The 2026 Athletes Unlimited Softball League All-Star Cup had no shortage of highlights as the competition wrapped up with a nail-biting finish at the top of the leaderboard and Lexi Kilfoyl claiming the individual title.
While the final series showcased its fair share of impressive moments, some of the All-Star Cup’s best came before the confetti fell. From diving grabs and dominant pitching to no-doubt homers, here are seven of our favorite moments that led up to the final leaderboard tally.
Megan Grant Clears the Bases
It didn’t take long for the league’s power hitters to make their mark on the All-Star Cup. During Series One on Aug. 9, Megan Grant erased a two-run deficit for Team Corrick with one swing versus Team Ricketts.
With two outs and the bases loaded in the third inning, Grant jumped on the first pitch she saw from Kat Sandercock and launched it over the left-center field wall. The grand slam–the 14th in All-Star Cup history–accounted for all four of Team Corrick’s runs in the 4-3 victory and helped Grant become the first player of the 2026 competition to collect 200 leaderboard points in a single game.
Ailana Agbayani Flashes the Leather
Ailana Agbayani made sure the defense got its moment in the highlight reel during Team Klingler’s Series Two opener on Aug. 14.
With Maya Brady at the plate, Agbayani made a show-stopping backhanded grab at second base. She dropped to a knee to make the sliding stop and quickly popped back up to fire to first for the out. The play was one of several big defensive moments for Team Klingler in an error-free 1-0 victory over Team Ricketts.
Sam Landry and Lexi Kilfoyl Slam the Door
Team Klingler didn’t need much offense in its Series Two opener on Aug. 14, thanks to Sam Landry and Lexi Kilfoyl.
Landry set the tone in the circle with 4.2 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and one walk while striking out three. Kilfoyl took it from there, tossing 2.1 scoreless frames to complete the combined shutout and secure the save in the 1-0 win over Team Ricketts.
Jadelyn Allchin Goes Full Extension
Morgan Zerkle may have thought she had found some grass during Series Two on Aug. 15. Jadelyn Allchin had other plans.
Zerkle sent a ball into shallow center field in the top of the first, but Allchin came charging in and laid out at full extension to make the diving grab. It was another highlight-reel addition to the standout defense the Rawlings Gold Glove finalist and AUSL Championship Series MVP became known for throughout the 2026 season.
Team Landry Goes Yard Three Times in One Inning
Team Landry brought out the bats for the start of Series Three on Aug. 21, blasting three home runs in the third inning of its 6-3 victory over Team Palacios.
Grant started the power surge with a leadoff solo shot over the scoreboard in right field for her league-leading third home run of the All-Star Cup. Two batters later, Sydney Sherrill launched a solo homer to center, and Alyssa Brito followed with a shot to nearly the same spot for back-to-back blasts. The three-homer frame helped Team Landry build a 5-0 advantage and gave the squad three more opportunities to break out its signature mop celebration.
Sydney Sherrill Turns Two in a Flash
Sherrill’s offensive contributions weren’t the only highlight reel moments in Series Three. One night after going deep, she flashed the leather to help Team Landry escape an early threat against Team Klingler on Aug. 22.
With runners on first and third in the bottom of the second, Sherrill was playing in at second when Agbayani sent a stinger in her direction. Sherrill picked it on the backhand with lightning-fast reflexes and whipped the ball to Kenleigh Cahalan at second, who turned it to Jordan Woolery at first to complete the double play and get Team Landry out of the inning.
Baylee Klingler Walks It Off
After six scoreless innings on Aug. 22, Team Klingler and Team Landry saved all the drama for the seventh.
Grant struck first with a solo home run in the top half to put Team Landry ahead 1-0, but captain Baylee Klingler had the final say. With Agbayani on base, two outs and a 2-2 count, Klingler launched her first home run of the All-Star Cup over the center-field wall for a two-run walk-off. The swing flipped a one-run deficit into a 2-1 Team Klingler victory and sent Klingler back to the top of the individual leaderboard.
Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.
