MLB Invests in Pro Softball on Opening Day of WCWS

Texas softball fans had a lot to cheer for on Day 1 of the Women’s College World Series but the real headline happened off the field.

Major League Baseball just made a massive investment in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL), and it’s a total game-changer. We're talking real money, real marketing power, and real visibility for a pro league that actually supports its athletes.

On the very day college softball took center stage in Oklahoma City, the future of the sport got a serious boost.

Here’s the deal: MLB is now backing AUSL, which launches its first season on June 7 with games in Rosemont, Illinois, and Wichita, Kansas. Not only is MLB helping financially, but they’re also putting AUSL games on MLB Network and MLB.com, shouting them out across all their platforms, and bringing AUSL and its players into major MLB events like the All-Star Game and Postseason.

It’s the kind of support women’s softball has deserved forever, and it’s finally here.

“This is a watershed moment,” said Kim Ng, AUSL’s commissioner. Commissioner of Baseball Robert D. Manfred, Jr. said, “During this extraordinarily exciting time for women’s sports, we want softball to thrive."

Read More: Texas Teams Dominate Day 1 of Women’s College World Series

This partnership means more than just a few TV games; it’s about creating something sustainable. The AUSL is starting with four teams playing a 24-game season (48 total games) this summer in 12 cities, then going city-based in 2026. There’s also an AUSL All-Star Cup happening later in the season.

P.S. They'll be making a stop in Texas this summer so grab your tickets.

This is the most serious push pro softball has had in decades. It’s visibility, opportunity, and finally, real investment. And it all kicked off the same day the WCWS got rolling.

Coincidence? Maybe. But it sure feels like the beginning of something huge.