The GIST

AUSL kicks off a historic softball marketing campaign as ESPN expands its reach

Yesterday, the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) officially debuted its "This is Legendary" campaign ad, which the league describes as the largest marketing initiative for pro softball in the U.S. The star-studded spot will air across ESPN networks to promote the new league, which tips off June 7th.

March 26, 2025

Rebel Girls expands on AUSL partnership to reach Gen Alpha softball fans

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Today, Rebel Girls (RG) — an empowerment brand geared toward young girls — expanded on its existing partnership with Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL), the pro women’s softball league beginning in June. RG hopes to connect tweens with the game by developing and distributing softball content through its new Rebel Girls Sport vertical.

March 05, 2025

SEC teams dominate the first two weeks of collegiate softball season

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The road to the Women's College World Series runs through the Southeast

February 19, 2025

What we learned from week one of the softball season

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The NCAA softball landscape has long been dominated by the same teams, with Oklahoma winning the last four titles and just 13 different squads claiming trophies since 1982. But if Week 1 is any indication, we just might be seeing an increase in parity. Here’s who’s knocking it out of the park with the first few games done and dusted.

February 12, 2025

Softball season is upon us, with familiar faces headlining the Nation’s top squads

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There might still be snow outside your window and a chill in the air, but get your glove ready because softball season is almost here.

February 05, 2025

Women’s Professional Fastpitch players voice concerns over alleged breach of contract

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As covered in yesterday’s episode of The GIST of It, the pro softball space has been thrown yet another curveball. Last week, several prominent pro softball players spoke out against subpar working conditions during the 2024 Women’s Professional Fastpitch (WPF) season, which they allege breach their signed contracts.

October 09, 2024

Amanda Lorenz wins fifth annual Athletes Unlimited softball title

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More women’s sports, coming right up. After a down-to-the-wire, highlight reel–worthy championship weekend, Amanda Lorenz is your 2024 Athletes Unlimited (AU) softball winner, accumulating 1800 points to claim the fifth annual crown. Diamond’s gotta shine.

August 26, 2024

College

College softball’s popularity proves integral to pro league’s success

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August 23, 2024

The fifth season of AU Pro Softball will reach its electrifying end on Sunday, when one of the country’s 60 best players will top the leaderboard to become the 2024 champion. From expansion to big-time investors, the league’s success reflects softball’s growth into mainstream sports culture — and much of that stems from the college game’s skyrocketing popularity.

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The GIST of It Podcast

Ep #450

Fist bumping with Breanna Stewart before the WNBA Draft

April 10, 2025

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Fist bumping with Breanna Stewart before the WNBA Draft

It’s always the right time to talk about women’s basketball.

But that’s especially true when one of the greatest hoopers of all time comes on the pod. NY Liberty superstar Breanna Stewart joins co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz on The GIST of It today, and no topic is off-limits. From her latest PUMA shoe drop to her advice for Paige Bueckers ahead of Monday’s WNBA Draft to bonding over injury recovery, Stewie and the gals gab about it all. Don’t miss this one.