MLB takes bold step into women's sports with Athletes Unlimited Softball stake
MLB is going big by investing in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL), a new women's professional softball league that launches its first season on June 7, 2025. This is MLB's first major investment in a women's professional sports league and will bring financial and promotional support to women's softball as the sport is blowing up.
MLB partners with AUSL to boost women's softball
MLB announced on May 29, 2025, that it's buying over 20% of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League, giving a major boost to the new league that's set to start with four teams playing 24 games each in 12 cities across the country. That multimillion-dollar deal will go towards funding things such as running the league and promoting it to more fans.
— MLB (@MLB)
Marketing the product and airing the games will be a joint effort of MLB, including the first game at 7:00 PM ET on June 7, 2025, aired on MLB Network and MLB.tv.
ESPN's acquisition of the rights to broadcast all 72 games will ensure fans never have to worry about finding a channel to watch on.
Also Read:
Why the Los Angeles Angels' offence continues to struggle after loss to the New York Yankees
This is a big deal because it's rare for a major men's sports league like MLB to invest so much in a women's league after it's created, unlike the NBA, which started the WNBA. The AUSL, run by Athletes Unlimited, which also has women's basketball and volleyball leagues, wants to make softball a sport that lasts for years.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Truque caseiro noturno eficaz contra a papada (faça hoje mesmo)
Revista & Saúde
Saiba Mais
Undo
MLB's support will help get more people excited about the league by showing games and players at big events like the MLB All-Star Game and playoffs.
Kim Ng's leadership and softball's growing popularity
The AUSL is off to a strong start with Kim Ng as its new commissioner, hired in April 2025 to lead the league. Ng, who previously operated the Miami Marlins baseball organization and played on the collegiate level in softball has a wealth of experience and passion for the game.
Meanwhile, famous softball icons Jennie Finch, Cat Osterman and Jessica Mendoza, and some of the best players in the game – Lexi Kilfoyl and Megan Faraimo, who will be playing in the league following the drafts in January 2025 and May 2025.
Women's sports are becoming super popular, with over $1 billion in revenue each year, and softball is a big part of that. The 2024 Women's College World Series drew over 2 million viewers, representing a 24% increase from the previous year, underscoring the growing popularity of softball. With softball coming back to the Olympics in 2028, the AUSL plans to grow even more, moving to a city-based league in 2026 with six teams.
MLB's help will make sure more fans see the games and young girls have a pro league to dream about joining.
Get
IPL 2025
match
schedules
,
squads
,
points table
, and live scores for
CSK
,
MI
,
RCB
,
KKR
,
SRH
,
LSG
,
DC
,
GT
,
PBKS
, and
RR
. Check the latest
IPL Orange Cap
and
Purple Cap
standings.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
a few seconds ago
- India.com
Meet Akash Deep, Once A Tennis-Ball Cricketer Of Bihar, Now India's Test Bowling Backbone
photoDetails english 2940924 Updated:Aug 03, 2025, 04:07 PM IST Humble Beginnings in Bihar 1 / 11 Akash Deep was born in Dehri, Bihar, and grew up in Sasaram, where cricket facilities were limited. Despite discouragement from family and villagers, he secretly played tennis-ball cricket to chase his dream. Early Family Struggles 2 / 11 At 14, Akash's father was paralysed, and in 2015, he tragically lost both his father and elder brother within six months, forcing him to shoulder family responsibilities and pause cricket for three years. Move to Bengal 3 / 11 With help from relatives, Akash moved to Kolkata. He started playing club and tennis-ball cricket for small earnings, eventually joining United Cricket Club and Bengal's U-23 side through the Vision 2020 programme. Domestic Breakthrough 4 / 11 Akash made his Ranji Trophy debut for Bengal in 2019. He impressed immediately, taking key wickets and helping Bengal reach the final, which earned him recognition at the national level. Overcoming Injury Setbacks 5 / 11 A serious back injury early in his career threatened to derail his progress, but Akash worked hard on rehabilitation under Bengal coach Sourasish Lahiri to return stronger. IPL and India A Recognition 6 / 11 His Ranji performances led to an IPL contract with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and opportunities with India A, where he gained invaluable exposure playing with top cricketers. Test Debut vs England (2024) 7 / 11 Akash made his Test debut on 23 February 2024 in Ranchi against England. He dismissed Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, and Ollie Pope in his very first session, making an immediate impact. Historic Performance at Edgbaston (2025) 8 / 11 In July 2025, Akash took a 10-wicket match haul (4+6) against England at Edgbaston, becoming only the second Indian fast bowler to achieve this feat on English soil. Dedication and Inspiration 9 / 11 Akash dedicated his Edgbaston performance to his sister Akhand Jyoti, who is battling cancer. His story reflects resilience, family values, and unrelenting hard work. Role Model for Aspiring Cricketers 10 / 11 From a small town in Bihar to India's Test team, Akash Deep's journey is a testament to perseverance. His success inspires countless young cricketers from humble backgrounds. 11 / 11
Time of India
13 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Still better than most playing in IPL' - Dale Steyn drops a bombshell after AB de Villiers' smashes 47-ball century against Pakistan
