a lot of people.”
Manfred said that due to their involvement with younger athletes that play softball, they made it a goal to partner with an organization to help expand women’s sports.
“There was a push from our ownership,” Manfred said. “Given the focus on women’s sports, let’s get beyond the amateur level and see whether we can produce a league or find a partner that will help us produce a league that’s sustainable that becomes part of the sports landscape in North America.
“And we think we have a real opportunity to do that with AUSL.”
As for the future of the AUSL, Fisher said that she’s excited for what’s to come.
“I never even imagined we could be here today right now,” Fisher said. “So five years I know so much can happen and I know the future is really so bright.”
