Two former Michigan softball players will be part of history in new professional softball league

The Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) is launching this summer, and two former Michigan Wolverines will be part of the inaugural season. The AUSL is shaping up to be a premier destination for professional softball players in the United States, and opportunities will be created for women across the country.

The league will feature four teams in its first season: the Talons, the Blaze, the Volts and the Bandits. The teams will not have cities attached to them until 2026, as the opening season will be a “touring property”.

Lauren Derkowski and Sierra Romero sign with AUSL for inaugural season

Pitcher Lauren Derkowski was added to the Talons as a reserve in late May. Derkowski just finished her collegiate career (2022-25) by being named the Most Outstanding Player in the Big Ten Tournament for the second year in a row. She is easily one of the best pitchers to don the maize and blue in recent memory, if not ever.

Infielder Sierra Romero (2013-16) has signed with the Volts for the inaugural season. Romero is one of the greatest softball players in NCAA history. Among a plethora of accolades, she is a two-time Michigan Female Athlete of the Year (2015, ‘16), USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year (2016), espnW Softball Player of the Year (2015) and three-time Big Ten Player of the Year (2013, ‘14, ‘16).

Romero is also the first player in NCAA history to record 300 runs, 300 hits and 300 RBI. She holds the all-time NCAA records in career runs (302) and grand slams (11).

For more information on the AUSL, read below.

Opening Day is June 7, with the Talons taking on the Bandits at Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, Illinois, at 2 p.m. CT. The Blaze will play the Volts at 6:30 p.m. CT in Wichita, Kansas, at Wilkins Stadium.

ESPN is a founding partner and will broadcast select games on platforms such as ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU. Other official partners include the MLB, Gatorade, Nike, Marucci, Mizuno and Rawlings. Former MLB executive Kim Ng is the commissioner of the league.

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