RANKINGS
EVENTS
I COMMITTED
COLLEGE
ABOUT
We continue our list of the Top 15 Softball Stories of 2020, which will run through December 31st when we’ll present our No. 1 story of the year.
Here are the previous stories (clink on link to read):
- #15… NCAA Allows College Athletes to Be Compensated for “Their Name, Image & Likeness”
- #14… The Emotional Tribute for Texas Tech Signee Jaycee Hamlin
- #13… Two USC Union College Teammates Killed in Car Accident by Drunk Driver
- #12… USA Stand Beside Her Tour… Great Start for Team USA’s Barnstorming Event
- #11… The Scrap Yard Dawgs Tweet Controversy & the Quick Dissolution of the Pro Team
- #10… Maggie Bowle’s Softball Career Was Short… but Her Legacy Lives On
- #9… The Explosive Growth & Impact of AthletesGoLive
- #8… How Softball Recruiting Morphed in the Year of the Coronavirus Pandemic
We’ve surveyed the softball community and talked internally as well to come up with what were the most impactful and relevant stories of the year pertaining to the world of fastpitch softball.
Where applicable, we are providing the text to the original articles and/or references when the story first happened.
- Click Here to see the Top 15 Stories of 2019
- Click Here to see the Top 15 Stories of 2018
Today’s story… … #7: Two years ago, on Christmas Eve day 2018, good friends Jonathan Soros and Jon Patricof met together in New York City for breakfast and came up with the idea that would blossom and grow into Athletes Unlimited.
“We kind of left that Christmas Eve breakfast and I thought that it was a tremendously exciting idea but very difficult to accomplish,” Patricof was quoted as saying on the AUProSports.com site.
Today, Athletes Unlimited has provided professional playing opportunities for athletes in softball, volleyball and lacross, but it’s not the usual city/region market vs. market approach. Instead, it’s based on an individual-focused point system that rewards points for team performance as well as personal stats. Click HERE to see how it works.
While the longer-running National Pro Fastpitch league cancelled its season this past summer, Athletes Unlimited played 30 games with four teams continually competing incorporating rosters that would change weekly based on drafts led by the top four overall point winners per week.
The inaugural fastpitch season featured many of the best softball players in the world and provided great drama as the pitching, defense and hitting was top notch. The overall winner? We’ll led you read the cross section of articles below to find out who came out on top in Season 1, but it’s one of the legends of the game!
A second season for softball has been announced and provides hope not just for pro softball in the future, but for a better 2021 after this past year’s softball—and sports landscape, overall—was decimated by COVID-19 cancellations and postponements.
The articles below highlight the development and announcements of Athletes Unlimited from last spring through the conclusion of the season and are listed in chronological order. Note not all game recaps are included; they can be find by searching the Extra Inning Softball site…
To provide comments, insights or thoughts, email: [email protected].
*****
Pro News: Athletes Unlimited Continues to Sign Top Players for August League Launch, 5 New Ones Announced Today
Originally published May 12, 2020 on Extra Inning Softball
While the softball world is itching to return to the playing fields, the Athletes Unlimited pro softball league that was first announced in March (see the ESPN article below for background) continues to sign top players in advance of its scheduled launch in August.
The first wave of players announced included standouts such as Gwen Svekis, the outstanding catcher who played at Oregon; pitchers Sara Groenewegen who starred at Minnesota, Kelly Barnhill who dominated at Florida, Haylie Wagner who was an All-American at Michigan and Victoria Hayward who was a star outfielder for Washington.
In late March several other famous names were released who had signed with the growing league including outfielder Jenny Gilbert who qualified for the Canadian Olympic Team; four who qualified for Team Mexico in pitcher Taylor McQuillin, catcher Sashel Palacios, infielder Amanda Sanchez and infielder Anissa Urtez.
Also at that time, several other recent college stars such as pitcher Taran Alvelo (Washington), catcher Sahvanna Jaquish (LSU) and pitcher Aleshia Ocasio (Florida) were announced as new signees.
In April the new additions included the Pendley sisters, Shelby and Nicole Pendley, who both starred at Oklahoma.
*****
Today, five more softball stars joined the league, which issued a release stating:
“A big welcome is in order for our new softball signees: Emily Clark, Kelsey Jenkins, Ali Aguilar, Lilli Piper, and Jordan Roberts. Here’s your 1-2 punch with what you should know about these women.”
EMILY CLARK
Position: Catcher
College: Ohio State University
Clark was an All-American catcher out of Ohio State University and was the 16th pick in the 2019 NPF Draft by the Cleveland Comets where she went on to record 16 hits in 67 at-bats as a rookie.
KELSEY JENKINS
Position: Infielder
College: Wisconsin
Since joining Canada’s Junior National Team in 2015, Jenkins has been an integral part of Team Canada’s dynamic lineup and helped them earn a berth to the 2020 Olympic Games.
ALI AGUILAR
Position: Infielder
College: University of Washington
Aguilar is a former collegiate two-time All-American out of the University of Washington and in 2017 was drafted as the 13th overall pick to the Scrap Yard Dawgs. She’s played professionally in Japan Softball League and was recently named to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Team USA roster.
LILLI PIPER
Position: Infielder
College: Ohio State University
Piper was a two-time All-American out of Ohio State University and was the No. 15 pick at the 2019 NPF Draft by the Cleveland Comets in the NPF.
JORDAN ROBERTS
Position: Catcher
College: University of Florida
Roberts is a proud University of Florida alum and joins the AU family straight out of college. She finished her collegiate career on top with an errorless season behind the plate, the only player in the SEC with a 1.000 fielding percentage with a minimum 300 chances.
”Here’s more on the league and its unique format as originally detailed by Graham Hays of ESPN…
*****
New professional softball league to launch in August
Originally published March 3, 2020 on ESPN.com
A new professional softball league that promises more than $1 million in compensation, long-term profit participation for players and a redesigned scoring system plans to launch in August.
Co-founded by Jon Patricof, former president of NYCFC in Major League Soccer, and Jonathan Soros, Athletes Unlimited hopes to succeed where other pro softball ventures have stalled in turning the sport’s growing popularity at the youth and college levels into a profitable pro model.
“People look at starting new leagues, you really have to be disruptive,” Patricof told ESPN. “You really have to think differently. So our goal was not to replicate the model that’s used in other pro leagues and really think differently about how we can create something that engages younger and different fans and broadens the entry point for people into the sport.”
Rather than a traditional multivenue league format, Athletes Unlimited will begin play in August with all four teams based in Rosemont, Illinois, part of the Chicago metropolitan area.
