American softball legends Cat Osterman and Lisa Fernandez have been announced as general managers for teams in the upcoming Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL). This revelation was made public on Monday and marks a significant step for the league, which will kick off in a touring format next year before transitioning to a city-based model by 2026. Starting in 2025, games are scheduled to be held in various cities, including Chicago and Wichita, Kansas.

Fernandez, a celebrated three-time Olympic gold medalist, currently serves as the associate head coach for the UCLA Bruins. During her impressive 26-year tenure with the team, she has contributed to five national championships and secured two titles during her own collegiate playing career.

Osterman, who is a three-time Olympian and four-time All-American from the University of Texas, previously clinched the individual championship at Athletes Unlimited in 2020. As part of the league’s structure, Kelly Kreschman will serve as the head coach for Osterman’s team, while Howard Dobson will take the reins for Fernandez’s squad. Additionally, Jenny Dalton-Hill has been assigned as the general manager for a team under coach Stacey Nuveman-Deniz, and Dana Sorensen will oversee a team coached by Alisa Goler.

The league’s structure also features an overall leadership team, which includes Kim Ng, the senior adviser responsible for launching AUSL, and advisors like Osterman, Jennie Finch, Jessica Mendoza, and Natasha Watley.

Ng expressed her enthusiasm regarding the assembly of general managers and coaches, stating that their extensive experience and unique perspectives will enable AUSL to create a thrilling, world-class softball league that has long been deserved within the sport.

ESPN has been appointed as the founding broadcast partner for AUSL, committing to air a minimum of 30 games across its platforms. Each team is anticipated to compete in a total of 30 games for the season. However, specific details, such as team names and logos, have yet to be released.

Athletes Unlimited is set to host two softball seasons. The initial season will feature traditional team formats, while the summer season will adopt the individual competition style that has been a hallmark since its inception in 2020.