On Wednesday, 4 May, Athletes Unlimited (AU) hosted the College Draft 2022 where the pro softball league presented the 13 college players invited to join the third AU softball season in Rosemont, Illinois.
Seven of the 13 draftees have participated in international competitions or are members of their National Team. Jocelyn Alo, Georigina Corrick, Janae Jefferson, Gabbie Plain, Sydney Sherrill, Hanah Adams and May Iakopo have worn their National Team jerseys in the past.
The list includes seven members or former members of the Australia, Great Britain and USA National Softball Teams, with past participations in WBSC events.
Australia’s Olympian Gabbie Plain and Great Britain ace Georgina Corrick represent the foreign presence on the list. Alo and Jefferson will wear the USA jersey this summer, while Adams and Iakopo won the Junior World Championship in 2017. Sherril played for USA in the USA International Cup.
Both Plain and Jefferson are expected to compete in The World Games 2022 in Birmingham, Alabama, from 9-13 July. USA will open the tournament in Group A, while Australia will do it in Group B.
Last year, the AU league debuted a new tradition with the first-ever Athletes Unlimited Softball College Draft.
Back in December, AU announced it is expanding to include a new two-week competition – AUX Softball – to take place from 13-26 June, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Title IX on June 23.
Cat Osterman and Aleshia Ocasio were the first two winners of the 'player-centric' competition.
This year, Athletes Unlimited and ESPN have reached a new multi-year rights agreement for pro softball. In all, more than 160 live games will air exclusively on ESPN platforms over the next two years.