The softball-only Ballpark at Rosemont is already home to the Chicago Bandits of National Pro Fastpitch, the summer league entering its 17th season in 2020. Many of the players already committed to Athletes Unlimited are also under contract with the Bandits, including former University of Florida All-American and USA Softball pitcher Kelly Barnhill and all-NPF catcher Gwen Svekis.
According to Patricof, Athletes Unlimited has a formal working arrangement with the league, with NPF commissioner Cheri Kempf acting as a senior adviser. Their seasons will not coincide.
Each of the four Athletes Unlimited teams will play three games per week. Teams will be redrafted each week by the four players who accumulated the most points in the previous week, with those points determined according to a new individual scoring system that rewards both team performance and individual achievements.
Patricof said he would reveal the exact details of the scoring system later this week during a presentation at the annual MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference. He estimated about 70% of a player’s score would come from her team winning games and innings, 10% would come from being selected one of three game MVPs by fellow players and the other 20% from individual performance.
“We really believe strongly that fans are increasingly following players over teams,” Patricof said. “So there is this opportunity to really take advantage of that aspect and how you rethink a pro league where the athletes themselves are put front and center and where you give fans the opportunity to engage and track athlete performance in a new way.”
Svekis is part of a four-player advisory board, along with Canadian Olympian Victoria Hayward, Jade Rhodes and Haylie Wagner, who have met with the co-founders each week since October. They helped the co-founders shape the scoring system, among other things.
“It’s got to be one of the first time where us players have been involved since almost the inception of the idea,” Svekis said.
Patricof said players would receive minimum base compensation of $10,000 for the six-week season, including five weeks of games. Bonuses for team and individual performance could take that to $35,000. The average NPF salary is below $10,000 for a roughly three-month season. For a pool of 56 players in Athletes Unlimited, the total available compensation is beyond $1 million.
Athletes Unlimited players will also receive profit participation for 20 years, which means a player who participates in 2020 will receive a share of any profits generated through 2040 (or 2041 for a player who enters the league in 2021, etc.). The intent is to reward players who help build the property, understanding profitability is unlikely initially.
“It’s exciting to be involved in it and to see the growth of people like Jon and Jonathan wanting to invest in women’s sports,” Svekis said. “It gives us the opportunity to make a livable wage and reap the benefits for years to come. Obviously we don’t know how it’s going to be Year 1, but hopefully Year 20, we’ll be still reaping the successes of all those athletes who are pushing the game even further.”
There are 14 players currently committed to the league. No formal relationship exists with USA Softball, although Patricof said he had been in touch with the organization responsible for the team that will participate in this summer’s Olympics.
Patricof declined to comment on distribution plans for league’s games on television or streaming platforms but said the league hoped to make an announcement in the coming weeks. The league also declined to name any corporate sponsorship agreements at launch.
Athletes Unlimited intends to add additional pro sports ventures utilizing similar models. Those could include both men’s and women’s sports, although Patricof said there was an emphasis on what he and Soros identified as the growth potential of women’s sports.
*****
Pro News: Athletes Unlimited Signs 4 More Big Names Including Cat Osterman
Originally published May 22, 2020 on Extra Inning Softball
The Athletes Unlimited pro softball league that was publicly announced earlier this spring continues to add outstanding talent with players who have significant pro and/or international experience.
Last week, the league announced four new major additions including Cat Osterman who will take time this summer to play professionally instead of the original plans to take the field for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games which have been pushed back to next year.
Here’s a quick look at each of newly-added quartet and, below, our previous article on some of the other stars that will become competing in August:
CAT OSTERMAN
Position: Pitcher
College: University of Texas
Team USA
Osterman is a two-time Olympic medalist and member of the 2020 Olympic team. She is a four-time Cowles Cup champion. Osterman led the Longhorns to three WCWS appearances and is the only three-time USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year (2003, 2005-06) in the history of the game.
HANNAH FLIPPEN
Position: Infielder
College: University of Utah
Team USA
At Utah, Flippen was a two-time All-American and 2016 Pac-12 Player of the Year. She won the Cowles Cup in 2017 with the ScrapYard Dawgs. That year, Flippen also won gold at the 2017 Pan American Games. She was recently named a replacement player for the 2020 Olympic Team.
ERIKA PIANCASTELLI
Position: Catcher
College: McNeese State
Team Italy
Piancastelli holds several single season (home runs, runs scored, walks) and career records (home runs, RBIs, walks) at McNeese State. The school retired her No. 16 jersey last March. The two-time NFCA All-American helped Team Italy qualify for the 2020 Summer Olympics.
PAIGE HALSTEAD
Position: Catcher
College: UCLA
Halstead won an NCAA National Title with the Bruins in 2019. She represented USA Softball in the World Cup of Softball from 2015-2017.
*****
Pro News: Athletes Unlimited Continues to Sign Top Players for August League Launch, 5 New Ones Announced Today
Originally posted May 12, 2020 on Extra Inning Softball
While the softball world is itching to return to the playing fields, the Athletes Unlimited pro softball league that was first announced in March (see the ESPN article below for background) continues to sign top players in advance of its scheduled launch in August.
The first wave of players announced included standouts such as Gwen Svekis, the outstanding catcher who played at Oregon; pitchers Sara Groenewegen who starred at Minnesota, Kelly Barnhill who dominated at Florida, Haylie Wagner who was an All-American at Michigan and Victoria Hayward who was a star outfielder for Washington.
In late March several other famous names were released who had signed with the growing league including outfielder Jenny Gilbert who qualified for the Canadian Olympic Team; four who qualified for Team Mexico in pitcher Taylor McQuillin, catcher Sashel Palacios, infielder Amanda Sanchez and infielder Anissa Urtez.
Also at that time, several other recent college stars such as pitcher Taran Alvelo (Washington), catcher Sahvanna Jaquish (LSU) and pitcher Aleshia Ocasio (Florida) were announced as new signees.
In April the new additions included the Pendley sisters, Shelby and Nicole Pendley, who both starred at Oklahoma.
*****
Today, five more softball stars joined the league, which issued a release stating:
“A big welcome is in order for our new softball signees: Emily Clark, Kelsey Jenkins, Ali Aguilar, Lilli Piper, and Jordan Roberts. Here’s your 1-2 punch with what you should know about these women.”
EMILY CLARK
Position: Catcher
College: Ohio State University
Clark was an All-American catcher out of Ohio State University and was the 16th pick in the 2019 NPF Draft by the Cleveland Comets where she went on to record 16 hits in 67 at-bats as a rookie.
KELSEY JENKINS
Position: Infielder
College: Wisconsin
Since joining Canada’s Junior National Team in 2015, Jenkins has been an integral part of Team Canada’s dynamic lineup and helped them earn a berth to the 2020 Olympic Games.
