This week, the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) held its 12-round AUSL Inaugural Draft for the four teams in the league: the Bandits, Blaze, Talons and Volts.

Each team selected 12 players, and the Bandits had the good fortune to go first via a lottery selection: GM chose Lexi Kolfoyl making her the first ever pick in the history of the new league.

According to the league’s website:

The AUSL is a professional women’s softball league featuring a 24-game season in a traditional format.

It creates a new opportunity for the world’s best professional softball players to compete. It is complemented by the AUSL All-Star Cup – a four-week season where 60 athletes compete utilizing Athletes Unlimited’s innovative format.

What’s next?

According to AUSL senior reporter Savanna Collins:

“Teams will complete their rosters over the coming months with one free agency signing and three selections at the AUSL College Draft this spring.”

As noted on the league’s website:

The AUSL is a professional women’s softball league featuring four teams playing in a traditional format.

The league will begin play this summer. The AUSL will be a touring property in its first season, with the Bandits, Blaze, Talons, and Volts playing games in six to eight cities.

The teams will each be assigned to a single city when the league becomes city-based in 2026.

Here are all the selections made each round by the four teams:

Round 1

1. Bandits: Lexi Kilfoyl, Pitcher, Oklahoma State
2. Blaze: Carley Hoover, Pitcher, LSU
3. Talons: Megan Faraimo, Pitcher, UCLA
4. Volts: Rachel Garcia, Pitcher, UCLA

Round 2

5. Blaze: Aleshia Ocasio, Pitcher, Florida
6. Talons: Georgina Corrick, Pitcher, USF
7. Volts: Amanda Lorenz, Outfielder, Florida
8. Bandits: Taylor McQuillin, Pitcher, Arizona

Round 3

9. Talons: Sharlize Palacios, Catcher, UCLA
10. Volts: Dejah Mulipola, Catcher, Arizona
11. Bandits: Skylar Wallace, Middle Infielder, Florida
12. Blaze: Aubrey Leach, Middle Infielder, Tennessee

Round 4

13. Volts: Jessi Warren, Corner Infielder, Florida State
14. Bandits: Bubba Nickles, Outfielder, UCLA
15. Blaze: Aliyah Andrews, Outfielder, LSU
16. Talons: Hannah Flippen, Middle Infielder, Utah

Round 5

17. Bandits: Mia Davidson, Catcher,
18. Blaze: Anissa Urtez, Middle Infielder, Utah
19. Talons: Maya Brady, Utility, UCLA
20. Volts: Tiare Jennings, Middle Infielder, Oklahoma

Round 6

21. Blaze: Keilani Ricketts, Pitcher, Oklahoma
22. Talons: Sahvanna Jaquish, Utility, LSU
23. Volts: Payton Gottshall, Pitcher, Tennessee
24. Bandits: Erin Coffel, Middle Infielder, Kentucky

Round 7

25. Talons: Ali Aguilar, Middle Infielder, Washington
26. Volts: Sis Bates, Middle Infielder, Washington
27. Bandits: Morgan Zerkle, Outfielder, Marshall
28. Blaze: Kayla Kowalik, Catcher, Kentucky

Round 8

29. Volts: Erika Piancastelli, Outfielder, McNeese
30. Bandits: Delanie Wisz, Corner Infielder, UCLA
31. Blaze: Baylee Klingler, Corner Infielder, Washington
32. Talons: Tori Vidales, Corner Infielder, Texas A&M

Round 9

33. Bandits: Sydney McKinney, Middle Infielder, Wichita State
34. Blaze: Alana Vawter, Pitcher, South Carolina
35. Talons: Montana Fouts, Pitcher, Alabama
36. Volts: Kelsey Stewart-Hunter, Corner Infielder, Florida

Round 10

37. Blaze: Ciara Briggs, Outfielder, LSU
38. Talons: Caroline Jacobsen, Outfielder, Duke
39. Volts: Mariah Mazon, Pitcher, Oregon State
40. Bandits: Odicci Alexander, Pitcher, James Madison

Round 11

41. Talons: Sydney Romero, Middle Infielder, Oklahoma
42. Volts: McKenzie Clark, Outfielder, Clemson
43. Bandits: Sarah Willis, Pitcher, UCF
44. Blaze: Taylor Edwards, Catcher, Nebraska

Round 12

45. Volts: Sierra Romero, Middle Infielder, Michigan
46. Bandits: Bella Dayton, Outfielder, Texas
47. Blaze: Kalei Harding, Outfielder, Florida State
48. Talons: Victoria Hayward, Outfielder, Washington

*****

Collins also analyzed each team’s picks and came up with the following grades and summations for each team:

AUSL Draft Report Cards: Each Team Analyzed

The Athletes Unlimited Softball League wrapped its Inaugural Draft on Wednesday night, with the coaches and general managers building the foundation for their 2025 teams. It’s time to hand out each team’s AUSL Inaugural Draft report card.

