SO THE NEW LEAGUE IS PART OF ATHLETES UNLIMITED. SO THE TEAM WOULD PLAY 30 GAMES BETWEEN MAY AND JULY. THIS WILL BE FOR TEAMS STARTING IN 2025. NOW BECAUSE OF THE WOMEN’S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES HERE, ADVOCATES SAY THAT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE WATCHING THESE PLAYERS AND THEY REALLY DESERVE A CHANCE TO PLAY AT THE NEXT LEVEL. THERE’S NOTHING THAT GIVES ME BETTER JOY THAN WATCHING THE ATHLETES THAT WE’RE BUILDING TODAY AND TOMORROW AND THROUGHOUT THE WOMEN’S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES, AS THOUSANDS OF FANS FLOOD OKC FOR THE WOMEN’S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES. BUT THEN I ALWAYS MY HEART BREAKS A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE NOT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM CAN GO ON AND PLAY PROFESSIONALLY, CAN PLAY ON THE NATIONAL TEAM. ATHLETES UNLIMITED SAYS THEY WANT TO GIVE THE ATHLETES ANOTHER STAGE TO PLAY ON, AS THEY ANNOUNCED A NEW LEAGUE THAT WILL LAUNCH IN 2025. WHILE ATHLETES UNLIMITED HAS PROFESSIONAL LEAGUES FOR SOFTBALL, ALONG WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE WOMEN’S PROFESSIONAL, FASTPITCH OR INDEPENDENT TEAMS LIKE THE OKLAHOMA CITY SPARK. THEY SAY AN EXPANDED TRADITIONAL LEAGUE COULD ADVANCE THE SPORT. WE’RE NOT ALLOWING THESE ATHLETES TO GET TO THEIR PINNACLE NOW. PROFESSIONAL SOFTBALL IS GOING TO MAKE A STATEMENT AND BE ABLE TO BRING IN THE EYEBALLS THAT WE HAVEN’T HAD IN THE PAST. AND THEY SAY ATHLETES, YOU KNOW, WILL BE ON THE FIELD. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT SKYLER WALLACE OF FLORIDA, WHO WILL BE PLAYING FOR ATHLETES UNLIMITED IN A WEEK. YOU TALK ABOUT TIARA JENNINGS, JAYDA COLEMAN, KINZIE HANSEN, KELLY MAXWELL. I COULD GO ON AND ON OF THE NAMES. WHILE THE LEAGUE DOESN’T KNOW WHICH SIX CITIES THEY’LL SEE, THEY SAY THE SOFTBALL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD IS ON THEIR RADAR. HAVING ATHLETES UNLIMITED HAVE A PRESENCE IN OKLAHOMA CITY WOULD WOULD ALSO BE A DREAM. WE HAVE OUR HALL OF FAME HERE. YOU KNOW USA SOFTBALL IS BASED HERE. WE HAVE OUR WOMEN’S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES, BUT IT IS THE DESTINATION POINT, I THINK, FOR SO MANY SOFTBALL FANS. NOW THE LEAGUE IS OPEN TO CITIES. THEY SAY THAT BOTH FACILITIES AND IN THE ATHLETE EXPERIENCE WILL INFLUENCE THAT. SO THESE TEAMS WILL BE TRAVELING AND TOURING CITY TO CITY IN 2025, AND THEN THEY PLAN TO BE CITY BASED BY 2026. THEY ALSO SAY THAT THEY HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH ESPN TO BROADCAST AT LEAST 18 GAMES,
Athletes Unlimited announces new league, featuring big names from Oklahoma, WCWS
While Athletes Unlimited has professional leagues for softball — along with other organizations like Women's Professional Fastpitch or independent teams like the OKC Spark — they said an expanded traditional league could advance the sport.
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Updated: 6:16 PM CDT Jun 4, 2024
With the Women's College World Series ongoing, a new traditional softball league was announced, and it will include some players known and loved in Oklahoma. The new league is part of Athletes Unlimited, and teams will play 30 games from May to July starting in 2025. Those advocating for the new league said thousands of fans tune players in to watch the Women's College World Series, and they should have a chance to compete at the next level."There's nothing that brings me more joy than watching the athletes we're building today, tomorrow and throughout the Women's College World Series," Jessica Mendoza, ESPN analyst and former softball player, said. "But then my heart always breaks a little bit because not every single one of them can go on and play professional or play on the national team."Athletes Unlimited officials say they want to give players another stage to compete on. While Athletes Unlimited has professional leagues for softball — along with other organizations like Women's Professional Fastpitch or independent teams like the OKC Spark — they said an expanded traditional league could advance the sport."Now, professional softball is going to make a statement and be able to bring in the eyeballs that we haven't had in the past," Mendoza said.Athletes that softball fans know will be on the field when the league launches."We're talking about Skylar Wallace of Florida, who will be playing for Athletes Unlimited in a week. You talk about Tiare Jennings, Jayda Coleman, Kinzie Hanson, Kelly Maxwell. I could go on and on with the names," she said.While the league doesn't know which six cities they'll see yet, Athletes Unlimited officials said the softball capital of the world is on their radar."Having Athletes Unlimited have a presence in Oklahoma City would also be a dream," Mendoza said. "We have our Hall of Fame here. USA Softball is based here. We have our Women's College World Series, but it's a destination point for so many softball fans."The league is open to ideas of cities to play in, but officials said facilities and athlete experience will influence that. They plan to become city-based by 2026 and have also partnered with ESPN to broadcast at least 18 games.Top Headlines WATCH: Overnight rain causes severe flooding throughout OKC metro TIMELINE: Another round of storms brings hail, strong wind and tornado risk later Tuesday Oklahoma City Public Schools employees left stunned by unexpected layoffs Car significantly damaged after crash with semi-trailer in northwest Oklahoma City Morning flooding traps residents in neighborhood near Tinker Air Force Base
OKLAHOMA CITY — With the Women's College World Series ongoing, a new traditional softball league was announced, and it will include some players known and loved in Oklahoma.
The new league is part of Athletes Unlimited, and teams will play 30 games from May to July starting in 2025. Those advocating for the new league said thousands of fans tune players in to watch the Women's College World Series, and they should have a chance to compete at the next level.
"There's nothing that brings me more joy than watching the athletes we're building today, tomorrow and throughout the Women's College World Series," Jessica Mendoza, ESPN analyst and former softball player, said. "But then my heart always breaks a little bit because not every single one of them can go on and play professional or play on the national team."
Athletes Unlimited officials say they want to give players another stage to compete on. While Athletes Unlimited has professional leagues for softball — along with other organizations like Women's Professional Fastpitch or independent teams like the OKC Spark — they said an expanded traditional league could advance the sport.
"Now, professional softball is going to make a statement and be able to bring in the eyeballs that we haven't had in the past," Mendoza said.
Athletes that softball fans know will be on the field when the league launches.
"We're talking about Skylar Wallace of Florida, who will be playing for Athletes Unlimited in a week. You talk about Tiare Jennings, Jayda Coleman, Kinzie Hanson, Kelly Maxwell. I could go on and on with the names," she said.
While the league doesn't know which six cities they'll see yet, Athletes Unlimited officials said the softball capital of the world is on their radar.
"Having Athletes Unlimited have a presence in Oklahoma City would also be a dream," Mendoza said. "We have our Hall of Fame here. USA Softball is based here. We have our Women's College World Series, but it's a destination point for so many softball fans."
The league is open to ideas of cities to play in, but officials said facilities and athlete experience will influence that. They plan to become city-based by 2026 and have also partnered with ESPN to broadcast at least 18 games.
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