ALI AGUILAR
Position: Infielder
College: University of Washington
Aguilar is a former collegiate two-time All-American out of the University of Washington and in 2017 was drafted as the 13th overall pick to the Scrap Yard Dawgs. She’s played professionally in Japan Softball League and was recently named to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Team USA roster.
LILLI PIPER
Position: Infielder
College: Ohio State University
Piper was a two-time All-American out of Ohio State University and was the No. 15 pick at the 2019 NPF Draft by the Cleveland Comets in the NPF.
JORDAN ROBERTS
Position: Catcher
College: University of Florida
Roberts is a proud University of Florida alum and joins the AU family straight out of college. She finished her collegiate career on top with an errorless season behind the plate, the only player in the SEC with a 1.000 fielding percentage with a minimum 300 chances.
”Here’s more on the league and its unique format as originally detailed by Graham Hays of ESPN…
*****
New professional softball league to launch in August
Originally published March 3, 2020 on ESPN.com
A new professional softball league that promises more than $1 million in compensation, long-term profit participation for players and a redesigned scoring system plans to launch in August.
Co-founded by Jon Patricof, former president of NYCFC in Major League Soccer, and Jonathan Soros, Athletes Unlimited hopes to succeed where other pro softball ventures have stalled in turning the sport’s growing popularity at the youth and college levels into a profitable pro model.
“People look at starting new leagues, you really have to be disruptive,” Patricof told ESPN. “You really have to think differently. So our goal was not to replicate the model that’s used in other pro leagues and really think differently about how we can create something that engages younger and different fans and broadens the entry point for people into the sport.”
Rather than a traditional multivenue league format, Athletes Unlimited will begin play in August with all four teams based in Rosemont, Illinois, part of the Chicago metropolitan area.
The softball-only Ballpark at Rosemont is already home to the Chicago Bandits of National Pro Fastpitch, the summer league entering its 17th season in 2020. Many of the players already committed to Athletes Unlimited are also under contract with the Bandits, including former University of Florida All-American and USA Softball pitcher Kelly Barnhill and all-NPF catcher Gwen Svekis.
According to Patricof, Athletes Unlimited has a formal working arrangement with the league, with NPF commissioner Cheri Kempf acting as a senior adviser. Their seasons will not coincide.
Each of the four Athletes Unlimited teams will play three games per week. Teams will be redrafted each week by the four players who accumulated the most points in the previous week, with those points determined according to a new individual scoring system that rewards both team performance and individual achievements.
Patricof said he would reveal the exact details of the scoring system later this week during a presentation at the annual MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference. He estimated about 70% of a player’s score would come from her team winning games and innings, 10% would come from being selected one of three game MVPs by fellow players and the other 20% from individual performance.
“We really believe strongly that fans are increasingly following players over teams,” Patricof said. “So there is this opportunity to really take advantage of that aspect and how you rethink a pro league where the athletes themselves are put front and center and where you give fans the opportunity to engage and track athlete performance in a new way.”
Svekis is part of a four-player advisory board, along with Canadian Olympian Victoria Hayward, Jade Rhodes and Haylie Wagner, who have met with the co-founders each week since October. They helped the co-founders shape the scoring system, among other things.
“It’s got to be one of the first time where us players have been involved since almost the inception of the idea,” Svekis said.
Patricof said players would receive minimum base compensation of $10,000 for the six-week season, including five weeks of games. Bonuses for team and individual performance could take that to $35,000. The average NPF salary is below $10,000 for a roughly three-month season. For a pool of 56 players in Athletes Unlimited, the total available compensation is beyond $1 million.
Athletes Unlimited players will also receive profit participation for 20 years, which means a player who participates in 2020 will receive a share of any profits generated through 2040 (or 2041 for a player who enters the league in 2021, etc.). The intent is to reward players who help build the property, understanding profitability is unlikely initially.
“It’s exciting to be involved in it and to see the growth of people like Jon and Jonathan wanting to invest in women’s sports,” Svekis said. “It gives us the opportunity to make a livable wage and reap the benefits for years to come. Obviously we don’t know how it’s going to be Year 1, but hopefully Year 20, we’ll be still reaping the successes of all those athletes who are pushing the game even further.”
There are 14 players currently committed to the league. No formal relationship exists with USA Softball, although Patricof said he had been in touch with the organization responsible for the team that will participate in this summer’s Olympics.
Patricof declined to comment on distribution plans for league’s games on television or streaming platforms but said the league hoped to make an announcement in the coming weeks. The league also declined to name any corporate sponsorship agreements at launch.
Athletes Unlimited intends to add additional pro sports ventures utilizing similar models. Those could include both men’s and women’s sports, although Patricof said there was an emphasis on what he and Soros identified as the growth potential of women’s sports.
*****
Pro Softball: Athletes Unlimited Announces Partnerships with CBS Sports & ESPN to Broadcast All 30 Games
Originally published Aug. 1, 2020 on Extra Inning Softball
In a year of disappointments in softball, we got some great news yesterday as the Athletes Unlimited league announced a media partnership that will elevate the visibility of the sport…here’s the release with all the details:
*****
When 56 of the world’s best softball players take the field for Athletes Unlimited’s inaugural softball league at Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, Illinois, from August 30 to September 29, fans will be able to watch all 30 games live thanks to agreements with CBS Sports and ESPN, the league announced on Tuesday.
As the lead broadcast television partner CBS Sports Network will televise seven games in the United States and Canada including the weekly matchup between the top two team captains.
While ESPN will distribute 23 games across its platforms in the US. ESPN will also distribute these 23 matchups outside the US via its platforms throughout Spanish-speaking Latin America and in Canada via its partner TSN.
“We are thrilled to be working with CBS and ESPN. It was extremely important to us to offer our games to a broad audience and not require an additional paid subscription. These deals will allow our games to reach as wide of an audience as possible of both existing fans of softball as well as general sports fans. These partnerships will provide sports fans with the opportunity to watch every second of competition featuring the best softball players on the planet this summer,” said Jon Patricof, Co-Founder and CEO of Athletes Unlimited.
“We look forward to highlighting our players through compelling storytelling and incorporating new technologies that will cover every angle of play and integrate content from both players and our fans.”
“We are excited to showcase the inaugural season of Athletes Unlimited on CBS Sports Network and bring a unique viewing experience to softball fans,” said Dan Weinberg, CBS Sports Executive Vice President, Programming. “It is a wonderful addition to the CBS Sports Network lineup as we continue to add innovative properties to our growing roster of programming.”
“The newly-formed Athletes Unlimited offers fans a distinctive new competitive set-up, along with an innovative viewer experience,” said Burke Magnus, ESPN Executive Vice President, Programming. “We are thrilled to collaborate with the league in their inaugural season. ESPN loves the sport of softball and we are eager to enhance our women’s sports programming portfolio with this new addition.”
