MLB Buys Stake in AUSL, ESPN to Air Games

Major League Baseball (MLB) has taken more than a 20% ownership stake in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL), marking MLB's first significant financial investment in a women's professional sports league. The AUSL's inaugural season will begin June 7, 2025, featuring four teams competing in 24 games across multiple cities and concluding with a championship and All-Star Cup. The partnership includes operational funding, promotional support, and the broadcasting of select games on MLB Network, MLB.TV, and ESPN. AUSL athletes will also participate in major MLB events, such as the All-Star Game. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and AUSL Commissioner Kim Ng have both highlighted the deal as transformative for women's sports. The move comes as interest in women's sports surges and softball prepares for its return to the Olympics in 2028.