AHMEDABAD, INDIA - JUNE 03: Former cricketer and commentator, AB de Villiers embraces Virat Kohli of Royal Challengers Bengaluru following the 2025 IPL Final match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings at Narendra Modi Stadium on June 03, 2025, in Ahmedabad, India. (Photo by) Legendary South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn has said his former teammate AB de Villiers is still better than most of the international cricketers, who plays in the Indian Premier League . Steyn's remarks came after AB de Villiers' blazing ton powers South Africa Champions to beat Pakistan Champions for the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 title on Saturday in Birmingham. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! AB de Villiers, now retired, turned back the clock with a stunning 47-ball century to lead South Africa Champions to a dominant nine-wicket win over Pakistan Champions in the final of the WCL 2025. "Unpopular/Popular opinion. Ab is still better than half the internationals at IPL. Maybe even more," Steyn wrote on X. Chasing 196, De Villiers was at his vintage best, finishing unbeaten on 120 off just 60 balls. He smashed 18 boundaries — including 10 fours and 8 sixes — and stitched together two crucial partnerships: 72 runs with fellow opener Hashim Amla and an unbroken 125-run stand with JP Duminy, who remained unbeaten on a fluent 51. Poll Do you agree with Dale Steyn that AB de Villiers is still better than most IPL players? Yes, absolutely! No, not really. Earlier, Pakistan Champions opted to bat first after winning the toss. Opener Sharjeel Khan gave them a flying start with a 44-ball 76 and shared a 72-run stand with Shoaib Malik. However, their innings lost momentum in the middle overs, thanks to disciplined spells from Hardus Viljoen and Wayne Parnell, who claimed two wickets apiece. Viljoen removed both openers, while Parnell dismissed captain Mohammad Hafeez and disrupted the middle order. De Villiers, who had already lit up the tournament with two centuries before the final, made sure there were no hiccups this time. He launched the chase with a flurry of boundaries, including two sixes and a four in just the second over, setting the tone for an emphatic win with 19 balls to spare. With 429 runs across the tournament, including three centuries, De Villiers was rightfully named Player of the Tournament. Interestingly, Pakistan Champions had beaten South Africa in the group stage by 31 runs, but when it truly mattered, the South Africans responded in style to lift the trophy. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Time of India
39 minutes ago
- Time of India
IND vs ENG Test: 'After the birth of his child...' - Former India coach reveals KL Rahul's preparation plan ahead of England tour
London: India's batter KL Rahul leaves a delivery during the first day of the fifth Test cricket match between India and England, at The Oval, in London, England. (PTI Photo/R Senthilkumar)(PTI07_31_2025_000196A) Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar praised KL Rahul's dedication and performance in the recently concluded five-Test series against England, where the batsman scored 532 runs at an average of 53.20, including two centuries and two half-centuries while forming a strong opening partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal. Rahul emerged as India's second-highest run-scorer in the series, showcasing his versatility across different batting positions. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Nayar, who worked closely with Rahul during his tenure as India's assistant coach, acknowledged the effectiveness of the changes in Rahul's approach but preferred to keep them private. "I can't talk about the changes that I've seen in KL Rahul. I can't, because then it's out there and the effectiveness goes down a lot," Nayar, who currently heads the Women's Premier League team UP Warriorz, told PTI. "All I can say is that, whatever the changes are, they have really worked. Sometimes -- and I always say in a cricketer's journey and in a team's journey -- things need to click. You need a bit of the rub of the green. I think he's had that as well." Yashasvi Jaiswal press conference: Message from Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli help, support from Gambhir Nayar revealed that Rahul began his preparation for the England tour immediately after his last IPL match, despite having recently become a father. "He has worked very, very hard. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Access all TV channels anywhere, anytime Techno Mag Learn More Undo There are a very, very few people who know this that after the birth of his child he was in the IPL and he came back immediately," Nayar explained. "He started preparing for the England Test series while a lot of people wouldn't have done that. He knew the importance of this series, he understood it." Poll What do you think contributed most to KL Rahul's success in the recent Test series against England? Hard work and dedication Changes in his batting approach Support from teammates Conditions of the pitch "And every minute post the last game that he played in the IPL, was about how he can do well in this Test series, so it's great to see him do well there and get the recognition that he rightly deserves being the guy who's done all the dirty jobs and still managed to perform at every every number in that batting order." Nayar expressed confidence in Indian cricket's future and hoped for a positive outcome in the fifth Test. "All in all, Indian cricket is in good hands and hopefully we wrap it up today and everything's good," he stated. The former assistant coach also commended the Indian team's character during the tour. "A lot of the changes that you've seen in our players getting runs is also somewhere the conditions which have played a part, but also the fact that the hunger that our players have had to go out there and actually prove a point, is on show," Nayar observed. "The determination in the last game, the fight they showed, it just tells you that the mentality that our players carry and, the feeling that they have for Test cricket," he concluded. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