Athletes Unlimited will work with Ross Mobile Productions (RMP) to produce all 30 games. RMP has developed several innovative production tools which enhance the viewer experience and has previously worked with CBS Sports, DAZN, ESPN, Fox Sports, NBC Sports as well as several of the worlds’ leading sports properties.
The production will blend unique player access with new broadcast technologies to provide viewers in depth insight into players, game scoring and real time player rankings. The league plans to highlight these innovative elements as part of each broadcast:
- The Piero System, which is an award-winning sports analysis tool created by Ross Video. Piero uses image recognition or encoded camera heads to overlay tactical graphics on sports content. Piero brings new angles to every game, on the screen with visually engaging and informative effects that will include individual player scoring;
- Inception social media integration will enable social media content to be produced into on-air graphics presentation;
- Super Slow-Motion camera will be used to break down plays, pitcher’s ball release, ball rotation, bat contact and key moments;
- All-Access Player Audio will deliver the sounds of the game from mics on players and umpires.
“Having all 30 games available to our fans with enhanced technology is an amazing opportunity to showcase our talents and increase awareness for professional softball around the world,” said Cat Osterman, USA National Team member and confirmed Athletes Unlimited player.
Athletes Unlimited leagues will feature a range of scoring innovations to bring athletes and fans a unique and intense version of the sport. Individual athletes will earn points based on both team wins and individual performance and become the champions in team sports. Points can be earned on every play and the leaderboard will change constantly.
In addition, the teams will change each week, with the top four athletes in the standings serving as captains and drafting their teams. At the end of the five-week season, the player with the most points will be crowned as individual champion.
Athletes Unlimited Softball will feature some of the world’s best professional softball players including the following greats in the sport:
AJ Andrews, Kelly Barnhill, Kylan Becker, Jessica Burroughs, Caleigh Clifton, Amanda Chidester, Emily Crane, Samantha Fischer, Jenny Gilbert, Sara Groenewegen, Paige Halstead, Victoria Hayward, Randi Hennigan, Sahvanna Jaquish, Kelsey Jenkins, Haylie McCleney, Taylor McQuillin, Aleshia Ocasio, Cat Osterman, Danielle O’Toole, Sashel Palacios, Nicole Pendley, Shelby Pendley, Mandie Perez, Erika Piancastelli, Lilli Piper, Abby Ramirez, Jordan Roberts, Amanda Sanchez, DJ Sanders, Samantha Show, Kelsey Stewart, Gwen Svekis, Nadia Taylor, Anissa Urtez, Tori Vidales, Haylie Wagner, Jessica Warren and Megan Wiggins are among the athletes who have already signed on to play.
*****
Pro News: Athletes Unlimited Secures Two More Key Partnerships Prior to Season Start This Weekend
Originally published Aug. 27, 2020 on Extra Inning Softball
The Athletes Unlimited pro softball season Opening Day is just two days away and tomorrow we’ll have a big “primer” with all the key info in one spot to enjoy the season!
Leading up to the kickoff of the 30-games this August and September, the new league has announced some significant partnerships to help promote their athletes and the sport.
On July 1, Athletes Unlimited Announced Partnerships with CBS Sports & ESPN to Broadcast All 30 Games.
This week, the organization finalized a deal to stream all the games globally via the Olympic Channel as well as a partnership with Little League.
Here are two releases sent out by AU and reprinted with permission:
*****
ATHLETES UNLIMITED SIGNS WITH OLYMPIC CHANNEL TO STREAM ALL 30 SOFTBALL GAMES LIVE TO NEARLY 200 COUNTRIES
Athletes Unlimited announced a distribution agreement with the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) global Olympic Channel to stream all 30 of its inaugural softball league games live to more than 180 territories outside of the United States, Canada and Spanish-speaking Latin America starting Saturday, August 29, and running through September 28.
Fans can access the Olympic Channel’s coverage of Athletes Unlimited Softball worldwide at olympicchannel.com and on its apps for mobile apps and connected TV devices.
The IOC’s Olympic Channel is an over-the-top (OTT) global media destination where fans can experience the power of sport and the excitement of the Olympic Games all year round. Offering original programming, news, live sports events and highlights, the Olympic Channel provides additional exposure for sports and athletes 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in 12 languages.
This agreement ensures global coverage for all 30 Athletes Unlimited Softball games which will be available for fans to see live on a combination of CBS Sports Network, ESPN and the Olympic Channel with an Opening Day double header on Saturday, August 29, at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. ET.
As the lead broadcast television partner, CBS Sports Network will televise seven games in the United States and Canada while ESPN will distribute 23 games across its platforms in the U.S. ESPN will also distribute these 23 matchups outside the U.S via its platforms in Spanish-speaking Latin America and in Canada via its partner TSN. Olympic Channel will live stream the games worldwide outside of CBS’s and ESPN’s exclusive territories.
Athletes Unlimited is also partnering with WAVE.tv to bring game highlights and short form video content throughout Athletes Unlimited’s softball season to WAVE.tv’s 200 million monthly viewers on platforms which include Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube.
“I am thrilled that this arrangement with the Olympic Channel will allow my family, friends and teammates back in Italy and Europe to watch me compete,” said Erika Piancastelli, member of Team Italy and Athletes Unlimited.
“Our distribution deal with the Olympic Channel significantly broadens our audience to watch our inaugural Athletes Unlimited Softball league,” said Jon Patricof, CEO and Co-Founder of Athletes Unlimited. “With 56 of the best players on the planet, including 19 Olympians, it is fitting that fans will be able to watch them compete on a global stage.”
Eric Collins and Danielle Lawrie will serve as the broadcast team for Athletes Unlimited Softball. Eric Collins is considered one of the preeminent voices for women’s softball, calling hundreds of games at the professional, collegiate and international levels including play-by-play for the USA National team, the National Pro Fastpitch Championship and Women’s College World Series on ESPN. Danielle Lawrie, a current member of the Canadian National team and former Women’s College World Series champion at the University of Washington in 2009, will provide color commentary.
Athletes Unlimited will work with Ross Mobile Productions (RMP) to produce all 30 games.
Games will blend unique player access with new broadcast technologies to provide viewers in depth insight into players, game scoring and real time player rankings. The league plans to highlight these innovative elements as part of each broadcast:
- The Piero System, which is an award-winning sports analysis tool created by Ross Video. Piero uses image recognition or encoded camera heads to overlay tactical graphics on sports content. Piero brings new angles to every game, on the screen with visually engaging and informative effects that will include individual player scoring;
- Inception social media integration will enable social media content to be produced into on-air graphics presentation;
- Super Slow-Motion camera will be used to break down plays, pitcher’s ball release, ball rotation, bat contact and key moments;
- All-Access Player Audio will deliver the sounds of the game from mics on players and umpires.
