AUSL Releases Midway Results for All-Star Cup Selections

The 2026 Athletes Unlimited Softball League All Star-Cup will be held on August 8-30 in Rosemont, IL. 60 players will be invited to participate, and fans get to lock in their top picks for an automatic invitation.

AUSL uses a unique format to keep fans engaged passed the end of the season in July. During the All-Star Cup, teams will change after each series.

At the end of each series, three captains will be named. AUSL uses a points system for players to collect and lose points based on hits, defensive plays, errors, earned runs, and more. After each series, the three players with the most points will be chosen as captains,

As captains, they are now responsible for drafting an entirely new team. They may consult with teammates, AUSL staff, or coaches to make their picks. After drafting their team, the captain is responsible for running practices, making lineup, and in-game decision making.

A single player is crowned the champion, rather than a team. This will be the player who has accumulated the most points over the course of the Cup.

The Current Leaderboard

Every day from June 15 to 30, fans are encouraged to submit their votes for players who will earn an automatic invitation to the Cup. Each day fans select their top 10 players. These 10 players will consist of one catcher, one pitcher, two corner infielders, two middle infielders, three outfielders, and one utility player.

At just over the halfway mark, here are the current frontrunners.

Catcher: Reese Atwood (Carolina Blaze)

Atwood is a rookie catcher coming fresh off a two-peat Women’s College World Series win with the Texas Longhorns. Producing insane stats thus far, she’s almost a shoo-in for the Cup.

The Texas native is currently slashing .500/.579/1.188 while leading eligible players in on-base percentage and slugging percentage. She is also tied for first in batting average. She has eight hits, three home runs, and seven RBIs.

Defensively, Atwood has two assists and only two steals against her thus far. She often chooses a knee-down stance and has a laser from behind the dish.

In second and third place are Michaela Edenfield and Sharlize Palacios, respectively. But with Atwood almost doubling both of their averages, we’ll likely see her on the field in Rosemont.

Pitcher: Karlyn Pickens (Carolina Blaze)

The No. 1 draft pick in the 2026 draft, Karlyn Pickens is a clear top three contender for an All-Star pitcher, but the separations between the rankings are not as simple.

Pickens is notably the fastest and one of the most dominant pitchers in the league. From a purely statistics standpoint, the top three pitchers — Pickens, Montana Fouts, and Sam Landry — are neck and neck. They hold ERAs of 1.47, 1.81, and 1.15, respectively.

A couple things set Pickens apart. First, she likely has the popular vote. As a rookie, the No. 1 draft pick, and the record holder for fastest pitch, she attracts fans young and old. Expect to see the race continue to stay close, and most likely, we will see all three pitchers in the All-Star Cup.

Utility: Megan Grant (Portland Cascade)

Is there anything Megan Grant can’t do? A two-sport collegiate athlete in softball and basketball, and the NCAA single-season home run record holder, Grant really does it all. She’s become a star for her approach at the plate and sheer strength she exerts on the ball. Not only does she rake, but she’s a fan favorite.

However, Grant is up against some top competition in the utility category. Spark Maya Brady comes in second in the voting so far, and right now she’s putting up even bigger numbers than Grant. Brady’s hitting .485 with five homers, while Grant trails at .227 with three homers.

Is it possible Grant has the popular vote? Absolutely, but it does not discount her as an All-Star-worthy player. This voting system is often a reflection of who fans adore most, and more likely than not, both Grant and Brady will be in Rosemont this August.

Corner Infielders: Bri Ellis (Utah Talons) and Jordan Woolery (Utah Talons)

Bri Ellis and Jordan Woolery can often be found on opposite corners of the diamond during a Talons game. Ellis has been a consistent first base choice for the team, though a recent injury has temporarily moved her to the injured reserve list. Across from her, you’ll find Woolery the rookie holding down the hot corner.

From a stats perspective, Ellis and Woolery are obvious choices for the Cup. Ellis is slashing .400/.500/.850, and Woolery .417/.500/.500. Combined, Ellis and Woolery contribute 12 of the team’s 46 RBIs and 18 of the Talons’ 81 hits.

Not to mention, they’re both defensive rockstars, just committing one error each this season.

Ellis and Woolery are clearly statistical leaders in the corners, and most definitely win the popular vote. If the pair continues to produce the stats they are currently, fans should expect to see them in the All-Star cup.

Middle Infielders: Sis Bates (Portland Cascade) and Tiare Jennings (Texas Volts)

The list of top middle infielders is long, but it’s true that Sis Bates and Tiare Jennings stand out. Offensively, Jennings is the top pick. She’s hitting .300 this season with four home runs. Bates isn’t a typical offensive performer, holding just a .261 average and one RBI.

For middle infielders, defensive talent often matters more than a strong bat. Both Bates and Jennings only have one error apiece. They’ve also both solidified themselves over several years of play. For Bates, this is her sixth season with AU.

A solid fanbase behind her is likely helping her standing, but her talented work up the middle of the field deserves recognition.

Outfielders: Jayda Coleman (Utah Talons), Bubba Nickels-Camarena (Oklahoma City Spark), and Rylie Boone (Texas Volts)

With a large pool of potential All-Stars and three outfielders picked per vote, it’s probable that these rankings will shift around during the remainder of the voting period. Right now, Jayda Coleman has earned the top pick. Through 12 at bats, Coleman holds an even .500 average and a .462 on-base percentage.

Just behind her is Bubba Nickles-Camarena, and veteran AU player in her sixth season. Similar to Bates, Nickles-Camarena has developed an intense fan base that wants to see her in the Cup.

Third in the rankings is Rylie Boone, who holds a strong .353 average thus far, a perfect fielding percentage, and two outfield assists.

Voting Closes June 30

The vote for your top players is not over. Head to the voting site once a day to submit your ballot until June 30. With a league full of incredible players, it’s not easy to pick your top ten. Luckily, AUSL will be sending 60 talented players to the Cup. Lock in your top picks now.