Rule42 Sports Group is now one of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League's largest investors. Former Intel president Renée James, who founded Rule42, finalized the AUSL deal this month. She also purchased Softball America, teams' go-to prospect rankings platform.

AUSL Softball Secures Key Backer in Rule42 Sports Group

The investment puts Rule42 alongside MLB, the Milwaukee Brewers, and Ryan Sanders Baseball as key AUSL backers, while James also joins the league's board of directors. Meanwhile, Softball America will operate under Rule42 as Softball America by Rule42, with Tara Henry stepping into the role of VP of Softball.

The move comes at a pivotal moment for the pro softball league.

The AUSL's six teams just wrapped a second season defined by growth, as average ESPN viewership jumped 152%, broadcast games expanded from 18 to 47, and 25 games sold out entirely. The AUSL championship opener drew 732,000 viewers, setting a record for professional softball in the US.

AUSL Gains New Partners, Expands Player Discovery Platforms

Beyond the numbers, new sponsorship deals with adidas and Labcorp add to a returning roster of partners that includes Sephora and Rawlings. James framed the investment around equity in scouting infrastructure, noting that women's sports still lack the player-discovery pipelines their men's sports counterparts rely on.

"It's a very positive opportunity," James said of the investment. "There are girls everywhere playing softball and they wonder, what comes next? And now, the answer is they can be a pro too, and that is why I'm investing in AUSL. I want to see us grow. I want to see us continue."

AUSL’s top defender got her flowers, as OKC Spark shortstop Sydney Romero won the league’s first Rawlings Gold Glove Award honoring the year’s best fielder.

Romero anchored the Spark infield through a 13-12 season. She beat out fellow finalists Jadelyn Allchin (Utah) and Alyssa Brito (Carolina) after tallying 45 assists, five double plays, and a .974 fielding percentage. 

“Sydney embodies everything the Rawlings Gold Glove Award represents,” said Rawlings CMO Mike Thompson. “Her instincts, athleticism, consistency, and leadership set the standard for defensive excellence.”

Launched in the MLB in 1957 before expanding to NCAA softball in 2022. Rawlings added the AUSL to its roster following the pro softball league’s explosive second season.

The Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) will hand out its first-ever 2026 Rawlings Gold Glove Award next weekend, and on Wednesday, Rawlings revealed the three finalists in the running.

Utah Talons outfielder Jadelyn Allchin leads the group, joined by Carolina Blaze infielder Alyssa Brito, and Oklahoma City Spark shortstop Sydney Romero.

Top AUSL Defenders Named 2026 Rawlings Gold Glove Finalists

Allchin's glove helped power Utah to back-to-back AUSL titles this year. The second-year outfielder capped her 2026 season with Championship MVP honors after the Talons swept Chicago in the finals. Brito, the top pick of the 2026 AUSL Allocation Draft, anchored Carolina's infield with 27 putouts and 37 assists, committing just two errors all year.

Romero, meanwhile, started every game at short for OKC and led all AUSL shortstops with 45 assists, five double plays, and a .974 fielding percentage.

Each team's general manager, head coach, and associate head coach cast the deciding votes. The winner will be revealed Sunday, August 16th, before the All-Star Cup game at Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, Illinois.

For a league that launched in 2025 and now runs six clubs, the award marks another step in strengthening the pro softball landscape. Rawlings last recognized pro softball defenders during the now-defunct National Pro Fastpitch's 2016-19 seasons.

Johnston County Little League captured the 2026 Little League Softball World Series on Sunday, blanking Kentucky 2-0 at Stallings Stadium in Greenville. The Clayton-based squad delivered North Carolina softball its fourth title in tournament history.

Anna-Lynn Clark Anchors North Carolina in the Circle

NC right-hander Anna-Lynn Clark went the distance again for her team, scattering three hits and striking out six across 93 pitches. That effort came less than 24 hours after her 109-pitch, 11-strikeout shutout of Florida. Clark finished the tournament with 41 strikeouts — the most in the field.

