Carolina Blaze rookies Karlyn Pickens and Reese Atwood sit atop the 2026 Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) All-Star Cup fan vote with less than a week of balloting left.

Pickens, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 College Draft, leads the pitcher category. She carries a 1.47 earned run average while holding the league's fastest-pitch record for the Blaze.

Still, the race to the circle remains tight. Montana Fouts and Sam Landry trail closely with ERAs of 1.81 and 1.15, respectively. All three could end up making an appearance at the professional softball league's All-Star tournament.

And behind the plate, Atwood has been just as difficult to overlook.

The former Texas Longhorn is slashing .450/.522/1.000 while ranking in the Top 10 in on-base percentage and slugging percentage. She's also tallied three home runs and seven RBIs for the Carolina Blaze through the season's early stretch.

How to Vote for the 2026 AUSL All-Star Cup

The 2026 All-Star Cup runs August 8-30 in Rosemont, IL and features 60 players. Teams change after every series, with the top three point-earners drafting fresh rosters as captains.

Fans have until June 30th to lock in their picks for automatic invitations to the tournament.

Maya Brady is just 11 games into the 2026 AUSL season and she's already nearing a record no one has reached.

The Oklahoma City Spark utility player currently leads the AUSL with five home runs and 11 RBIs. Her batting average lands her in the league's Top 10, keeping all three Triple Crown categories in play.

Brady additionally ranks high in on-base percentage (.575) while leading the league in runs scored (13). She has recorded a hit in every professional matchup she's played — a 16-game streak stretching back to her 2025 debut with the Utah Talons.

Maya Brady Faces AUSL Triple Crown Challengers

Despite Brady's grip on the standings, the competition for the Triple Crown remains tight.

Veteran Chicago Bandits slugger Sami Williams matches Brady's RBI count while trailing close behind in batting average (.467) and home runs (three). Elsewhere, Carolina Blaze rookie Reese Atwood follows with eight RBIs and a .450 batting average.

Brady joined the Spark as the No. 1 overall pick in December's Expansion Draft. With more than a third of the season complete, she holds the edge in all three Triple Crown categories. Winning the title would be a first for the second-year pro softball league — if she manages to keep pace.

Her team, however, has ground to make up.

Oklahoma City lost to the defending champion Utah Talons on Monday, with pitcher Montana Fouts holding Brady's side to four hits. The defeat dropped Oklahoma to 5-6 on the season.

The Texas Volts snapped a six-game losing streak on Tuesday with a 6-2 win over the Chicago Bandits at Dell Diamond. The victory also set a new AUSL single-game record with five home runs.

The power display started early.

Texas Volts Softball Snaps Losing Streak in Historic Fashion

In the second inning, Volts stars Tiare Jennings and Aliyah Binford went back-to-back on consecutive first pitches. Then Michaela Edenfield connected for her first professional home run in the fifth. Aminah Vega, a AUSL rookie, added a solo shot in the sixth before Binford capped the inning with a two-run blast, her second of the night.

On the mound, Texas Tech standout Nijaree Canady made her first professional home start for the Volts following extended contract negotiations with the league.

After she delivered a clean opening stretch, Binford came on in relief and threw three scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Between her two home runs and her work in the circle, Binford carried the Volts on both sides of the ball.

Prior to the Volts performance on Tuesday, the previous AUSL single-game home run record was four, a mark originally set by the Talons against the Blaze and later equaled by the Bandits.

The win gives the Volts some momentum heading into tonight's series finale against Chicago.

NCAA softball star NiJaree Canady has gone pro, officially signing with the Texas Volts after a contract holdout briefly stalled her AUSL debut.

After going No. 2 to the Volts in the 2026 AUSL Draft, Canady missed Texas’s opening seres against the Spark as she worked to finalize a deal.

Canady reportedly took home $1 million per year in NIL money during her final two seasons at Texas Tech, in addition to off-field endorsements.

“We’re pleased to welcome NiJa Canady to the AUSL and look forward to seeing her compete with the Texas Volts this season,” AUSL shared on social media.

Howver, Canady’s debut wasn’t the smoothest, as the rookie ace gave up six runs in Sunday’s 9-1 loss to Carolina.

No. 1 pick Karlyn Pickens earned the win for the Blaze, recording her second complete game in a row while allowing just one run on three hits.

Where to Watch Texas Volts Ace NiJaree Canady in AUSL Action

Texas continues its series against Carolina tonight at 7:30 PM ET, live on ESPN2.

Former UCLA softball standout Megan Grant wasted no time making her mark in the pros, setting a new AUSL record for the longest home run in league history during her first week with the Portland Cascade.

Grant launched a 313-foot blast during the Cascade's June 10th matchup against the Carolina Blaze. The shot marked her first professional home run — and rewrote the AUSL record books.

