Who could be the first-ever MVP?

In a regular season with 24 games, it’s a sprint to the championship — no time for slumps or decline, just consistent production in a short season with three opponents.

Now that it’s the halfway point of the regular season, these are eight players making a case to be named the 2025 Most Valuable Player in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League.

1. Erin Coffel, Bandits

Erin Coffel is on a tear and a front-runner for MVP. She dominates multiple league categories, most significantly slugging percentage with a 1.174 average and an on-base percentage of .667. She’s driven in an AUSL-best 16 runs for the Bandits. There simply aren’t many situations where Coffel doesn’t get on base. She leads the league in hit by pitch (7) and has six walks, and has only struck out twice.

2. Baylee Klingler, Blaze

For a team that struggled to find its way into the win column in the first half of the season, Baylee Klingler has been a shining bright spot for the Blaze. Her .500 batting average (16-32) is the best in the AUSL, and she’s only struck a single time. She’s ribbied 11 of the Blaze’s 59 runs scored for a whopping .781 slugging percentage. Klingler has two homers and three doubles on the year.

3. Morgan Zerkle, Bandits

It’s no wonder the Bandits have the best record and some of the best hitting statistics in the league with these two athletes in the lineup. Where Coffel drives in runs, Morgan Zerkle is setting the table in the leadoff spot. Zerkle paces the league in hits (19), runs scored (13), and total bases (38). What’s made Zerkle’s season especially impressive is that even with a reputation as a speedster who finds a way on base, she’s also hitting the long ball often. She has a league-high five home runs and has an OPS of 1.320.

4. Hannah Flippen, Talons

As a vet in this league, Hannah Flippen’s numbers are as good as ever. Her batting average and slugging percentage lead her team with an impressive slash line of .410/.489/.667. She has the most runs (7) and RBIs (13) for the Talons, too. Not to mention playing a stellar shortstop, turning multiple plays that would have been errors or base hits into outs.

5. Danielle Gibson Whorton, Blaze

Danielle Gibson Whorton has been a consistent bat for the Blaze who takes advantage of runners in scoring position. Her 14 RBIs lead the team and are only behind Coffel across the league. She has an OPS of 1.104 with two home runs, six walks, and only three strikeouts on the year. More clutch moments for Gibson Whorton could continue to make her a candidate.

6. Amanda Lorenz, Volts

Lorenz has the fourth-best batting average in the league (.432), but it’s her ability to always find a way on base in the lead-off spot that makes a huge difference for the Volts. Her OB% is at .543, and she’s tied for the league lead in walks with nine so far.

7. Caroline Jacobsen, Talons

Jacobsen has had numbers that are tough to ignore for the Talons. She has a slash line of .405/.500/.568 and has knocked in 10 runs for the team. Jacobsen has been quietly good, spraying hits to all parts of the field. Her Batting Average on Balls in Play (BABIP) is a staggering .412. She only has one home run, but her three doubles have been at key times in the 12 games this season.

8. Sydney McKinney, Bandits

With two Bandits already on this list, it may seem wild to add another, but Sydney McKinney has made an impact beyond her consistent offense. She has the third-best average in the league at .472 and is second in the league in hits with 17. Not to mention an OPS of 1.167. McKinney brings speed that puts pressure on the base path, and she has been a versatile defensive piece for the Bandits. She’s played third base, second base, and been the designated player in the lineup. On a roster with only 16 players, that kind of versatility can be crucial.

Savanna Collins is the Senior Reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Twitter @savannaecollins.