Rachel Garcia leads 12-player Athletes Unlimited softball draft

Rachel Garcia was among the big-name talents picked in the first-ever Athletes Unlimited softball draft this week.

The UCLA pitcher is a United States Olympian and two-time USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year. She is finishing up her redshirt senior season with No. 2 UCLA, which will culminate in the Women’s College World Series next month.

The inaugural Athletes Unlimited Softball College Draft is in the books! 🥎

Learn more about the 12 college seniors invited to join us for Season 2 in our recap sponsored by @batclubusa ⬇️ #BeUnlimited

— Athletes Unlimited (@AUProSports) May 11, 2021

Arizona had a strong showing in the college draft as well, with Jessie Harper, Dejah Mulipola and Alyssa Denham all earning picks.

All 12 draftees are invited to accept the league’s invitation, joining contracted players and free agents as a part of the broader 60-player roster.

The competition will include 30 Athletes Unlimited softball games at Parkway Bank Complex in Rosemont, Ill., from Aug. 28 to Sept. 27. An individual champion will be named at the end of the month-long contest.

Full list of draftees:

• Rachel Garcia, RHP, UCLA
• Sis Bates, MIF, Washington
• Giselle “G” Juarez, LHP, Oklahoma
• Shannon Rhodes, OF, Texas
• Dejah Mulipola, Catcher, Arizona
• Amber Fiser, RHP, Minnesota
• Jessie Harper, MIF, Arizona
• Ciara Bryan, OF, Louisiana Lafayette
• Sami Williams, MIF, Iowa State
• Aliyah Andrews, OF, LSU
• Carrie Eberle, RHP, Oklahoma State
• Alyssa Denham, RHP, Arizona