The accomplishment came just days after UCLA's season ended with last month's Women's College World Series loss to Texas Tech. Five days later, Grant signed her first pro contract after being selected fourth overall by the Portland Cascade, one of the softball league's 2026 expansion teams.

Megan Grant Leads UCLA Softball's AUSL Roster Takeover

Grant is one of 12 former UCLA players competing across the second-year league's six teams this season.

The Portland Cascade roster features even deeper UCLA ties via head coach Tairia Flowers, a 2003 NCAA champion with the Bruins who graduated as a two-time All-American and three-time All-Conference selection. Flowers ranks second in UCLA history in games played.

Grant leaves UCLA as one of the program's most decorated softball players. The dual-sport athlete also competed on the 2026 NCAA champion basketball team during her college career.

On the softball field, Megan Grant set the DI single-season home run record with 42 homers in her senior year. She also finished as UCLA's all-time home run leader with 91 career blasts.

The record-breaking pro debut suggests Grant;s power translates seamlessly at the professional level.

The Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) opened its 2026 season schedule on Tuesday night, but without its most anticipated rookie. NiJaree Canady, the No. 2 overall draft pick for the Texas Volts, remains sidelined by an ongoing contract standoff with the league.

NiJaree Canady's Record-Setting College Softball Career

Canady wrapped up her decorated collegiate career less than a week ago after leading her team to its second straight Women's College World Series championship series.

Across four seasons split between Stanford and Texas Tech, she recorded 104 wins, 1,127 strikeouts, and an ERA below 1.90, earning USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year honors twice.

She also set a career record with 21 WCWS appearances. Off the field, Canady signed two separate million-dollar NIL deals at Texas Tech, making her the highest-paid player in college softball.

Back in May, Canady signed a marketing NIL deal with the AUSL, but she has yet to agree to a professional playing contract with the Volts. The league handles contracts directly rather than through individual franchises, and it uses a strict, non-negotiable five-tier pay structure for AUSL salaries.

For a player who secured million-dollar NIL deals at Texas Tech, the AUSL salary system likely creates a significant gap.

AUSL Contract Standoff Shifts Texas Volts Roster

Canady's draft team, the Texas Volts, must now lean on softball veterans Rachel Garcia and Alyssa Denham to hold down the circle.

The AUSL schedule opened with a three-game series between the Texas Volts and the Oklahoma City Spark in Oklahoma. ESPN2 carried the broadcast, and fans noticed Canady's absence.

League officials and Canady's representation at The Team remain hopeful an agreement will be reached soon.

"Women athletes have continued to prove that seeking their value is not about self-interest, it's about what you owe the sport and everyone coming after you," Canady's agent, Lindsay Colas, told JWS.

"NiJa loves this game too much to let this moment pass without honoring what it's asking of her. NiJa is grateful for all of it and she looks forward to joining her team and competing as soon as we can finalize the contract."

Athletes Unlimited Softball (AUSL) opened its second season with a pro softball triple-header that set the tone for 2026. Expansion teams made their mark, offenses came alive early, and the defending champions picked up right where they left off.

AUSL Expansion Teams Make Their Scoring Debut

The Spark routed the Texas Volts 13-5 in the day's first game. Expansion draft pick Maya Brady delivered the biggest moment, launching a grand slam to center field to log the Spark's first-ever runs as a franchise. Following Brady's heroics, Sydney Romero added a follow-up home run to put the game out of reach.

Later that evening, the Carolina Blaze handed the Portland Cascade a 4-1 loss in Portland's debut. Still, Cascade shortstop Sis Bates gave the hometown crowd something to cheer for, recording the first hit and run in franchise history.

Montana Fouts Silences Bandits in AUSL Championship Rematch

The night's marquee event paired the defending champion Utah Talons against the Texas Bandits. The AUSL championship rematch saw the Talons control the game early, coming away with a 5-2 win.

Bri Ellis carried the Utah offense with a two-run homer and RBI double. Meanwhile, in the circle, Montana Fouts matched her by throwing a complete game and holding the Bandits to just two runs on scattered hits.

With the expanded AUSL looking deeper than ever, the 2026 season looks to be the most competitive yet.

AUSL Schedule: Where to Watch This Week's Games

Next up, the Volts will take on the Spark on Wednesday at 6 PM ET, live on MLB.TV.

The Portland Cascade follows, looking to bounce back against the Blaze at 8 PM ET (ESPN2), before the Bandits shoot for a win against the Talons at 10 PM ET (ESPNU).

Pro softball is spreading its wings, as the Athletes Unlimited Softball League opens its expanded second season with all six teams in action tonight.

