Latest news with #SoftballLeague
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Athletes Unlimited Softball League opens with high hopes and support from MLB and USA Softball
CORRECTS FIRST NAME TO SHARLIZE, NOT CHARLIE - Athletes Unlimited Softball League players Sharlize Palacios, left, of the Talons, and Sis Bates of the Bolts, are interviewed at Major League Baseball's headquarters in New York, Thursday, May 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) CORRECTS FIRST NAME TO SHARLIZE, NOT CHARLIE - Athletes Unlimited Softball League players Sharlize Palacios, left, of the Talons, and Sis Bates of the Bolts, are interviewed at Major League Baseball's headquarters in New York, Thursday, May 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Athletes Unlimited Softball League made its debut after a year of buildup and a recent collaboration with Major League Baseball. The Bandits beat the Talons 3-1 in the first game Saturday in Rosemont, Illinois. The Volts were set to play the Blaze in Wichita, Kansas later in the day. Advertisement 'I kind of feel like we blinked and it was here,' Cat Osterman, general manager of the Volts, said. 'But then there were moments where it felt like we weren't ever going to get here either because it took a whole year of process. We're all excited.' Athletes Unlimited has featured softball since 2020, when it unveiled a unique format that crowned an individual champion. The organization that focuses exclusively on women's sports now has launched a traditional four-team softball league in a traveling format. The Blaze, Volts, Bandits and Talons will play 24 games each, touring to 12 cities. The top two teams will compete in the best-of-three AUSL Championship from July 26-28 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. MLB said last month that it is making a strategic investment in the league. It will include an undisclosed amount for operational costs and a commitment to help it gain visibility. It will market the AUSL and its athletes during its All-Star Game, throughout the postseason and during broadcasts on the MLB Network and streams on USA Softball executive director Craig Cress likes the fact that a league with MLB's backing exists for players to join after their college careers. He sees it as an opportunity to keep the top American players facing elite competition so Team USA will be ready for Olympic softball that will be played in Oklahoma City in 2028. Advertisement Japan has won the past two Olympic gold medals in the sport. Cress said he hopes the AUSL emerges as something comparable to Japan's well-established softball leagues. 'We have a great respect and a great rivalry,' Cress said of the history with Japan. 'But this Olympics on our home soil is our gold medal. We need to go get it. So from that standpoint, I know we've got a long way to go, but that's the end goal.' Cress said it was smart for Athletes Unlimited to add former MLB executive Kim Ng as commissioner and to seek out the league as a partner. He hopes the AUSL can catch fire the way the WNBA has the past two years with Caitlin Clark. 'The WNBA is now starting to really do some things with the star power they have coming in,' he said. 'But what got them to the point to be able to keep their athletes from going overseas to play? It was the involvement of the NBA.' Advertisement There are indicators that this league could last longer than those that have come and gone over the years, starting with the well-structured support system, stability and the experience Athletes Unlimited had with the sport before launching this league. 'I think that one thing you hear about Athletes Unlimited from anybody that's been around it is we've done what we said we were going to do," Athletes Unlimited co-founder Jon Patricof said. 'We've been around now for five years.' Bri Ellis, who was named the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year for Arkansas this season, played for the Talons on Saturday after being the No. 2 overall pick in the AUSL draft last month. She said she's thrilled about the timing of the league's rollout. 'It was kind of this relief that I don't have to be done now,' she said. 'I can keep going and keep playing and there's still a story to be written for me in my career, and so I'm just really grateful for everyone that's come before me and has worked their tails off to get the sport to where it is now." ___ AP sports:
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Selena Gomez Attends Rare Beauty's Mental Health Summit in L.A., Plus George Clooney, Kelsea Ballerini, Chase Stokes and More