The four teams – the Bandits, Blaze, Talons, and Volts – each made 12 selections for their 16-player rosters.

Below, we’ve taken a swing at grading each team’s draft while highlighting where each team excelled and could improve.

*****

Bandits

General Manager: Jenny Dalton-Hill
Head Coach: Stacey Nuveman-Deniz

Every Bandits Draft Pick from the AUSL Inaugural Draft

Overview: The pressure was on for the Bandits having the first overall pick and head coach Stacey Nuveman-Deniz said they were going for a “franchise pitcher” in Lexi Kilfoyl. I particularly like that they came back in the second round and selected one of the few lefty pitchers Taylor McQuillin. She’s a mentorship-minded player who can lead a bullpen. They waited until later rounds to pick two more arms in Odicci Alexander and Sarah Willis, both of who didn’t throw extensive innings last summer. Offensively, this team is the only one with both speed and power.

Where they excelled: The Bandits are truly up the middle and are surrounded by reliable defensive pieces.

Where they could improve: This bullpen has star power but needs to develop more stability to balance the load.

Grade: B

*****

Blaze

General Manager: Dana Sorensen
Head Coach: Alisa Goler

Every Blaze Draft Pick from the AUSL Inaugural Draft

Overview: Locking in pitchers Carley Hoover and Aleshia Ocasio in the first two rounds was the strongest start to the draft by any team. The two have completely different repertoires in the circle and excel in fielding. Plus, Hoover is the dark horse that hitters aren’t familiar with. This team is exceptionally speedy, with small ball experts like Aliyah Andrews and Aubrey Leach. There isn’t a standout slugger for me in this group but some hitters with potential. How Kalei Harding and Ciara Briggs develop in the outfield as pros will be something to watch on this team.

Where they excelled: The Blaze have the least unknowns in their bullpen filling four spots with three veteran arms. Overall, this group has athletes who are established pros reaching their prime.

Where they could improve: It’s not all about the home runs but I have a question mark for who will be clutch offensively for the Blaze.

Grade: B+

*****

Talons

General Manager: Lisa Fernandez
Head Coach: Howard Dobson

Every Talons Draft Pick from the AUSL Inaugural Draft

Overview: Lisa Fernandez and Howard Dobson went for the players they knew and that created some incredible built-in chemistry for the Talons. Going with Megan Faraimo, Georgina Corrick, and Sharlize Palacios in the first three picks was synergy from the jump. Palacios and Faraimo were together at UCLA and thrived on the same team with Corrick in the 2024 AU Championship Season. With Montana Fouts in that mix, this bullpen will improve as the season progresses. Defensively, this team isn’t flashy but it is definitely solid.

Where they excelled: The Talons have a young bullpen with a ton of potential plus the offense seems to have a balance of contact and power hitters.

Where they could improve: They need to lock down solid defenders to complete the corner infield and outfield positions that can also boost the four-five-six hole in a lineup.

Grade: A-

*****

Volts

General Manager: Cat Osterman
Head Coach: Kelly Kretschman

Every Volts Draft Pick from the AUSL Inaugural Draft

Overview: Big bats. That’s what I see when I imagine a Volts lineup this summer. It’s shocking general manager Cat Osterman got away with snagging Amanda Lorenz and Dejah Mulipola, two of the best hitters in professional softball. Plus, they didn’t trade defense for offense; this team has a sound infield and walking web gems in Jessi Warren and Sis Bates. I envision Lorenz in left field, Clark in center, and Erika Piancastelli in right field to complete the outfield and that core feels balanced. Selecting Rachel Garcia in the first round shouldn’t surprise many, but she’s had rocky Championship Seasons. The Volts will need her to be the ace she’s proven to be and the most consistent starter for the pitching staff.

Where they excelled: The Volts nailed it when gathering the hitters they’d need to scare any opposing pitcher.

Where they could improve: They have arms that have had big ups but also shaky seasons. They will need to settle in within the Volts bullpen and a 24-game season.

Grade: A

— Savanna Collins/Senior Report for AUSL