Across the diamond, Kentucky's Michaela Knight kept pace for stretches. The right-hander gave up two unearned runs on three hits in a five-inning complete game. Her tournament ERA closed at 0.25.

The thin margin meant every run mattered. Belle Cox opened the scoring with a single in the bottom of the second. An error plated North Carolina's second run an inning later. From there, defense took over.

Right fielder Abbey Robinson snagged two inning-ending catches. First baseman Scarlett Cerda then turned an unassisted double play in the fourth.

Kentucky answered with an outfield assist from Finley Beaven and back-to-back diving grabs. Still, North Carolina hung on for the win, nabbing its fourth title since 1974.

The 2026 AUSL All-Star Cup kicks off August 8th at Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, Illinois, with the pro softball action scheduled through August 30th. The most anticipated event on the AUSL calendar brings together 45 of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League's top players for one month of show-stopping competition.

And this year, all six teams are represented in the tournament.

What to Expect at the 2026 AUSL All-Star Cup

The reigning champion Utah Talons, Chicago Bandits, and Carolina Blaze each landed nine selections while Oklahoma City claimed eight. Portland and Texas subsequently rounded out the field with six players apiece.

Fans voted in top names like Karlyn Pickens, Jordan Woolery, Megan Grant, Bri Ellis, Alyssa Brito, Rylie Boone, and Reese Atwood. Those standouts join award-winners from the 2026 Athletes Unlimited Softball League season. Pitcher of the Year Montana Fouts, Hitter of the Year Sami Williams, home run leader Maya Brady, and Championship MVP Jadelyn Allchin headline the 45-player field.

However, there's a twist within the All-Star Cup bracket. The tournament redrafts teams after every series, with the top three point-scorers earning captain status. Players earn points for wins, standout plays, and MVP votes, with a running leaderboard determining the individual champion.

2026 AUSL Softball Schedule & Where to Watch

The full AUSL All-Star Cup schedule spans 12 games across four series. All games air live across ESPN, MLB Network, and CBS Sports Network.

Athletes Unlimited is tapping the breaks, as the multi-sport operation pulls back from its pro volleyball and basketball leagues to reimagine both products.

AU is zeroing in on its pro softball league after second-season ratings jumped 181% on ESPN, with the AUSL serving as its sole property in 2027.

“As we look ahead, we’re sharpening our focus on where we can create the greatest long-term impact for athletes, fans, and partners,” AU said in a statement.

“As part of that strategy, we’ll pause AU Pro Volleyball during the 2026 season and AU Pro Basketball for the 2027 season while we thoughtfully reimagine the future of those properties to reflect the continued growth and evolution of both sports.”

The news comes as upstarts LOVB, MLV, and Unrivaled 3×3 gain steam. Additionally, preparations for the 2028 Olympics have presented scheduling issues for Athletes Unlimited’s truncated format.

These aren’t the company’s first casualties, after it cut AU Pro Lacrosse in 2024 over similar concerns.

Athletes Unlimited Softball League players made their way to Greenville, NC, on Tuesday for the Little League Softball World Series. The visit gave the LLSWS's young competitors a rare chance to meet the pros up close.

AUSL Athletes Inspire at Little League Softball World Series

For longtime fans, the moment highlighted how far the sport has come. Carolyn Harrison, who attends the LLSWS each year with her family, remembered starting out with pickup games in her neighborhood. Now, she said, young athletes have structured pathways from the start.

"I'm so happy to see them develop at this young age and then bring it forward," Harrison said.

Beyond the fan experience, the AUSL presence gave the annual tournament a new dimension. Olympic bronze medalist Danielle Lawrie, whose daughter is competing, called it a defining moment. "AUSL being here has been an incredible influence for these athletes," Lawrie said.

AUSL catcher Haley Lee echoed that energy. She said she hopes young players see her jersey and feel the same spark she felt as a kid.