Stars have been everywhere this week, from Selena Gomez beaming in white in L.A. to Chase Stokes and Kelsea Ballerini being the cutest couple in Nashville. Meanwhile, in New York City, George Clooney plays baseball, and Cedric the Entertainer and Anthony Anderson serve up some barbercue. Here, are the best photos of celebs out and about this week. Come back tomorrow for more of the latest A-list outings! Selena Gomez suits up for Rare Beauty's Mental Health Summit at Rolling Greens in Los Angeles on May 1. George Clooney readies for a pitch at a Broadway Softball League game in New York City on May 1. Honoree Kelsea Ballerini receives lots of support from her boyfriend Chase Stokes, at the Variety Power of Women event presented by Lifetime in Nashville on May 1. Cedric the Entertainer and Anthony Anderson debut their Arby's BBQ sandwich at Flatiron Pizza in New York City on May 1. Blake Lively promotes Another Simple Favor in a lavish white gown at Late Night with Seth Meyers in New York City on May 1. A colorful Chrissy Metz arrives at the Variety Power of Women event in Nashville on May 1. Patricia Heaton and Melissa Joan Hart are dressed for the spring at theVariety Power of Women event in Nashville on May 1. Reba McEntire and her boyfriend Rex Linn pose with Marissa and Shelby Blackstock on the carpet of Variety Power of Women in Nashville on May 1. Maren Morris and honoree Sheryl Crow pose with her award at the Variety Power of Women event presented by Lifetime in Nashville on May 1. Green Day's Tré Cool, Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt pose with their new Walk of Fame star in Hollywood, California, on May 1. Also at Green Day's Walk of Fame star ceremony, Ryan Reynolds is shaded and smiling in Hollywood, California, on May 1. Padma Lakshmi and Connie Britton embrace at The Motherhood press luncheon in New York City on May 1. A low-key Jon Hamm throws on an athletic look as he walks around New York City on May 1. A casual Busy Philipps bikes through the streets of New York City on May 1. Julia Louis-Dreyfus beams during an appearance on Good Morning America to talk Thunderbolts* in New York City on May 1. Sarah Paulson hosts the 78th annual Tony Award nomination ceremony in New York City on May 1. Tory Burch and her foundation honor Martha Stewart at the Founders Breakfast in New York City on May 1. Michael Bublé supports his wife Luisana Lopilato at the premiere of her new film Mensaje en Una Botella in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on May 1. A stylish Doja Cat steps out in bright colors for a night in New York City on April 30. Stanley Tucci rocks a striped tie at the Tucci in Italy premiere screening in London on April 30. Mel C enjoys a ride on a Lime Bike through London on April 30. Rick Ross hosts an exclusive event at The Moore Miami to celebrate his Haute Jets by Haute Living cover on April 30. Halle Bailey launches the Own It campaign with Zales at Double Chicken Please in New York City on April 30. The Walking Dead: Dead City costars Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Lauren Cohan pose with Mr. Met at a baseball game in N.Y.C. on April 29. Peyton List attends opening night of the Cowboy Carter Tour with SirDavis American Whisky in L.A. on April 28. Allyson Felix surprises the local Los Angeles Jets Track & Field Club with Danimals after their practice. The cast and creative team of Disney's Big City Greens celebrate the show's 100th episode with a cake ahead of its network premiere on May 3. Christopher Meloni grins at a special screening of Thunderbolts* in New York City on April 30. Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner have the time of their lives watching the Lakers take on the Timberwolves in Los Angeles on April 30. Paris Hilton hosts the Iconic fragrance launch party with Ulta Beauty, supported by her sister Nicky Hilton Rothschild in Beverly Hills, California, on April 29. Jennifer Hudson and her son David Otunga Jr., 15, sit for the Lakers game against the Timberwolves in Los Angeles on April 30. Allison Janney flashes a smile while sporting a short haircut and colorful lenses in Los Angeles on April 30. Joe Manganiello receives support from his girlfriend Caitlin O'Connor at the Nonnas premiere in New York City on April 30. Vince Vaughn and his wife of 15 years Kyla Weber arrive at the Nonnas premiere in New York City on April 30. Also at the Nonnas premiere in New York City, Susan Sarandon shows up in a bright orange pantsuit on April 30. Julia Louis-Dreyfus cinches her dress with a belt at a Thunderbolts* screening in New York City on April 30. Florence Pugh continues her style streak in New York City with an all-white number at Good Morning America on April 30. Jason Isaacs opts for a rich blue suit at the Words of War premiere in New York City on April 30. Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman, who have been married for over 40 years, attend the Alliance for Children's Rights' Champions for Children Gala in Beverly Hills, California, on April 30. Rob McElhenney and Kaitlin Olson are a perfect pair at the Alliance For Children's Rights' Champion for Children Gala in Beverly Hills, California, on April 30. Paula Abdul glitters in a frilly outfit at the Dance and Dialogue event with Celebrate LA in Los Angeles on April 30. Derek Hough opts for a classy blazer at the Dance and Dialogue event with Celebrate LA in Los Angeles on April 30. Hailey Bieber steps out in shades and a mini-dress in New York City on April 30. Lupita Nyong'o glows in a colorful outfit at the Artist's Table Powered by Woah in New York City on April 30. Jeffrey Dean Morgan rocks an all-black outfit at a PaleyLive event about The Walking Dead: Dead City in New York City on April 30. Kesha and Sammy Hagar smile backstage at his The Best of All Worlds Stays in Vegas residency in Las Vegas on April 30. Ciara and Russell Wilson have a date night around New York City's Union Square on April 30. Margo Martindale stands next to poster of herself for The Sticky's FYC reception in Los Angeles on April 30. Katia and Malcolm Washington hold up Lakers T-shirts at a playoff game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in L.A. on April 30. Adam DeVine is pumped up on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in New York City on April 30. Nicolas Cage chats about The Surfer at a screening of the film in Los Angeles on April 30. Jeremy Renner celebrates the release of his new memoir, My Next Breath, with Brooks Running at Gramercy Theater in New York City on April 29. Robert De Niro and Gayle King hang out at The Center for Discovery's Evening of Discovery Gala in New York City on April 29. Garcelle Beauvais sports several blue pieces at the gallery opening of Art Melanted at Sotheby's in Beverly Hills, California, on April 18. Khloé Kardashian takes her kids True, 7, and Tatum, 2, to celebrate the launch of Khloud Protein Popcorn at Barry's WEHO in Los Angeles. Hugh Jackman has the microphone onstage at Global Citizen NOW in New York City on April 30. A stylish Florence Pugh walks around New York City's SoHo in a reflective black dress on April 30. Kerry Washington snaps a photo with The Last Five Years stars Nick Jonas and Adrienne Warren at SiriusXM Studios in N.Y.C. on April 30. Jelly Roll and Post Malone sing together at the latter's stadium tour stop in Salt Lake City on April 29. A dressed-up Kesha walks her cat in a stroller around Los Angeles on April 30. Rachel Brosnahan sits for a chat during Global Citizen NOW in New York City on April 30. Laverne Cox shows up to Global Citizen NOW in New York City wearing an elegant black dress on April 30. A low-key Hailey Bieber steps out in all black in New York City on April 30. Da'Vine Joy Randolph struts around New York City in a black dress on April 30. Cynthia Erivo grins at the playback event for her upcoming album I Forgive You in New York City on April 30. A$AP Rocky wears camo and tartan on the way into the studio in New York City on April 30. Chase Sui Wonders channels her best sailor girl in New York City on April 30. Geena Davis carries two bags while walking around New York City on April 30. Abigail Spencer hosts a 30 Years of Bioderma celebration at Chateau Marmont in L.A. on April 29. Kenneth Cole and Rachel Platten lead a special launch event in partnership with Mental Health Coalition in New York City's Core Club on April 29. The Red Hot Chili Peppers' Chad Smith amps up the Kings crowd at their game against the Edmonton Oilers in L.A. on April 29. The men of Chippendales line up against a wall in Nashville ahead of the opening of their resident production at Hard Rock Café. Richie Sambora poses with his longtime pal Tom Jones on April 21 at Jones' show in Red Bank, New Jersey, where Sambora brought mom Joan along to meet the 'It's Not Unusual' singer, fulfilling a longtime dream of hers. Olivia Munn is glowing on the red carpet at the PEOPLE App Party presented by e.l.f. Cosmetics and Paramount+ on April 29 at the Hotel Chelsea in New York City. Margaret Qualley, Lupita Nyong'o and Nana Komatsu are decked out in Chanel at the Chanel Cruise 2026 show at the Villa d'Este in Lake Como, Italy on April 29. Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds step out together hand-in-hand in New York City on April 29. Fred Jezeph, Patrick O'Keefe, Neil Vogel, Jo Bray, Maddie Bartlett, Charlotte Triggs, Leah Wyar and Melissa Guy pose with performer SAINt JHN at the PEOPLE App Launch Party on April 29. Prince William and Kate Middleton pay a special visit to Ardura Community Forest in Isle of Mull, Scotland on April 30. Padma Lakshmi arrives at the PEOPLE App Launch Party at the Hotel Chelsea on April 29 in New York City. Margaret Josephs, Melissa Gorga, Jennifer Fessler and Lexi Barbuto pose together at Tuesday's PEOPLE App Launch Party at the Hotel Chelsea in New York City on April 29. SAINt JHN takes the stage to perform for the crowd at Tuesday's PEOPLE App Launch Party at the Hotel Chelsea on April 29 in New York City. Jackie Goldschneider and Evan Goldschneider have a date night at the PEOPLE