{
  "id": 19667961,
  "title": "Softball Players Reach Deal With Athletes Unlimited to Form Union",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/softball-players-reach-deal-with-athletes-unlimited-to-form-union",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-12T15:23:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/softball-players-reach-deal-athletes-152357755.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Professional softball players have reached a deal with Athletes Unlimited Softball League to form a union, according to a joint statement released on Thursday. Athletes Unlimited, co-owned by Jon Patricof and Jonathan Soros, had not recognized the union since players initially requested it on October 13. The two parties will now discuss the creation of a collective bargaining agreement. The league, which debuted in 2025, expanded to six markets in 2026 and has been hosting softball competitions since 2020. Athletes Unlimited received a significant investment from Major League Baseball last year, after which they paused their volleyball and basketball leagues. The lowest salary in the AUSL last season was $27,000, while the highest salary was $80,000. In 2027, salaries are expected to range from $27,000 to $80,000 across five tiers. AUSL's commissioner, former Marlins general manager Kim Ng, has emphasized the league's commitment to growth and player rights.",
  "summary": "The league recognized the union a month after the group launched.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Front Office Sports",
        "title": "Softball Players Reach Deal With Athletes Unlimited to Form Union",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/softball-players-reach-deal-with-athletes-unlimited-to-form-union-19668483",
        "published": "2026-11-12T15:23:57.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}