Athletes Unlimited Softball announced it is expanding to include a new two-week competition that will provide more playing opportunities and compensation to athletes, and more pro softball for fans. The new competition – AUX Softball – will take place June 13-26, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Title IX on June 23.
AUX Softball will feature 42 athletes playing 18 games in a to-be-announced single-city venue. Similar to the Athletes Unlimited championship season, AUX Softball games will be broadcast in the U.S. and around the world.
Athletes Unlimited also announced that its third softball championship season will run from July 29 to August 28, returning to the site of the first two Athletes Unlimited Softball seasons in the Chicago area at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, Illinois. The season will involve 60 players, with the first 35 announced on Tuesday.
A total of 31 players from 2021 – including 12 Olympians from four countries – had re-signed with the league for the 2022 Athletes Unlimited Softball season as of Wednesday. Of those players, 27 will also participate in AUX Softball.
For the first time in Athletes Unlimited history, 15 players have been offered and signed two-year contracts, signaling a long-term commitment by the athletes and league to pro softball, including 2021 champion Aleshia Ocasio, and Olympians Amanda Chidester and Kelsey Stewart.
See the full list of players at Athletes Unlimited website.
Photo courtesy Athletes Unlimited.
