Fifth annual Athletes Unlimited Pro softball seasons wraps with championship weekend
The GIST: Speaking of innovation in women’s sports, the fifth annual Athletes Unlimited (AU) Pro Softball season comes to a thrilling end this weekend, with 60 of the world’s best softballers jockeying to top the leaderboard and claim the AU crown.
- Championship weekend begins tonight at 6 p.m. ET and culminates with Sunday’s 5:30 p.m. ET season finale — here’s what to know before the first pitch is thrown.
How it works: Along with the leagues in the broader AU network, AU softball is a fun, fantasy-style competition in which athletes compete to earn individual points. Teams are re-drafted week-to-week as chosen by captains — the top-four performers the week prior.
- Athletes earn points for individual inning and overall game wins as well as individual MVP honors as voted by their fellow players. This league truly has it all.
The race to top the leaderboard: Outfielder Amanda Lorenz jumped to the top spot back in Week Two and hasn’t looked back, entering Week 5 with a comfy 230-point cushion. If anyone can catch her, it’s pitchers Georgina Corrick and 2021 champ Aleshia Ocasio, who currently sit in second and third, respectively, with higher point-earning opportunities thanks to their positions.
- That said, Lorenz will be tough to beat — she leads the league in batting average, is tied for first in home runs, and boasts a jaw-dropping, league-best .700 slugging percentage. Literally knocking it out of the park.
Enjoying this article? Want more?
Sign up for The GIST and receive the latest sports news straight to your inbox three times a week.