Leading up to the official start of the 2026 Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) season on June 9, Little League® and AUSL have teamed up to help support the growth of the game of softball at the grassroots level this spring with exclusive clinics in key AUSL team markets – Raleigh, North Carolina; Chicago, Illinois; and Portland, Oregon.
These clinics, which included select registration spaces reserved exclusive to Little League Softball® players, featured direct interactions with AUSL athletes and were made possible thanks to the support of DICK’S Sporting Goods and GameChanger, Official Partners for both organizations.
“Being able to work with a partner like the AUSL to provide access to the grassroots level of our program is so important as we join together to grow the game of softball, and it’s even more special to have the support of joint partners like DICK’S Sporting Goods and GameChanger as we push this industry forward,” said Ashlea Miller, Little League Director of Softball Development. “With the excitement building around the launch of the 2026 AUSL season, there was no better place to bring our Little League Clinics to life than in some of their home markets. We are so grateful to all the girls who came out to enjoy these three clinics throughout the spring, and look forward to working alongside AUSL all summer long as we continue to bring professional athletes and our Girls with Game together through the sport they love.”
Raleigh, North Carolina
Chicago, Illinois
Portland, Oregon
In addition to the clinics held this spring, Little League and AUSL will also be teaming up throughout the Summer of Softball™ to welcome its Girls with Game® to AUSL games across its six markets for “Little League Days” while also working with Major League Baseball to hold special PLAY BALL Day events. One of the many benefits that the partnership between Little League and AUSL offers, these events give access and opportunity directly to the Little Leaguers and their families while allowing AUSL athletes a chance to give back to the next generation of softball players.
To learn more about the benefits of the Little League Softball program, including opportunities available thanks to the partnership with AUSL, visit LittleLeague.org/Softball.