*****
Little League® and Athletes Unlimited Form Strategic Partnership to Inspire Softball Players and Leaders
Partnership focuses on enhancing the experience for females in the Little League Softball® program and building excitement around professional softball.
As Little Leaguers® all around the world look forward to starting the next chapter of their story, Little League® is proud to announce a strategic partnership with the newly launched Athletes Unlimited that will bring together Little League Softball® players and the world’s best softball athletes, grow excitement around the game, and increase both accessibility and racial diversity in the sport in 2020 and beyond.
“All of us at Little League International are excited to see professional softball played at its highest level as the inaugural season of Athletes Unlimited Softball begins and we look forward to partnering with Athletes Unlimited Softball to further grow the game of softball and inspire millions of girls around the world,” said Sara Thompson, Little League Director of Softball Development. “With the help and support of the great team at Athletes Unlimited, we will be able to continue to find ways to expand opportunities and access for females in our program and build interest in the game of softball amongst our players.”
Established in 2020, Athletes Unlimited is a new professional softball league that offers a range of innovations to bring athletes and fans a unique and intense version of the sport. With an innovative new scoring system, players will earn points based on team victories and individual performances. Every week will start with a new draft where the top four players on the leaderboard are selected as team captains and will pick who will play on their team for the week. Because Athletes Unlimited has eliminated the concept of team owners, the best athletes in the world are now decision-makers and stakeholders in the leagues, making them more than just professional athletes, but also role models for future generations of the game.
“We are thrilled to have our world class athletes work with Little League to help inspire young girls around the world to play softball in an effort to produce the next generation of pro athletes and civic leaders,” said Jon Patricof, CEO and Co-Founder of Athletes Unlimited. “A focus area for Athletes Unlimited softball in our inaugural season and moving forward is to make softball more visible and accessible in underserved and communities of color. We are excited to collaborate with Little League to achieve this goal, both domestically and internationally.”
This new partnership also directly aligns with the Little League Girls with Game Initiative, which was launched in 2019 to honor all the girls and women who have made the Little League program what it is today and inspires the future generation of female participants at every level.
“Hundreds of thousands of girls in our Little League program, thanks to the support of the volunteer coaches and administrators, dream of playing softball on the big stage,” said Stephen D. Keener, Little League President and CEO. “We’re looking forward to working with Athletes Unlimited, as we continue to inspire all females in our program that with hard work, dedication, and determination, there is nothing that they cannot achieve, on the softball field and off, as evidenced by Little League Hall of Excellence enshrinee and Athletes Unlimited player Cat Osterman.”
As part of the partnership, Little League and Athletes Unlimited will work together to coordinate live and digital events that provide engagement between Little Leaguers and professional softball players, create educational and entertaining content to be used across both organization’s digital platforms, continue to promote and strengthen the Little League Girls with Game initiative, and work to develop interest in and access to the game of softball at every level and in every community.
The inaugural season for Athletes Unlimited begins on August 29, 2020, at Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, Illinois, with Little League alumni such as AJ Andrews, Hannah Flippen, Aleshia Ocasio, Cat Osterman, and Jessica Warren taking the field. Along with the Little League graduates, the 56-player roster includes 20 Olympians from the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Italy. For more information on the inaugural Athletes Unlimited softball season, including how to watch and a full list of athletes, visit AUProSports.com/Softball.
*****
Pro News: Opening Day is Here for Athletes Unlimited Softball!
Originally published Aug. 29, 2020 on Extra Inning Softball
The 30-game season for Athletes Unlimited Softball begins today as the five-week season kicks off at Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont with games at 1p.m. ET and 4PM ET on ESPN2.
Watch this video to get fired up to see the top softball players in the world compete!
How will the champion among these 56 standout players be determined?
This clip will show you how the points system works:
*****
Here is today’s line-ups of teams, game times and players:
Saturday, August 29 2020
| Game
|
Time EDT | Time CDT | US Live Coverage | Visiting Team | Home Team | Live in Canada |
| 1 | 1 p.m. | 12 p.m. | ESPN2 | Team Fagan | Team Warren | TSN Go |
| 2 | 4 p.m. | 3 p.m. | ESPN2 | Team Pendley | Team Wagner | TSN Go |
- Game 1 Welcome Message: Billie Jean King, Tennis Legend and Social Justice Pioneer
- Game 2 First Pitch: Kenny Mayne, ESPN Broadcast Journalist
*****
TEAM ROSTERS:
Team Wagner (Gold)
- Haylie Wagner, P
- Amanda Chidester, C
- Aubree Munro, C
- Hannah Flippen, Middle Infielder
- Megan Wiggins, OF
- Samantha Show, P
- Amanda Sanchez, Corner Infielder
- Jazmyn Jackson, OF
- Anissa Urtez, Middle Infielder
- Morgan Howe, OF
- Lilli Piper, Corner Infielder
- Kamalani Dung, P
- Jordan Roberts, C
- Joey Lye, Middle Infielder
Team Warren (Orange)
- Jessica Warren, Corner Infielder
- Cat Osterman, P
- Gwen Svekis, C
- Victoria Hayward, OF
- Aleshia Ocasio, P
- Aubrey Leach, Middle Infielder
- Erika Piancastelli, C
- Janie Reed, OF
- Kelly Barnhill, P
- Abby Ramirez, Middle Infielder
- Katiyana Mauga, Corner Infielder
- DJ Sanders, Middle Infielder
- Morgan Zerkle, OF
- Coley Ries, P
Team Pendley (Blue)
- Nicole Pendley, OF
- Taylor McQuillin, P
- Sashel Palacios, C
- Shelby Pendley, Middle Infielder
- Jessica Burroughs, P
- Sahvanna Jaquish, C
- Nicole DeWitt, Corner Infielder
- Caleigh Clifton, Middle Infielder
- Karissa Hovinga, P
- AJ Andrews, OF
- Mandie Perez, OF
- Nadia Taylor, Corner Infielder
- Kelsey Jenkins, Middle Infielder
- Emily Crane, OF
Team Fagan (Purple)
- Sami Fagan, Middle Infielder
- Danielle O’Toole, P
- Taylor Edwards, C
- Nerissa Myers, Middle Infielder
- Haylie McCleney, OF
- Randi Hennigan, P
- Tori Vidales, Corner Infielder
- Kylan Becker, OF
- Michelle Moultrie, OF
- Sam Fischer, Corner Infielder
- Morgan Foley, P
- Kelsey Stewart, Corner Infielder
- Ariana Williams, OF
- Paige Halstead, C
*****
Athletes Unlimited: Week 2 Primer Including Leaderboard, New Teams & Announcement Regarding Topps Trading Cards!
