Over the next week, the Blaze will be unveiling their protected players ahead of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) Draft.
Five members of the roster will be protected for the league’s Expansion Draft, during which the league’s newest teams — the Oklahoma City Spark and Cascade — may select unprotected players for their rosters.
Tune in to the AUSL Draft on Monday, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m. ET on ESPNU. More details on the AUSL Draft structure can be found here.
Nov. 18: Ana Gold
General Manager Dana Sorensen on Gold: “Ana Gold was a breakout rookie star in the 2025 season. She is one of the best defensive players on the field, and made plays at third base in her first pro game. She is one of the top third basemen in the league, but has the defensive skill set to play shortstop as well, giving a lot of versatility on the field. At the plate, she quietly carried a .427 OBP and 1.094 OPS and tied for 3rd in HR’s, all while playing her first full season in the pro league.”
Nov. 19 Baylee Klingler
GM Dana Sorensen on Klingler: “Baylee Klingler is a true versatile player, with capabilities of playing both infield corner positions as well as both outfield corner positions. Offensively, she was one of the hardest hitters at the plate to strike out, with a four percent strikeout rate and a .571 slugging percentage. Baylee is a glue player in the clubhouse and always brings an infectious love of the game.”
Nov. 20: Aubrey Leach
GM Dana Sorensen on Leach: “Aubrey is a true leader and captain on the field. One of the brightest softball minds on the dirt, she brings leadership to the infield and is the epitome of a professional player. Leach finished in the top 10 in both average and on-base percentage. She can both beat you at the plate with the short game as well as drive the ball in the gap. We are looking forward to Aubrey’s growth in year two of the AUSL.”
Nov. 20: Kayla Kowalik
GM Dana Sorensen on Kowalik: “The 2025 All-Star Cup Champion is only just beginning her rise as one of the top players in the game. She is steadily becoming one of the brightest and trusted pitch callers behind the dish, not afraid to challenge conventional thinking on pitch sequencing, and is always ready to learn new avenues of thinking. At the plate, she does not present as a traditional hitter, but is one of the toughest outs in the league. We are looking forward to continued growth from her offensively, combining her ability to get on base with the power to drive the ball in the gaps and out of the park.”
Nov. 20: Keilani Ricketts
GM Dana Sorensen on Ricketts: “Keilani had a rough start to her first season battling injury, but once healthy, she proved that she still is one of the toughest pitchers to barrel up. She was absolutely one of the most dominant pitchers in the second half of the season and carried that success through the All-Star Cup. Keilani is someone you can build a very diverse staff around, and her experience in all levels of the game speaks for itself.”