App Launch Party on April 29 at the Hotel Chelsea in New York City. Madeline Brewer steps out for PEOPLE App Launch Party on April 29 at the Hotel Chelsea in New York City. Justina Valentine strikes a pose at the PEOPLE App Launch Party on April 29 in New York City. Jake Gyllenhaal celebrates his new Sardi's portrait with his mom Naomi Foner Gyllenhaal on April 29 in New York City. Jeremy Renner stops by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon for an appearance on April 29 in New York City. Augustin James Evangelista joins his mom Linda Evangelista at the National Breast Cancer Coalition's NYC gala on April 29. Glenn Close poses backstage with Nicole Scherzinger following her performance in Sunset Blvd on April 29 in New York City. Christie Brinkley stuns in a black dress for her event at 92NY on Tuesday night in New York City. Dua Lipa takes a trip backstage at Oh, Mary! to hang out with show's star Cole Escola on April 29 in New York City. Brett Goldstein smiles backstage with Sarah Snook at The Picture of Dorian Gray on at The Music Box Theatre in New York City on April 29. Alejandra Silva and Richard Gere bring date night to a screening of Wisdom of Happiness during the BCN Film Festival at Cinemes Verdi in Barcelona on April 29. Patsy Kensit and Kate Moss pose together at the launch of issue 8.5 of Perfect Magazine at The Lavery in London on April 29. Anna Kendrick is ready for spring in her blue-toned outfit while out in New York City on April 29. Caitlin O'Connor and Joe Manganiello walk hand-in-hand in New York City on April 29. Aaron Abrams, Carson MacCormack, Katie Douglas, Kevin Durand and Eli Craig attend the premiere of RLJE Films and Shudder's Clown in a Cornfield presented with Project Mayhem and Rooftop Films on April 29 in New York City. Marlee Matlin smiles at the 2025 Scientific and Technical Awards at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in L.A. on April 29. Celebrity yoga instructor and author Kristin McGee, Olympian Gabby Thomas, and dietitian DJ Blatner pose together at an event hosted by Now Foods for their 'Be You, NOW' campaign in New York City on April 28. Maggie Lawson, Melanie Lynskey and Zooey Deschanel have fun at the 30 Years of Bioderma celebration in Los Angeles on April 29. Emma Roberts goes for all-houndstooth at the 2025 Brooklyn Artists Ball in New York City on April 29. Caleb McLaughlin, Zazie Beetz and Kerry Washington share a table at the 2025 Brooklyn Artists Ball in New York City on April 29. Tim McGraw, Timothy Wayne, a rising country music star and LSU student, and Sandy Howard watch an LSU baseball game from the stands in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on April 27. Jenna Bush Hager celebrates the dual launch of the Jane Win x Barbara Bush Foundation collection and Thousand Voices Imprint title with Jane Winchester in New York City on April 22. On their 14th wedding anniversary, Prince William and Kate Middleton stop by a local community hub in Tobermory, Scotland, on April 29. Toting a pizza purse, Blake Lively waves to the camera in New York City on April 29. A denim-clad Joe Jonas is ready for an interview at SiriusXM Studios in New York City on April 29. Ellen Pompeo poses by her new Walk of Fame star during her ceremony in Hollywood, California, on April 29. Jeffrey Dean Morgan wields a stick atop the Empire State Building in New York City on April 29. Ewan McGregor attends the opening night party for My Master Builder on the West End in London on April 29. Maury Povich beams during an interview at SiriusXM Studios in New York City on April 29. Jaleel White wears a fancy floral shirt to SiriusXM Studios in New York City on April 29. Bradley Cooper, dressed in all blue, takes a phone call on a walk in New York City on April 29. Cate Blanchett looks good in green at The National Theatre 2025 season lunch in London on April 29. Sam Claflin and the cast of The Count of Monte Cristo gather at the beach for a photo call in Cannes, France, on April 29. Christina Hendricks gets all dressed up for Ellen Pompeo's Walk of Fame ceremony in Hollywood, California, on April 29. Gabrielle Union and daughter Zaya Wade rock western-inspired H&M looks at the opening night of Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter Tour at SoFi Stadium in California, on April 29. Wearing an all-white look from H&M's upcoming Studio Resort Collection, Ryan Destiny strikes a fierce pose at the Cowboy Carter Tour opening night in Inglewood, California, on April 28. A casual Jennifer Garner wears a matching sweatshirt and sweatpants set as she walks her dog in Los Angeles on April 28. Florence Pugh and Violet McGraw, who plays a young Yelena in Thunderbolts*, pose together at the film's world premiere in Hollywood, California, on April 28. Richard Branson stands in front of the new Virgin Hotel London-Shoreditch on April 28. Read the original article on People
