Over the last several weeks, several Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) Golden Tickets have been presented to college softball superstars at programs across the country. These Golden Tickets – delivered by multiple legends of the game, AUSL ambassadors, or league leadership – signify that the athlete has been drafted to the AUSL.
Ahead of the 2026 season, two of the 17 athletes who have received Golden Tickets began their careers on the Little League® Diamond. The two recipients are University of Texas teammates, Reese Atwood, Oil Belt LL (Corpus Christi, Texas), and Leighann Goode, Greater Helotes (Texas) LL.
With the 7th selection in the 2026 AUSL College Draft, Atwood was drafted by the Carolina Blaze, with her teammate, Goode, taken off the board with the 8th selection to the Texas Volts, turning both of their dreams into reality.
HOOK ‘EM 🤘
one of the nation’s best catchers has been drafted by the Blaze ✨@atwood_reese pic.twitter.com/yPvBHGdzvW
— carolina blaze | ausl (@AUSL_Blaze) May 4, 2026
Throughout both of their final collegiate seasons, these two former Little Leaguers® have taken the NCAA by storm, leading the Texas Longhorns to an incredible 39-10 record with the SEC Tournament on the horizon. Atwood, catcher for Texas, has led the way for the Longhorns, batting .357 with 16 home runs and 54 RBI. Her teammate, Goode, has stepped up to the plate in a big way, hitting .377 with 25 walks, nine home runs, and 34 RBIs.
HOOK ‘EM
With the 8th pick in the 2026 AUSL College Draft, we have selected @texassoftball infielder Leighann Goode ⚡️
A homegrown talent who knows exactly what it means to play with that Texas heart 🤘@theAUSLofficial | @TexasLonghorns pic.twitter.com/gk6Cs15cP0
— TEXAS VOLTS | AUSL (@AUSL_Volts) May 4, 2026
These Golden Ticket recipients have incredibly bright futures ahead, and it all begins on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at AUSL’s Opening Day.
Launched in June 2025, the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) is a professional women’s softball league featuring six teams playing a 25-game season in a traditional format across six cities. More information, including team rosters and the regular season schedule broken down by team, can be found at theAUSL.com.
NOTE: If you know of a notable Little League graduate missing from this list, please complete the above Little League Alumni Submission form.