Husky Softball Stadium Announced As AUSL Host Site
April 03, 2025 | Softball
SEATTLE – Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) announced on Thursday its coming to Husky Softball Stadium from July 11-13 for a three-game series between the Blaze and the Volts.
Husky All-Americans Baylee Klingler (Blaze) and Sis Bates (Volts) will be making their return to Montlake for the series.
"I absolutely love the fact that the University of Washington has the opportunity to host the inaugural season of AUSL," said Washington softball head coach Heather Tarr. "With so many former Huskies, Pac-12 athletes and the best softball players in the U.S. playing in this league, I can't wait for Husky Nation to be able to see some of our alumni compete but also be able witness the game at the highest level this."
The three games will be part of the inaugural AUSL regular season, which will run from June 7-July 23. More information including team rosters and regular season schedule break down by team can be found at theausl.com.
Season ticket holders check your account for early access to tickets. General public on sale will begin today (Thursday, April 3) at 1 p.m. PT through the Husky Ticket Office at GoHuskies.com. Click here for more information.
"Seattleites have a deep-rooted history with softball, and we are excited to welcome AUSL for this inaugural series. It is even more special to have University of Washington legends Sis and Baylee returning now as professionals," said Seattle Sports Commission President & CEO Beth Knox. "The Seattle region is a top destination for women's professional sports, driven by our passion for exciting play showcasing talented athletes."
In addition, AUSL will make a stop at Husky Softball Stadium on April 26 as Washington takes on Nebraska for the This is Legendary Preseason Tour. The tour will feature player appearances, giveaway items and an opportunity to learn more about AUSL. Bates and Klingler will attend multiple local professional and college sporting events and other community activities April 25-27, building support for the new league.
"With more than a dozen appearances in the College World Series and a national championship, the University of Washington boasts one of the most storied histories in all of college softball," said Kim Ng, AUSL Senior Advisor. "We are looking forward to the AUSL adding to the list of historic moments for the sport that have taken place at Husky Softball Stadium, and for the Seattle fans to provide a great homecoming for Baylee and Sis."
While the AUSL will be a touring property in its first year, the teams will each be assigned to a single city when the league becomes city-based in 2026. ESPN has signed on as a founding broadcast partner of the AUSL and will carry 33 total games exclusively across platforms in 2025, with 30 of them to air on linear television. Additional broadcast partners and other details will be announced at a later date.
Each team drafted their first 12 players at the AUSL Inaugural Draft on January 29. All four teams have since signed one additional player, and will fill out the remainder of their 16-player rosters with the incoming class of top NCAA talent who will finish their eligibility this spring. In addition to Klingler and Bates, Ali Aguilar (Talons) and Victoria Hayward (Talons) will compete in the inaugural season. The AUSL College Draft will take place in the spring, with details to be announced at a later date.
"We are proud to host these women and proud to provide an opportunity and an amazing atmosphere at our venue," Tarr added. "We can't wait to see to see professional softball right here in Seattle this summer."
For more information on the UW softball team, follow @UWSoftball on X and Instagram.
About Athletes Unlimited Softball League:
Launching in 2025, the AUSL will feature four teams playing a 24-game season (48 total games) in a traditional format. It will also be complemented and followed by the AUSL All-Star Cup (formerly known as the AU Pro Softball Championship Season), creating a new opportunity for the world's best players to compete. In addition to the Player Executive Committee (Aubrey Leach, Megan Faraimo, Sierra Romero, Morgan Zerkle and Sharlize Palacois), softball legends Jennie Finch, Jessica Mendoza, Cat Osterman and Natasha Watley are advisors to the AUSL, consulting with AU leadership and current athletes on the strategic direction of the new league. Kim Ng, a trailblazing executive who most recently became the first woman to serve as General Manager of a major American men's professional sports team, joined the organization in 2024 as a Senior Advisor, overseeing the development of the AUSL. The AUSL will become a city-based league beginning in 2026, while the inaugural season in 2025 will be a touring property featuring games in six to eight different cities. For more information follow @theauslofficial and visit theausl.com.
About Athletes Unlimited:
Named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies, Athletes Unlimited owns and operates professional women's softball, volleyball, and basketball leagues featuring world-class competition and fan experience, and stands out as an organization driven by the athletes that play in the leagues, with athlete representation on the company's board of directors, each league led by a Player Executive Committee, and players sharing in long-term profits of the company, all while being proactive in shaping policies supporting the women that play in the league. Athletes Unlimited is the first professional sports league to be organized as a Public Benefit Corporation. For more information, visit AUProSports.com.
