06/08/2025
When it comes to championing female athletes, the Athletes Unlimited Softball League is stepping up to the plate. Financially backed by the MLB, the new professional women’s softball league launches today — and hopes to advance the sport to a “stable summer staple.” Former MLB executive Kim Ng was named commissioner, becoming the first woman to hold that position for a U.S. major league.
The four inaugural teams will play 24 games each across 10 cities through July 23, leading up to the AUSL Championship in Alabama July 26-28. According to the MLB, the sport’s “explosive growth in both participation and exposure” of late has opened the door for the league. Recreational softball participation increased by over 7% last year, and TV viewers are interested too: 2024’s Women’s College World Series finals set a record for the most-watched WCWS title series, with an average of 2 million viewers.
“This is a watershed moment for women’s sports and especially for softball,” Ng said in a statement. “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.”
Photo Credit: Grant Halverson/Getty Images