Originally published Sept. 4, 2020 on Extra Inning Softball
After a successful opening week where the Athletes Unlimited Softball series was the major happening in the sport, this Labor Day weekend will see six more games played with all but one being broadcast on ESPN3.
It was a great week not only on the field, but off the field as well as Athletes Unlimited announced a significant first-of-its-kind deal with Topps Trading Cards… read all the details below!
Photos courtesy of Jade Hewitt Media.
*****
TOPPS TRADING CARDS OF AU SOFTBALLERS!
Finally, this morning Athletes Unlimited announced an agreement with The Topps Company to create an online exclusive trading card set commemorating the inaugural softball league
You can go to the page by clicking HERE
The deal represents Topps first women’s professional softball set in the iconic company’s 82-year history.
For $20, an on-demand set of will feature all 56 players on the 2020 Athletes Unlimited softball roster, along with four League information cards, a promo card for the Championship set and a promo card for the upcoming Volleyball season that will begin play in 2021.
“Having a brand like The Topps Company celebrate our Athletes Unlimited softball league as their first women’s pro sport is an honor,” said Jon Patricof, CEO and Co-Founder of Athletes Unlimited. “These sets will honor some of the greatest female pro athletes competing today and allow our fans the opportunity to own a piece of history.”
*****
WEEK 1 LEADERBOARD (Top 30)
| Rank | Player | MVP Points | Win Points | Stat Points | TOTAL POINTS |
| 1 | Cat Osterman | 120 | 340 | 144 | 604 |
| 2 | Sam Show | 100 | 210 | 214 | 524 |
| 3 | Victoria Hayward | 40 | 340 | 110 | 490 |
| 4 | Aleshia Ocasio | 60 | 340 | 64 | 464 |
| 5 | Aubrey Leach | – | 340 | 100 | 440 |
| 6 | Erika Piancastelli | 20 | 340 | 80 | 440 |
| 7 | Jessie Warren | 40 | 340 | 60 | 440 |
| 8 | Janie Reed | 40 | 340 | 60 | 440 |
| 9 | Katiyana Mauga | 20 | 340 | 70 | 430 |
| 10 | Abby Ramirez | – | 340 | 70 | 410 |
| 11 | Gwen Svekis | – | 340 | 70 | 410 |
| 12 | Morgan Zerkle | – | 340 | 50 | 390 |
| 13 | Jazmyn Jackson | 60 | 210 | 100 | 370 |
| 14 | DJ Sanders | – | 340 | 30 | 370 |
| 15 | Haylie Wagner | 40 | 210 | 94 | 344 |
| 16 | Kelly Barnhill | – | 340 | 4 | 344 |
| 17 | Coley Ries | – | 340 | – | 340 |
| 18 | Sam Fishcer | 60 | 130 | 130 | 320 |
| 19 | Megan Wiggins | 20 | 210 | 80 | 310 |
| 20 | Danielle O’Toole | 60 | 130 | 76 | 266 |
| 21 | Morgan Howe | – | 210 | 50 | 260 |
| 22 | Hannah Flippen | – | 210 | 50 | 260 |
| 23 | Jordan roberts | – | 210 | 40 | 250 |
| 24 | Amanda Sanchez | – | 210 | 40 | 250 |
| 25 | Amanda Chidester | – | 210 | 40 | 250 |
| 26 | Joey Lye | – | 210 | 30 | 240 |
| 27 | Lilli Piper | – | 210 | 30 | 240 |
| 28 | Anissa Urtez | 210 | 30 | 240 | |
| 29 | Kamalani Dung | – | 210 | 4 | 214 |
| 30 | Aubree Munro | – | 210 | – | 210 |
*****
WEEK 2 DRAFT & ROSTER
OSTERMAN SELECTS TRUSTED CATCHER SVEKIS FIRST OVERALL IN WEEK 2 DRAFT
It was perhaps the biggest no-brainer in the history of any draft in any league.
Pitcher Cat Osterman and catcher Gwen Svekis were hand-and-glove during Osterman’s two starts during the first weekend of play of Athletes Unlimited softball.
It just so happened that Osterman piled up the most points (604) over two starts in helping Team Warren to a 3-0 record over the first round of play.
That earned Osterman the top captain’s spot for the second week’s draft, which took place Monday.
Her first pick: Svekis.
Naturally.
In a rapidly moving draft, team captains Osterman, Samantha Show, Victoria Hayward and Aleshia Ocasio drafted 13 players each for games that will begin this Saturday, September 5 at Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, Illinois.
For the second week in a row, a catcher was taken with the No. 1 overall pick. In the inaugural Athletes Unlimited softball draft, captain Haylie Wagner selected Amanda Chidester with the first pick. Interestingly, Wagner and Chidester will be reunited, as they were the top two picks of Show, who drafted second.
The third overall pick was left-handed pitcher Danielle O’Toole, who was the fourth overall pick last week. Corner infielder Jesse Warren – the top team’s captain this past week – was the fourth overall selection, taken by Ocasio. The two were teammates this past weekend.
Osterman out-dueled Wagner Monday night to help Team Warren finish with a 3-0 record. Team Wagner finished 2-1.
In that prime-time game Monday, Osterman tossed a complete-game 5-0 shutout as she gave up two hits while striking out 11. In her two starts, she is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA and a tidy WHIP of 0.83.
Svekis caught both of Osterman’s starts. At the plate, Svekis went 3-for-10 with a home run and five RBI.
Other catchers to go high in the draft were Sashel Palacios, who went in the third round to Team Hayward. Right after that, Ocasio took Erika Piancastelli, who caught Ocasio’s victory for Team Warren on Sunday. Piancastelli homered in that game, and she moved up from the sixth round of the inaugural draft to the third round Monday.
Several players moved up significantly from the first draft to the second. In Athletes Unlimited, players earn points for individual and team performances. Sam Fischer made a run at the top 10 of the overall leader board with a home run (40 points), a double (20) and a walk (10) Monday. She also earned 40 additional points for being the second MVP choice in that game.
Perhaps as a result, Fischer moved up from the ninth round of last week’s draft to the fourth-round pick of Team Hayward this week.
Outfielder Jazmyn Jackson was a seventh-round pick of Team Wagner last week. She was in the running for a captain’s spot heading into the final day of play on Monday, and she improved her draft position to a fifth-round pick of Ocasio.
Also of note, the Pendley sisters, Nicole and Shelby, will play together for a second straight week. Shelby was a seventh-round round pick of Show, and Nicole (a team captain last week) was taken by Show in the 10th round. Last week, Nicole took her sister in the third round of the draft.
