The Talon’s opening day roster includes the USA Collegiate Softball Player of the year in Bri Ellis, a first-round pitcher in Megan Faraiamo, an Olympian turned college softball broadcaster in Tori Vidales, and more.
This star-studded roster merges some of the best young talent softball has to offer and veterans who have propelled Athletes Unlimited in every iteration it has seen. In the inaugural AUSL season, the Talons’ depth will be key to a prosperous postseason.
Catcher (2): Ally Shipman-Shrout, Sharlize Palacios
Sharlize Palacios started all 15 games of her 2024 AU Softball Championship season (now the AUSL All-Star Cup) debut as a mainstay in the lineup. She batted .233 and was a three-time game MVP selection. Shipman-Shrout, who joins as a reserve player while Sahvanna Jaquish completes the first half of the Japan Diamond League season, graduated from the University of Alabama in 2023 and has decided to return to softball; she will do so as a Talon, making her professional debut in the AUSL looking for opportunities behind the plate.
Pitcher (5): Megan Faraimo, Mariah Lopez, Raelin Chaffin, Montana Fouts, Lauren Derkowski
The pitching staff for the Talons is deep, with each arm offering a different look. Faraimo stands out as the first-round pick for the Talons. The UCLA graduate is returning from the Japan league as the AUSL season begins, meaning in the early series the Talons will lean heavily on Montana Fouts, who had eight appearances and two wins in the 2024 AUX season, as well as Mariah Lopez, a Utah graduate who previously competed with the New York Rise in the Association of Fastpitch Professionals where she had 22-strikeouts. Lopez will bring a different pace as the only lefty on staff. In lieu of Faraimo and Georgina Corrick, who is also competing in the JDL, there will be opportunities for reserve player Lauren Derkowski and AUSL college draftee Raelin Chaffin.
Corner Infielder (2): Bri Ellis and Tori Vidales
Ellis has been the talk of college softball all season long. Known widely as one of the most feared hitters in the game, the 2025 SEC player of the year’s bat is a no-brainer when it comes to crafting a lineup. Vidales has been a member of Athletes Unlimited since 2020. The Olympian has played at the highest level, representing Team Mexico at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Middle Infielder (3): Sydney Romero, Hannah Flippen, Ali Aguilar
The middle infield of the Talons is comprised of Sydney Romero, who has started nearly every game she has played in an Athletes Unlimited uniform; Hannah Flippen, the 2022 Athletes Unlimited Defensive Player of the Year; and Ali Aguilar, who helped lead Team USA to a silver medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Needless to say, a talented middle infield, with Romero (played since 2022) and Flippen (played since 2020) having the most AU experience.
Outfielder (4): Sierra Sacco, Caroline Jacobsen, Jadelyn Allchin, Victoria Hayward
The outfield is led by veteran Victoria Hayward, who has competed with Athletes Unlimited since 2020 and has started every game of her AU career. With a career batting average of .368 and fielding percentage of 1.000, she will be essential to the Talons’ success. Allchin joins the roster as a reserve player while Maya Brady finishes the first half of the JDL season. Overall, the Talons have an experienced outfield that has played at the professional level, in addition to rookie Sierra Sacco, who received a golden ticket alongside Raelin Chaffin to the AUSL this season.
Cayla Sweazie is a former collegiate softball player turned sports reporter with a passion for telling the stories of athletes. She is serving as a correspondent for the Talons of the AUSL. You can follow her on Instagram @caysweazie.
