After recently receiving their “Golden Ticket” moment, two former Little Leaguers® have officially earned their spot in professional softball as the Bandits and Talons selected Devyn Netz and Raelin Chaffin, respectively, during the inaugural Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) Draft.
Leading up to the excitement of Draft Day, the 12 college softball players who would be entered into the draft were surprised at their own fields by special guests and AUSL stars to be presented with their “Golden Ticket” moment to signify their entry into the draft. The official draft itself was revealed on May 3 as part of the AUSL College Draft Show on ESPNU, featuring special guests, AUSL Coaches and General Managers, NCAA Coaches, and more.
Netz, a graduate of Sierra Madre (Calif.) Little League, was selected by the Bandits in the third round, earning the 10th overall selection in this year’s draft. A pitcher and infielder from the University of Arizona, Netz had a breakout season in 2023, starting 30 games in the circle for a 16-6 record and 3.88 ERA while hitting .303 with 13 home runs at the plate. While injured during the 2024 season, she has bounced back in her senior season in 2025, becoming only the 11th player in Arizona softball history to pitch a perfect game against BYU and, in that same game, launched a home run as well. Netz earned her “Golden Ticket” moment on Tuesday, April 22, as Natasha Watley presented her with the honor.
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Chaffin, who led her Bossier Little League (Bossier City, La.) team to the 2014 Little League Softball® World Series, earned the final selection in the 2025 draft, being named to the Talons as the 12th overall pick in the third round. During her time at the 2014 LLSWS, Chaffin put together a 3-0 record and 11 strikeouts over 22 innings of work in the circle to bring her team to the championship game before falling to the eventual champions out of New Jersey. At the plate, Chaffin was also able to go 4-for-11 (.364), picking up a double and a pair of RBI during her tournament appearance.
A pitcher for Mississippi State, Chaffin became a Bulldog after three seasons at LSU, recording an 11-5 record in 2024 with a 2.86 ERA. Chaffin also won the WBSC U-18 Softball World Cup with Team USA in 2021and earned her Golden Ticket from Kim Ng, Commissioner of the AUSL, alongside her own teammate, Sierra Sacco, on April 29.
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Launching in June 2025, the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) is a professional women’s softball league featuring four teams playing a 24-game season in a traditional format in 10 cities. Opening day is June 7 in Rosemont, Illinois, and Wichita, Kansas. More information, including team rosters and the regular season schedule broken down by team, can be found at theAUSL.com. The inaugural AUSL season will also be complemented and followed by the AUSL All-Star Cup (formerly known as the AU Pro Softball Championship Season), which includes the 2025 AUSL Pro Games at the Little League Softball World Series, Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, in Greenville, North Carolina, on August 6.