Pro softball players form a union seeking recognition by AUSL and a CBA for 2027

The athletes from the Athletes Unlimited Softball League have banded together to form a union, requesting recognition from their league and the creation of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) ahead of the 2027 season. The women's professional softball league, which expanded to six teams for its second season, has seen significant growth and success.

Players from the Carolina Blaze, Chicago Bandits, Utah Talons, and Texas Volts joined the league this year, along with two new expansion teams, the Oklahoma City Spark and Portland Cascade. The AUSL Players Association announced that a supermajority of league players had signed up to form the union, emphasizing the importance of a fair contract between the league and the players.

Currently, the average AUSL player salary stands at $35,000 per season, with the potential to earn up to $80,000.