It wasn’t easy for Talons General Manager Lisa Fernandez to say goodbye to core members of her team’s inaugural AUSL Championship squad, but with league expansion forcing a rebuild, she remained laser-focused on securing players who fit the culture created last season and demonstrated loyalty to the team.
The Talons lost the most players in the expansion draft (Maya Brady, Sydney Romero, Tori Vidales, and Sierra Sacco) but saw the return of a familiar face who fits Fernandez’s framework perfectly: Jadelyn Allchin, the reserve player who took the league by storm last season.
Fostering the Talons Culture
“I’m a loyalist at heart,” Fernandez said. “And to know that I had to let go of people that have been loyal to the Talons, and would have loved to have come back and never have left…That makes it hard. And Jadelyn was one of them who was committed to the Talons,” Fernandez said.
Despite being a reserve player for the Talons in 2025, to Fernandez, Allchin became one of those undeniable fixtures on the roster. The high-production outfielder’s loyalty is something Fernandez doesn’t have to question, so when the opportunity arose to take Allchin with the ninth overall pick in the allocation draft, she took it.
Allchin played in 21 games last summer and finished second on the team in batting average after hitting .380 in 50 at-bats. In her last 12 outings across the AUSL regular season and All-Star Cup, she posted an impressive .543 on-base percentage.
Sound Defense and Speed
“I mean, it’s pretty obvious, we have definite speed. We’re going to be elite defensively with the people that we have in the outfield,” Fernandez said.
That speed factor was clearly reflected in the Talons’ first pick of the allocation draft: Jayda Coleman.
The 2024 University of Oklahoma grad has a reputation for highlight-reel-worthy plays, covering significant ground in the outfield, and serving as an igniting spark for any lineup. She spent part of her summer with Team USA at the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, China, where she hit .412 with three runs scored and earned All-World Team honors.
Coleman is also a three-time WCWS National Champion (2021, 2022, 2023) and earned multiple First Team All-American honors during her Oklahoma career.
The Talons’ following picks carried that same speed factor. Rachel Becker (Round 3, Pick 15), Maddie Moore (Round 4, Pick 21), and Aliyah Andrews (Round 5, Pick 27) all bring strong defensive skillsets and speed to the roster.
“To see the speed that we’re going to have with Jayda Coleman, Jadelyn Allchin, and [Rachel] Becker, and Aliyah Andrews…And you know Maddie Moore is going to get in there,” Fernandez explained. “They don’t know what’s coming.”
Late Protection Moves That Shaped the Lineup
Following the Cascade and Spark’s picks in the expansion draft and before the allocation draft began, the Talons were able to add two more protected players to their initial group of five: Megan Faraimo, Hannah Flippen, Georgina Corrick, Sharlize Palacios, and Montana Fouts.
The Talons chose catcher Sahvanna Jaquish, a versatile player who provides the team with options defensively, and outfielder Caroline Jacobsen, the team’s leader in hits (29) and second-most productive slugger (.582 SLG%) last season. Bri Ellis was left untouched in the expansion draft and will return to the Talons.
Jaquish’s ability to catch, hold down a corner infield position, or even play second base was a major factor in the protection decision.
“I have a lot of different options of being able to maneuver people around. I think that the big thing with Sahvanna Jaquish. She was definitely big for me in that sense of security from a coaching perspective,” Fernandez said. “It’s her versatility. She plays multiple positions. So that allows me to kind of free up to be able to get the best available position player in that college draft.”
Fernandez expects big offensive contributions from her returning and newly protected players.
“Offensively, we’re going to be looking for some big things from Jaquish and [Bri] Ellis… Sharlize Palacios, obviously, Jacobson – those guys are going to be power bats,” she said.
Bullpen Additions on Hold
The Talons did not select a pitcher in the allocation draft, but Fernandez feels confident in the depth of pitching options available in the 2026 college draft to supplement her current bullpen.
“We’ll definitely be looking out for that. The good thing is, the class is deep with pitching, so that’s a positive,” Fernandez said.
Her philosophy on the position and vision for its team impact remains clear.
“I’m a pitcher at heart, and I never wanted to get taken out of the game. So I learned young that I had to be able to throw to every batter I face. So that’s kind of the type of pitcher I’m looking for. I’m looking for someone that has an inner belief that they can go seven, that they can go eight, and, you know, let the coaching staff or someone else let them know when they need to get taken out or not,” she explained.
Despite losing half of her roster in the expansion draft, Fernandez remains excited about the group she’s assembled.
“When you lose half of them, then it makes it a little bit more challenging, but at the end of the day, super pumped about this group. We’re gonna show out,” she said. “It’s going to be exciting. I’ll tell you that much. Just with the speed, with the versatility that we have, and just the skills that the players in this Talons uniform for 2026 possess.”
The updated Talons roster is available here.
Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.