Former Tennessee ace and No. 1 draft pick Karlyn Pickens will likely make her pro debut for the Carolina Blaze. She’ll face a rookie-heavy Portland Cascade lineup spanning UCLA’s Megan Grant, Arizona’s Sydney Stewart, Arizona State’s Kenzie Brown, and Florida’s Kenleigh Cahalan.

Game 2 pits the Texas Volts against 2026 newcomer the Oklahoma City Spark, with formerly independent OKC adding No. 3 overall pick Maya Johnson out of Belmont.

The 2025 runner-up Chicago Bandits visit the Utah Talons in the evening’s headliner. Last year, the Talons swept the Bandits to claim the inaugural title.

Utah rookie Taylor Tinsley arrives fresh off UCLA’s deep WCWS run. Meanwhile, first-year pitcher Jocelyn Erickson (Florida) could feature behind the dish for Chicago.

AUSL also made offseason waves, subsequently securing big-name investors and a major media deal.

“We’re big believers in building a sustainable long-term softball league, and I think that that's resonated,” Athletes Unlimited CEO and co-founder Jon Patricof said.

“You’re seeing more and more organizations recognize that this sport is a national phenomenon.”

Where to Watch AUSL Season 2 Opening Day Schedule

Portland squares off against Carolina today at 5 PM ET, live on CBS Sports.

Texas softball are back-to-back national champions, after the Longhorns defeated Texas Tech 4-1 on Thursday to clinch a second consecutive Women's College World Series title in Oklahoma City.

And at the center of the team's historic run was star catcher Reese Atwood.

Reese Atwood Leaves Record-Breaking Texas Softball Legacy

The Longhorns veteran departs Austin as the program's all-time leader in home runs (74), RBIs (283), and slugging percentage (.729). Over her four seasons, Texas went 209-49-1 with Atwood behind the plate.

She also guided the team three WCWS appearances and two national championships, starting 253 out of 259 games.

Those stats prove just how vital Atwood was to the Longhorns' lineup. However, the graduating senior shared that joining head coach Mike White's squad meant just as much to her.

"I have so much faith in this program," Atwood said after Thursday's WCWS win. "I believe with the standards this program has set and the culture and the love that our support staff and everybody gives us that anything we want is possible."

Atwood's teammates credited her with setting those standards, too.

Texas pitcher Teagan Kavan — who earned a history-making second straight WCWS Most Outstanding Player award in the win — praised her longtime batterymate.

"She's the heart and soul of this program," Kavan said. "I'm proud of her for the legacy she's left not just on Texas, but on the whole sport. She's been an inspiration to everybody including myself."

College Softball Stars Kick Off AUSL Pro League's 2026 Season

Now, with her college career capped, Atwood is headed to the pros.

The Carolina Blaze took the catcher seventh overall in the 2026 Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) draft last month, making her the second round's first selectiond.

As part of the newly formed Blaze, Atwood looks to continue her record-breaking streak in Durham.

The NFCA Catcher of the Year will mark her league debut when the 2026 AUSL season opens on June 9th. Games will air across ESPN platforms through late July's championship series.

Texas, meanwhile, will shoot for the three-peat at the 2027 WCWS, as Kavan returns to lead the program in her senior year with the Longhorns.

Texas Tech softball ace NiJaree Canady received the first golden ticket for the 2026 AUSL Draft, with commissioner Kim Ng surprising the senior following the Red Raiders' Big 12 matchup against Iowa State.

The golden ticket guarantees Canady a spot in Athletes Unlimited Softball League's 2026 Draft, set for May 4th.

"As one of the most talented players in the game today, it is fitting that NiJaree is the first recipient of a golden ticket this year," Ng said.

"This is also the beginning of what will be a truly special draft class, with many outstanding players across the country."

Canady ranks among college softball's most decorated athletes. The pitcher earned multiple first-team All-American honors, won 2024 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, captured back-to-back National Fastpitch Coaches Association National Pitcher of the Year titles, and claimed the Honda Sport Awards for Softball in 2024 and 2025.

The Stanford transfer made headlines when she signed a record-breaking $1,050,024 one-year contract via The Matador Club, an NIL collective affiliated with Texas Tech softball. She signed another seven-figure deal last year, after leading the Red Raiders to its first WCWS championship appearance.

Canady recently launched her Adidas signature player-edition cleat, the ADIZERO Instinct 2.0 PT "NiJa," becoming the first NCAA softball player to release a signature Adidas shoe.

AUSL representatives and softball celebrities will visit college campuses throughout the next month to award additional golden tickets to this year's draft class.

How to Watch NiJaree Canady at the 2026 AUSL Draft

The 2026 AUSL Draft is set for May 4th, with live coverage starting at 7 PM ET on ESPN2.