Utility players and speedsters also are important in Athletes Unlimited softball games. Morgan Zerkle went 3-for-6 at the plate this past weekend. She also had a sacrifice bunt and was 1-for-1 in stolen-base attempts. Those ‘little things’ earned her an additional 20 points.
This week’s second rounders: outfielder Haylie McCleney, infielder Hannah Flippen and pitcher Kelly Barnhill also went higher this week.
— Bruce Miles for Athletes Unlimited
*****
BROADCAST SCHEDULE for WEEKEND 2 (Sept 5-7, 2020):
- Saturday, Sept. 5—1:00 PM ET (ESPN3)
- Saturday, Sept. 5—3:30 PM ET (ESPN3)
- Sunday, Sept. 6—1:00 PM ET (ESPN3)
- Sunday, Sept. 6—3:30 PM ET (ESPN3)
- Monday, Sept. 7—4:00 PM ET (ESPN3)
- Monday, Sept. 7—8:00 PM ET (CBS Sports Network)
*****
Pro News: Athletes Unlimited Season 1 Wraps Up with Games 29 & 30 As Jaquish & McCleney Hit Key Homers & Cat Ends Up #1!
Originally published Sept. 28, 2020 on Extra Inning Softball
Week 5 – the final week of the inaugural Athletes Unlimited softball season – wrapped up Monday night in Chicago with Cat Osterman ending on top of the overall points total.
Here are recaps of the games today written by Bruce Miles for Athletes Unlimited and photos courtesy of Jade Hewitt Media.
*****
Game 29: MCCLENEY’S THREE-RUN HOMER COMPLETES TEAM PIANCASTELLI COMEBACK AGAINST TEAM OCASIO
There’s always room in the Athletes Unlimited home run club, even at closing time.
Old members welcomed new members Monday during a come-from-behind 9-8 victory for Team Piancastelli over Team Ocasio on a cool and breezy afternoon at Parkway Bank Sports Complex.
In all, batters from both sides combined for seven home runs, with Kelsey Jenkins, Aleshia Ocasio and Sashel Palacios hitting their first homers on this last day of the Athletes Unlimited Softball season.
In the end, though, it was some familiar power hitters who helped Team Piancastelli rally from an 8-1 deficit that had piled up by the fourth inning.
Sahvanna Jaquish got things going in the fourth with a three-run homer, her ninth of the year to tie her for the league lead with captain Erika Piancastelli. On-base machine Nerissa Myers, playing in her last pro game, hit her second homer of the season in the fifth to make it 8-6.
Haylie McCleney capped the afternoon with a go-ahead three-run shot to right-center in the sixth. It was her sixth of the season. And to hear McCleney tell it, there was no quit in the Blue dugout, even down 8-1.
“No, not at all,” she said. “We knew that we were in it the entire game. And we said when we were down 8-1, ‘Just chip away. Just pass the bat. Just continue to pass the bat.’ We did that. And you could tell, the closer and closer we got, the more and more belief we had. I happened to get the last big hit, but there were so many big hits before that.”
McCleney was voted MVP 1 of the game, earning 60 additional points. MVP 2 honors and 40 extra points went to Myers, who had singled and grounded out before her homer. With the wind favoring flyballs, no way was she going to pound another into the turf.
“It was really nice,” she said. “I have a great group of hitters around who make it really easy to swing. So I swung … I was not hitting another groundball. Elevate and celebrate.”
Jaquish has been one of the most dangerous hitters all season. She was asked about a friendly competition for the league home run lead with Piancastelli.
“Probably not for her, but I wasn’t going to let her do that by herself,” Jaquish said. “I respect Erika Piancastelli 1,000 times over. She has been one of my friends since McNeese and Louisiana. She’s just a great captain, and I think we can all attest to that. She is genuinely rooting for you every single time.”
This game doesn’t turn out this way if not for the relief pitching of Taylor McQuillin, who came on in the fifth and worked three scoreless innings to earn MVP 3 honors and 20 extra points.
“It was absolutely clutch on her part,” McCleney said. “We knew it was going to be a pitch by committee coming into this weekend. Taylor was absolutely lights out. There is no way we got the job done without her today. It was so much fun to play behind her defensively. She was just on it from the get-go. From the moment she came in you just knew that she had her stuff.”
Myers was asked about her swan song from softball.
“This is definitely my last game,” she said. “I don’t really have much to say. My teammates have had my back the entire time I was here. It’s been amazing. It’s been a whirlwind. Everyone here helps me along the way. I greatly appreciate you and everyone who I’ve learned (from) and talked to here. I really appreciate them. I think that we have a really good group of girls coming up to elevate softball. I think softball’s on the rise.”
Here are the Game 29 video highlights:
*****
Game 30: Team Osterman rallies in the fourth for 18-3 victory
Cat Osterman needed only a little help from her friends to stave off a heroic effort from Jessie Warren for the overall points title in Athletes Unlimited softball.
She got more than a little help.
Osterman’s Team Gold overcame an early 3-0 deficit with a middle-innings blitz that simply overwhelmed Team Warren on the way to an 18-3 victory in the 2020 finale of the inaugural season.
The Gold side put together nine-run innings in the fourth and fifth to leave no doubt as Osterman took the night off of pitching and allowed lefty Haylie Wagner to toss a complete-game victory.
There were four homers hit by the Gold side, none more impressive or majestic than the three-run moon shot hit by Jordan Roberts in the fifth. Roberts got hold of the ball and sent it soaring into the night sky, well over the four captain’s banners that were flapping on a breezy and chilly evening.
The ball carried nearly to a highway on ramp. The estimated distance was 300 feet with an exit velocity of 79 mph.
Also homering for Team Osterman were Lilli Piper (a shot off the scoreboard in right-center), Gwen Svekis and Anissa Urtez.
When the air traffic finally subsided and the game ended, Osterman secured the individual points title among the 57 players here with 2,408, followed by Warren (2,020), Victoria Hayward (1,860) and Erika Piancastelli (1,840).
Osterman spoke during the closing ceremonies.
“To be honest, I came into this thinking it was just an opportunity to get some game innings, and you guys have truly changed my life,” she told her fellow players. “At 37, I think most people expected me to come in here and impart knowledge on you guys, and you guys probably imparted more knowledge than I could give.
“I’m going to challenge you guys. It’s your responsibility to keep playing. The reason you can play is because Megan Wiggins and I have kept playing. The reason Jordan Roberts had an opportunity to play this year is because Gwen Svekis has continued to play. Continue to play so the people below you have the opportunity to do this and have their life changed the way we all did because I think we are all leaving here in the next couple days nowhere close to the same person we were when we came in.”
