The Race To College Station: 10 Breakthroughs To Watch as the Playoffs Approach

On July 23, the second and third place teams will face off in a single game to determine who takes on the No. 1 seed in the championship. A best-of-three series will crown the 2026 AUSL champions, and the race for a top seed is far from over.

Each series manages to shift the rankings. Teams are overtaking seeds one through three every few days. It will come down to the wire to decide who will head to College Station.

Some players have been consistent contributors throughout the season, shaping the spirit of the team and their record with it. Others have started strong and fallen off later in the season.

A select few have kicked it into high gear just in time for the race to the postseason. These 10 players are proving to be critical for teams, producing offensive statistics and solid defenses that are necessary for postseason contention.

Here are your top 10 ranked, with one player emerging as the biggest breakthrough of the season. Keep an eye on all 10 as we head into the final weeks, and watch as they turn these rankings upside down in the race for the championship crown.

Stats were taken prior to play on July 8.

10. Michaela Edenfield, C – Texas Volts

Michaela Edenfield is loved for her unique makeup looks she dons for every game, but her stats have fallen below noticeable. With the Volts in last place, it would take a miracle for them to make the playoffs.

Edenfield put together two hits and an RBI in the Volts recent game against the Bandits. With an average of .217 and climbing, let’s hope Edenfield can shape up in time for the Volts to take a shot at the postseason.

9. Sis Bates, INF – Portland Cascade

Sis Bates is an AUSL veteran in her sixth year of professional softball. Another defensive rockstar, Bates is flawless at shortstop for the Cascade.

Though never one to rack up the offensive statistics, Bates has shown off in her recent games. The veteran is hitting .357 in her last 14 at-bats, including two triples. With a recent OPS of 1.071, Bates is well above her season OPS of .721.

8. Alyssa Brito, UTL – Carolina Blaze

Alyssa Brito is a defensive superstar. As the fan vote winner for All-Star middle infielder, Brito holds it down at shortstop for the Blaze, committing just one error this season while turning five double plays.

Though a graduate of the Oklahoma Sooner’s program in 2024, this marks Brito’s first season playing professionally. With just three hits through her first seven games, Brito took time to adjust to the professional scene.

The California native may be on a breakthrough streak that the Blaze utterly need to sneak their way back into playoff contention. Through her last six games, Brito is posting a .333 average, compared to her .238 season average.

Half of her hits have poked through in the last six games, and she’ll need to continue to put the ball in play to give the 8-8 Blaze a shot at the postseason.

7. Kenleigh Cahalan, INF – Portland Cascade

Kenleigh Cahalan was unremarkable through her first few series as a Cascade, but has recently shown promising improvement. The rookie infielder recorded just two hits through her first eight games.

Recently, however, she’s totaled eight hits through her nine most recent ones. In those nine games she’s added on two home runs and four runs batted in.

With the Cascade currently in third place, they’re looking to secure a trip to College Station. Heads turn to Cahalan as one who could be a big help.

6. Bella Dayton, OF – Chicago Bandits

Bella Dayton is on fire. A speedy, left-handed slapper, she’s ramped it up in her recent appearances. While holding an impressive .371 average this season, the outfielder just keeps getting better. Hitting .556 through her last 18 plate appearances, Dayton is a force to be reckoned with.

Dayton doesn’t hit for power, proven by her .371 slugging percentage. 13 of 13 hits are singles. 10 of her 13 hits have come from her last six games. With just three strikeouts on the season, Dayton is almost guaranteed to be on base.

The Bandits are close to taking first place, and Dayton stands out as a key contributor.

5. Skylar Wallace, INF – Chicago Bandits

Skylar Wallace is producing stats that are simply unheard of. Wallace was reinstated from the temporarily inactive list on June 23, and since being back has been an offensive weapon.

Wallace is slashing .500/.563/.875, leading the league in batting average. She has 12 hits, eight RBIs, and two home runs in just 24 at-bats. Once she’s on base, she knows how to advance with three stolen bases thus far.

The Bandits are lucky to have Wallace back in time to get ready for the playoffs. Power and consistency like this are a rarity that will be vital to propelling the Bandits into first place.

4. Sydney Romero, INF – Oklahoma City Spark

Sydney Romero has been well known in the AUSL throughout six seasons of her career. She’s had an incredible career thus far, but her recent feats earn her the number four spot on this list.

Romero boasts a .386 average thus far, but in her last six games has ramped it up to .421. Her power has increased greatly with three home runs, a double, and a miraculous eleven RBIs in the last six games for a .9487 slugging percentage.

Romero’s also a defensive weapon with 25 putouts and 28 assists while committing just one error.

The Spark need to turn it around quick for a shot at the postseason, but a hot bat from Sydney Romero brings them one step closer to College Station,

3. Georgina Corrick, RHP – Utah Talons

Another recent return, the leading pitcher in ERA from the 2025 season has come back to the Talons from the inactive list, and everyone should be grateful she did.

Through 24 innings pitches, Georgina Corrick holds a 0.88 ERA, second lowest in the league. In four appearances she’s allowed just three earned runs and no hits have left the park. She tacks on a remarkable 17 strikeouts as well.

Corrick makes a fine addition to the Talon’s pitching staff. With another ace to take some strain off Montana Fouts, the Talons could have enough in Corrick to secure their first place finish.

2. Lexi Kilfoyl, RHP – Chicago Bandits

The current statistical leader in ERA with a 0.60, Lexi Kilfoyl has an incredible return to the Bandits after being reinstated on June 24.

Through 23.1 innings pitched, Kilfoyl has allowed only 13 hits and two earned runs. Batters only hit .163 against her, the lowest in the league of pitchers with more than 10 innings.

With the Bandits on a hot offensive streak, a strong pitcher like Kilfoyl is exactly what they need to gun for a return to the championship.

1. Ailana Agbayani, INF – Chicago Bandits

Incredibly deserving of the No. 1 spot is Bandits second baseman Ailana Agbayani. Daughter of former MLB player Benny Agbayani, Ailana has stepped up her game recently.

Agbayani holds a season average of .333, but in her last six games posts a .500 average with eight hits and four RBIs. Her single Monday night against the Volts scored two and placed the tying run on second just before scoring to take the lead and ultimately sweep the series.

Agbayani has turned on the jets as just the right time as the Bandits are in need of nothing but wins to overtake the Talons for first place. With a .563 on-base percentage in her last six games, Agbayani just needs to keep getting on base to propel the Bandits into first.