Husky All-Americans Baylee Klingler (Blaze) and Sis Bates (Volts) will be making their return to Montlake for the series.
"I absolutely love the fact that the University of Washington has the opportunity to host the inaugural season of AUSL," said Washington softball head coach Heather Tarr. "With so many former Huskies, Pac-12 athletes and the best softball players in the U.S. playing in this league, I can't wait for Husky Nation to be able to see some of our alumni compete but also be able witness the game at the highest level this."
The three games will be part of the inaugural AUSL regular season, which will run from June 7-July 23. More information including team rosters and regular season schedule break down by team can be found at theausl.com.
Season ticket holders check your account for early access to tickets. General public on sale will begin today (Thursday, April 3) at 1 p.m. PT through the Husky Ticket Office at GoHuskies.com. Click here for more information.
"Seattleites have a deep-rooted history with softball, and we are excited to welcome AUSL for this inaugural series. It is even more special to have University of Washington legends Sis and Baylee returning now as professionals," said Seattle Sports Commission President & CEO Beth Knox. "The Seattle region is a top destination for women's professional sports, driven by our passion for exciting play showcasing talented athletes."
In addition, AUSL will make a stop at Husky Softball Stadium on April 26 as Washington takes on Nebraska for the This is Legendary Preseason Tour. The tour will feature player appearances, giveaway items and an opportunity to learn more about AUSL. Bates and Klingler will attend multiple local professional and college sporting events and other community activities April 25-27, building support for the new league.
"With more than a dozen appearances in the College World Series and a national championship, the University of Washington boasts one of the most storied histories in all of college softball," said Kim Ng, AUSL Senior Advisor. "We are looking forward to the AUSL adding to the list of historic moments for the sport that have taken place at Husky Softball Stadium, and for the Seattle fans to provide a great homecoming for Baylee and Sis."
While the AUSL will be a touring property in its first year, the teams will each be assigned to a single city when the league becomes city-based in 2026. ESPN has signed on as a founding broadcast partner of the AUSL and will carry 33 total games exclusively across platforms in 2025, with 30 of them to air on linear television. Additional broadcast partners and other details will be announced at a later date.
Each team drafted their first 12 players at the AUSL Inaugural Draft on January 29. All four teams have since signed one additional player, and will fill out the remainder of their 16-player rosters with the incoming class of top NCAA talent who will finish their eligibility this spring. In addition to Klingler and Bates, Ali Aguilar (Talons) and Victoria Hayward (Talons) will compete in the inaugural season. The AUSL College Draft will take place in the spring, with details to be announced at a later date.
"We are proud to host these women and proud to provide an opportunity and an amazing atmosphere at our venue," Tarr added. "We can't wait to see to see professional softball right here in Seattle this summer."
For more information on the UW softball team, follow @UWSoftball on X and Instagram.
About Athletes Unlimited Softball League:
Launching in 2025, the AUSL will feature four teams playing a 24-game season (48 total games) in a traditional format. It will also be complemented and followed by the AUSL All-Star Cup (formerly known as the AU Pro Softball Championship Season), creating a new opportunity for the world's best players to compete. In addition to the Player Executive Committee (Aubrey Leach, Megan Faraimo, Sierra Romero, Morgan Zerkle and Sharlize Palacois), softball legends Jennie Finch, Jessica Mendoza, Cat Osterman and Natasha Watley are advisors to the AUSL, consulting with AU leadership and current athletes on the strategic direction of the new league. Kim Ng, a trailblazing executive who most recently became the first woman to serve as General Manager of a major American men's professional sports team, joined the organization in 2024 as a Senior Advisor, overseeing the development of the AUSL. The AUSL will become a city-based league beginning in 2026, while the inaugural season in 2025 will be a touring property featuring games in six to eight different cities. For more information follow @theauslofficial and visit theausl.com.
About Athletes Unlimited:
Named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies, Athletes Unlimited owns and operates professional women's softball, volleyball, and basketball leagues featuring world-class competition and fan experience, and stands out as an organization driven by the athletes that play in the leagues, with athlete representation on the company's board of directors, each league led by a Player Executive Committee, and players sharing in long-term profits of the company, all while being proactive in shaping policies supporting the women that play in the league. Athletes Unlimited is the first professional sports league to be organized as a Public Benefit Corporation. For more information, visit AUProSports.com.
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