April 3, 2025, New York, N.Y. – The AUSL (Athletes Unlimited Softball League) today announced that the University of Washington’s Husky Softball Stadium will host a three-game series between the Blaze and Volts, July 11-13. The series will mark the return of former Husky All-Americans Sis Bates (an infielder for the Volts) and Baylee Kingler (an infielder for the Blaze) to Montlake. Tickets will go on sale to the general public at 1 p.m. PT today.

These games will be part of the inaugural regular season of the AUSL, which will take place from June 7 to July 23. The full schedule can be found here. More information, including team rosters and the regular season schedule broken down by team, can be found at theAUSL.com. 

While the AUSL will be a touring property in its first year, the teams will each be assigned to a single city when the league becomes city-based in 2026. ESPN has signed on as a founding broadcast partner of the AUSL, and will carry 33 total games exclusively across platforms in 2025, with 30 of them to air on linear television. Additional broadcast partners and other details will be announced at a later date. 

Each team drafted its first 12 players at the AUSL Inaugural Draft on January 29. All four teams have since signed one additional player, and will fill out the remainder of their 16-player rosters with the incoming class of top NCAA talent who will finish their eligibility this spring. The AUSL College Draft will take place in the spring, with details to be announced at a later date.

Bates and Klingler will also be in Seattle later this month, as part of the AUSL’s month-long THIS IS LEGENDARY PRESEASON TOUR presented by U.S. Air Force. Bates and Klingler will attend multiple local professional and college sporting events and other community activities April 25-27, building support for the new league. 

In addition to the opportunity to compete in the new league, which is led by trailblazing sports executive Kim Ng, all players will receive benefits unprecedented in the history of the sport, including year-round health insurance, mental health services, paid leave for pregnancy or adoption and in-season childcare. 

“With more than a dozen appearances in the College World Series and a national championship, the University of Washington boasts one of the most storied histories in all of college softball,” Ng said. “We are looking forward to the AUSL adding to the list of historic moments for the sport that have taken place at Husky Softball Stadium, and for the Seattle fans to provide a great homecoming for Baylee and Sis.” 

“Seattleites have a deep-rooted history with softball, and we are excited to welcome AUSL for this inaugural series. It is even more special to have University of Washington legends Sis and Baylee returning now as professionals,” said Seattle Sports Commission President & CEO Beth Knox. “The Seattle region is a top destination for women’s professional sports, driven by our passion for exciting play showcasing talented athletes.”

“I absolutely love the fact that the University of Washington has the opportunity to host the inaugural season of AUSL,” said Washington softball head coach Heather Tarr. “With so many former Huskies, Pac-12 athletes, and the best softball players in the U.S. playing in this league, I can’t wait for Husky Nation to be able to see some of our alumni compete but also be able to witness the game at the highest level. We are proud to host these women and proud to provide an opportunity and an amazing atmosphere at our venue. We can’t wait to see professional softball right here in Seattle this summer.”

The AUSL is a professional women’s softball league featuring four teams playing in a traditional format. The league will begin play this summer.