The Carolina Blaze has begun building its roster for the 2027 season.
Blaze players who are offered contracts will re-sign throughout the next month. The group may include players who competed with Carolina during the 2026 season as well as provisional selections from the 2026 Athletes Unlimited Softball League College Draft.
This article will be updated as players sign.
Reese Atwood – Catcher
Reese Atwood returns to Carolina after being named the 2026 AUSL Rookie of the Year and earning All-AUSL Team honors. Atwood started 22 of 23 games for the Blaze and hit .309 with eight home runs and 25 RBIs, ranking among the league leaders in all three categories. She also posted a .405 on-base percentage and .735 slugging percentage during a standout first professional season.
Aubrey Leach – Utility
Aubrey Leach will return to Carolina for the 2027 season after appearing in all 25 regular-season games for the Blaze in 2026. Leach recorded 18 hits, 17 runs scored, two home runs and eight RBIs while also drawing 11 walks and stealing three bases. She carried that production into the 2026 AUSL All-Star Cup, where she hit .304 and tied for second with seven hits.
Karlyn Pickens – Right-Handed Pitcher
Karlyn Pickens emerged as one of the Blaze’s top arms during her rookie campaign. Pickens posted a 3.13 ERA across 60.1 innings, ranking second in the AUSL in both innings pitched and strikeouts with 60. She also led Carolina with four complete games and held opponents to a .232 batting average.
Jenna Laird, Infield
Jenna Laird appeared in 23 games, including 19 starts, for the Blaze in 2026. Laird recorded 13 hits and eight runs in her first AUSL season and reached base in four of her final seven games. Her previous professional experience includes a stint with the New York Rise, where she competed for two seasons in the Fast Pitch United League.
Tickets to the 2027 Blaze Season
Season ticket deposits for the 2027 Carolina Blaze season are available now. Fans interested in attending individual games can fill out the single-game ticket interest form to receive updates as soon as single-game tickets go on sale.
Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.