It’s an exciting time to be in fastpitch softball these days and, more than ever, there are opportunities for athletes looking to play the game beyond their college years.

As first reported last week by Maren Angus-Coombs of Softball on SI, the Professional Softball League (PSL)—which currently has seven teams set to compete this summer—will also be forming a minor league system to complement the pro league.

The franchises that will compete at the pro level include three in Florida:

• the Florida Breeze based in Tampa,
• the Florida Heat headquartered in Viera, and
• the Florida Vibe located in Brandenton.

Four other teams East of the Mississippi River will also be part of the PSL:

• the Atlanta Smoke (Ga.),
• the Chattanooga Chill (Tenn.),
• the KC Diamonds (Kansas City) and
• the New York Rise (New York).

As Line Drive reported in an article published in December titled:

Breaking News: Pro Softball League (PSL) Announces 2026 Launch with 7 Teams, TV Partnership with All-Women’s Sports Network

… the PSL’s inaugural season will kick off in the second week in June and will be aired on the All Women’s Sports Network, the first official media partner of the PSL.

The complementary minor league system will be based in Kansas City and will be called the American Post Collegiate League (APCL).

Post-grad players who aren’t on the professional softball league teams will have the opportunity to play in the APCL in a minor league season that will last exactly one month, from June 13 and July 13 and parallel the pro league season.

Florida Vibe owner Ryan Moore told Line Drive’s Brentt Eads on Friday that “there will be 25 games played in the collegiate league covering five days each week.”

It is also planned that the college league teams will compete at times against the pro teams.

As noted in the Softball on SI article

“Players competing in the (minor) league will be those who have shown interest in playing professional softball but haven’t been signed by one of the seven teams.”

Those interested in playing in the American Post Collegiate League can sign up on the PSL website where there is a Prospect Form that aspiring collegiate grads can complete.

According to Moore:

“Over 200 players have already filled out the forms and expressed an interest in being considered to play in the American Post Collegiate League.”

Moore believes the new league is a first in fastpitch softball.

“To my knowledge, there hasn’t been a minor league system in softball before, so history was made with this.”

“We’re just trying to bring more bodies into the space so that those who have aspirations of playing pro softball or are looking for a chance to go overseas can continue to play and develop with the opportunity to be seen.”

“This is just another step to provide post collegiate softball in an organized league.”

The Vibe owner also says he looks for the minor league system to expand into Florida in Year 2.

The schedule of the American Post Collegiate League will be released in the near future according to those in the pro league’s administration.

— Brentt Eads/Line Drive Softball