"We're paving the way," Lee said.

AUSL Pro Game Caps Off 2026 LLSWS Visit

The visit is part of a week-long partnership between the AUSL and the Little League Softball World Series that culminates in Wednesday's AUSL Pro Game. The exhibition features 24 players coached by softball icons Lisa Fernandez and Natasha Watley.

It tips off tonight at 7 PM ET, live on ESPN2.

Lake Mary softball is rolling through the 2026 Little League Softball World Series. In just two games in Greenville, NC, the Florida little league softball squad hasn't allowed a single run — and neither LLSWS contest lasted more than four innings.

Lake Mary Softball Offense Explodes for 29 Runs in LLSWS Games

It started Sunday with a 14-0 mercy-rule win over Washington. Then on Monday, the offense picked up right where it left off. Lake Mary put up 15 runs against Italy in a three-inning shutout.

Still, the LLSWS bracket is about to get tougher.

Lake Mary Faces Steep 2026 Little League Softball World Series Path

Lake Mary faces Clayton, NC, on Thursday at 1 PM ET on ESPN. Clayton opened the tournament with a 16-4 win over Canada before grinding out a 2-1 result against Texas.

That tight second game suggests a squad built to compete under pressure, which is a different test for a Florida team that hasn't faced any major obstacles yet.

A Thursday win would put Lake Mary one game from the Purple bracket final on Saturday. But even a loss wouldn't end their run immediately. The double-elimination format offers another chance Friday at 5 PM ET, live on ESPN2.

Monday night's USA vs Japan softball final belonged to Montana Fouts. The Team USA ace shut out Japan 2-0 at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, coming within three outs of perfection to clinch the 2026 USA Softball International Cup title.

Fouts was untouchable through six full innings, setting down 18 straight batters before a leadoff single in the seventh spoiled her perfect-game bid.

By then, however, it didn't matter. She racked up seven strikeouts across 88 pitches as the US defense held firm behind her, including a full-extension grab by Skylar Wallace in right field in the first.

The offense, meanwhile, provided just enough.

Montana Fouts & Maya Brady Shine in Softball International Cup Final

Jayda Coleman singled and scored in the second inning for the early 1-0 lead. Then in the fifth, Janae Jefferson ripped a double against reliever Yukiko Ueno. Finally, Maya Brady drove her in with a base hit up the middle to make it 2-0.

Japan starter Miu Goto held the US to one run across her four innings before 44-year-old Ueno entered in relief. Neither pitcher could keep the US lineup quiet long enough for Japan's bats to catch up.

The US reclaimed the upper hand in the global softball rivalry, and Fouts was the reason why. Fresh off pitching the Utah Talons to an AUSL title, she delivered again when it mattered most.

ESPN's Little League Softball coverage hit a new high this summer. The network aired 81 regional tournament games across seven sites in July, then tipped off the Little League Softball World Series on August 2nd in Greenville, NC with all 22 games across ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC.

Combined, 36 games from regionals through the championship will air on linear TV, marking the most in event history.

The expanded slate comes with a growing audience to match. Last year's Little League Softball World Series championship drew 1.44 million average viewers, peaking at 2.98 million. Those numbers signaled a 139% jump over 2024.

What Happened in the Little League Softball World Series Opening Weekend?

This year's tournament gives that audience plenty to tune into. Twelve teams remain in the 2026 World Series double-elimination bracket: eight US squads, including a North Carolina host team, plus international entries from Japan, Italy, Puerto Rico, and Canada.

The first weekend of play saw Lake Mary, FL roll the Northwest 14-0 behind three RBIs each from Brynn Fieser and Callie Ousley. Central piled on early with seven first-inning runs in an 11-1 rout of the West. And Sangō, Japan rode pitcher Sara Matsuda past Toms River, NJ 4-1 to open Asia-Pacific's bracket run.

The tournament continues this week before the championship game airs August 9th on ABC.