What We Learned From Every AUSL Team’s First Series

The first series of the 2026 Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) season is in the books!

Whether you just hope all six teams have fun or you’re an early diehard for a particular franchise, it can be difficult to know what to glean in just the first series. But in a season that’s only 30 total games, every matchup might matter come the playoffs at the end of July.

The AUSL’s editorial team reflected on each series they covered this week

Utah Talons (3-0)

If we learned anything from the Talons’ opening series, it’s that the defending champions are picking up right where they left off. From a dominant return by Montana Fouts in the circle to a handful of jaw-dropping defensive plays, Utah looked every bit the part of a team chasing another championship. The difference this time? Some of the younger stars who helped fuel last year’s title run look ready to take another step forward. Bri Ellis led the way, opening the season with five hits, two home runs, five RBI and a staggering 2.778 OPS in the three-game series. After a difficult rookie season at the plate in 2025, the second-year pro appears to have found another gear offensively. We also officially entered the home-field advantage era in the AUSL, and the advantage was real. The Talons played with a sense of ownership in their new home city, and the Salt Lake crowd returned the favor, with home-field traditions and game-day energy catching on with surprising speed. – Siera Jones

OKC Spark (2-1)

In keeping with their names, the Volts and Sparks provided plenty of pyrotechnics in their three-game series in Edmond, Oklahoma, where the home team won two of three. We’ll see how they do away from the hitter-friendly conditions of Tom Heath Field, but it looks like the Sparks can flat-out rake. Maya Brady led the charge by going 6-for-9 in the series with a pair of homers, including a grand slam on Opening Day. The Sparks can pick it in the field, too, with Brady and Bubba Nickles-Camarena making sparkling plays in the outfield. Forget the one error made by third baseman Jessi Warren. The ageless wonder remains a joy to watch at third base. The 5-4 lineout double play she started in the seventh inning of the series finale was something to behold. And Golden Ticket recipient Maya Johnson looks to have a golden future. She regrouped nicely after giving up five runs in the third inning of the opener to retire 10 in a row. – Bruce Miles

Carolina Blaze (2-1)

This ain’t your momma’s Blaze from last year. The 2026 squad made quite the impression in Durham, N.C., in the opener, picking up two wins against the Cascade, one of which resulted in a run-rule victory. The offense has the top average in the league right now, hitting .294 as a team, and they showcased how we might see them get it done – stringing together base hits. They haven’t flashed much power with only one homer so far, but they legged out multiple doubles and were aggressive on the base paths. Oddly enough, they have the highest team ERA despite having two wins. Keep in mind that’s inflated because of Thursday’s loss that got away from them. Fans should be excited about Aleshia Ocasio’s start; not only was she 4-for-8 at the plate, but she looked solid in the circle too. – Savanna Collins

Portland Cascade (1-2)

It may have taken a couple of games for the Cascade to pick up their first win in franchise history, but they refused to leave the series against the Blaze without a victory. They had a major response in game three, ending the game in five innings and setting a league record for the highest scoring inning with the 12 runs they put up in the top of the second. Head Coach Taira Flowers said that this series showed her the group is “resilient.” They’ve got some comfortability they’ll need to find on defense, with four errors in three games. Pitching was solid, logging a 4.20 ERA, but they’ll need to cut down on the free bases after giving up 14 walks. Offensively, they have hitters that could use a little more warming up as the season goes on, but rookie Megan Grant proved she’s going to be a problem for pitchers just like she was at UCLA. – Savanna Collins

Texas Volts (1-2)

The Texas Volts may be short of players for various reasons, but they were never out of any game, earning the praise of their coach, Ricci Woodard. Tiare Jennings belted a pair of homers, including a grand slam. If the Volts’ depth is being tested, it helps to have a two-way threat in Aliyah Binford, who went 3-for-7 with a double and a homer at the plate and turned in a 1.17 ERA in the circle. Losing pitcher Alyssa Denham to injury during an otherwise inspirational performance in Game 2 of the series was a blow, to be sure. All the Volts need to do until reinforcements arrive is to stay close and capitalize on chances. – Bruce Miles

Chicago Bandits (0-3)

The Bandits were the only team to leave opening weekend without a win, but there were still reasons for optimism. Chicago entered the season with one of the largest collections of rookies across the league, and the adjustment to the professional game showed at times. Newcomer Taryn Kern was the first to make a statement offensively, while fellow first-year pros Ailana Agbayani, Jocelyn Erickson, Elon Butler and Jessica Clements worked to find their footing. Butler recorded one hit over the three-game stand, while Erickson and Agbayani each collected their first professional hits in the series finale. Despite the winless weekend–and working with just two full-time pitchers alongside a group of reserve additions–the Bandits still finished the series with the league’s second-lowest ERA at 3.26, just behind Utah’s 3.18. There will likely be growing pains with such a young roster, but Chicago’s pitching staff kept the Bandits within striking distance throughout the series. – Siera Jones