For Team Warren Monday, Hannah Flippen gave the Orange side a 3-0 lead with a two-run homer in the third.
Warren did her best to keep her title hopes alive with a first-inning single. She also made a sensational diving catch of Aubrey Leach’s pop foul in the fifth, displaying no let-up even as the game was slipping away. This was Warren’s first loss as a team captain after she began 8-0 leading her teams.
Team Osterman finished the weekend 3-0 while Team Warren fell to 2-1. In the circle, Wagner finished 5-4 for the season.
The MVP breakdown for the game was Urtez (60 MVP points), Roberts (40) and Tori Vidales. Urtez added a triple and had five RBI. Vidales had three doubles and a single.
There was one other award to be handed out. Haylie McCleney was named the GEICO Defensive Player of the Year for her many spectacular plays in the outfield.
“It would be awesome,” she said earlier in the day before receiving the award. “Playing defense is something I’ve always prided myself on throughout my entire career, even more so than offense, I think. To be considered with Flippen and (Abby) Ramirez is an honor and a privilege in and of itself. I’m very, very lucky, very, very happy. It’s definitely a really cool thing.”
Here are the Game 30 video highlights:
*****
Pro News: Athletes Unlimited Softball Wraps Up Year 1 with Press Conference, Also Announces Year 2 Return
Originally published Sept. 29, 2020 on Extra Inning Softball
Two-time Olympic medalist and former University of Texas standout Cat Osterman became the inaugural Athletes Unlimited Softball Champion after earning 2,408 points over the five-week-long season competing against 56 of the world’s best players at Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, Illinois.
Jessica Warren (2,020 points), Victoria Hayward (1.860 points), and Erika Piancastelli (1,840 points) rounded out the top four.
CAT’S #1 IN POINTS, McCLENEY RECOGNIZED FOR DEFENSE
As Champion, Osterman, who served as captain for four of the five weeks, was on winning teams for 13 of 15 games and won 73 innings combined. She tallied 95 strikeouts – including 16 in one game – allowed 14 runs and pitched six complete games with two shutouts. She also posted an impressive 1.53 ERA on the season.
As a result, she received a Gold medal and had the honor of being the first entry into the Book of Unlimited, a 500-page book which chronicles the history of the property and will record every Champion from each Athletes Unlimited sport during an on-field ceremony immediately following the final game. Players 2 through 4 also received medals.
Warren, who posted an 8-1 record in the three weeks she served as captain, led the league with a .569 on base percentage and maintained a .510 batting average for the season.
Hayward completed her campaign with a .396 average at the plate and was tied with Morgan Zerkle for the league best in stolen bases with seven.
Piancastelli finished tied with Sahvanna Jaquish for the league lead with nine home runs and had a .885 slugging percentage.
Outfielder Haylie McCleney was voted GEICO Defensive Player of the Year by a combined vote of the 57 players and members of the Unlimited Club.
In a virtual press conference earlier today, Osterman, when asked if the five weeks of competition was helpful in getting her ready for the Olympics next year, responded: “100 percent. I was looking to get in game innings and felt the experience this summer over the five weeks was really helpful.
Asked what challenges the summer pro league presented, Cat admitted, “It was hard being away from my family, my husband and step-daughter for so long” and that on the field, “It was tough facing the same hitters over and over.”
McCleney was traveling and wasn’t available to be interviewed but in a prepared quote said she was “grateful that the players (who voted for her for the Defensive Player of the Year) recognized her efforts on defense.”
*****
YEAR 2… AU WILL RETURN to ROSEMONT in ’21
Athletes Unlimited also announced today it will return to Parkway Bank Sports Complex in the Village of Rosemont, Illinois, for its second softball season in late August 2021 following its successful inaugural season there this year.
Athletes Unlimited softball featured 57 of the best players in the world, including 19 Olympians from the US, Canada, Mexico and Italy, and concluded its inaugural season last evening.
All 30 games were broadcast or streamed globally on CBS Sports Net (USA and Canada), ESPN (US and outside the U.S via its platforms in Spanish-speaking Latin America and in Canada via its partner TSN) and the Olympic Channel.
In addition, select games were rebroadcast on MSG Network, NESN and Altitude Sports Network. The league also struck partnerships with Wave.tv as well as an array of digital media partners.
Athletes Unlimited was equally successful in securing sponsors with a lineup of over 20 corporate partners led by GEICO, Carvana, Mariner Wealth Advisors, Sparta Science and Nike. The league put in place a network of fan engagement partnerships led by the creation of the first-ever women’s softball trading card set with TOPPS and a free-to-play pool with DraftKings and partnerships
*****
OFF THE FIELD
Among its other programs that brought attention to the sport, the league had a unique virtual first pitch program that was headlined by sports and society icon Billie Jean King, who also was the league’s first member of its Unlimited Club fan club.
Other first pitch participants included: Academy-Award winner Natalie Portman, actor Bill Murray, soccer great Abby Wambach, Senator Tammy Duckworth, former No. 1-ranked tennis player Caroline Wozniacki and Good Morning America broadcast journalist Amy Robach among others.
The league invested in its athletes off the field as well as on the field through its Athletes+ program, a series of activities and workshops designed to provide resources to the players in their career development and personal training. The program was developed in partnership with Abby Wambach and her organization Wolfpack Endeavor.
The league was also honored to see its unique scoring system be so well embraced by the broader softball community. Organizations from around the country, including University of Michigan and University of Nebraska, have adopted the system for scrimmages this fall.
Civic leadership initiatives included partnerships with The Girl Scouts of the USA and Little League as well as providing financial support for 38 national/local community organizations as part of the “Athletes Causes” program with Give Lively. The league achieved 98% voter registration among its players as a member of the Rally the Vote coalition.
“The inaugural season of Athletes Unlimited Softball was one of the best experiences I have had as a professional,” said Haylie Wagner, player and member of the Player Executive Committee. “The chemistry among the players was phenomenal, we loved the engagement with our fans and the scoring system with the changing leaderboard kept us competitive from first to last pitch of our season.”
“The Village of Rosemont was proud to host 57 of the best softball players and staff members of Athletes Unlimited over the past two months, and we look forward to doing it again in 2021,” said Rosemont Mayor Bradley Stephens.
“We are thrilled with so many aspects of our inaugural season which included amazing play, tremendous fan engagement, a few firsts for pro sports and support for social cause organizations selected by our players throughout the season,” said Jon Patricof, CEO and Co-Founder of Athletes Unlimited.
“I want to thank our talented medical team who kept our players and staff safe as well as Mayor Stephens and the Village of Rosemont for being such a terrific partner since day one. Our staff and players cannot wait to return next year.”