Oklahoma’s standout pitcher, Sam Landry, was the top selection in the Athletes Unlimited Softball draft, which took place on Saturday. Landry, who leads with an 18-3 record and an impressive 1.97 ERA, was the overall No. 1 pick by the Volts, one of the four competing teams in the league set to commence on June 7.
Her remarkable performance is one of the driving forces keeping the Sooners at the peak of the ESPN/USA Softball and USA Today/NFCA rankings as they approach the Southeastern Conference Tournament. The Talons secured Arkansas infielder Bri Ellis as the No. 2 pick in the draft.
Virginia Tech’s contribution to the draft saw pitcher Emma Lemley and utility player Cori McMillan being the third and fourth selections, respectively. The Blaze opted for Lemley, while the Bandits chose McMillan.
Following on from these selections, the Talons picked Sierra Sacco, an outfielder from Mississippi State, as the fifth draft choice. The Blaze went with Florida outfielder Korbe Otis at No. 6, the Bandits took Texas A&M pitcher Emiley Kennedy at No. 7, and Florida State catcher Michaela Edenfield was drafted eighth by the Volts.
The draft continued with the Blaze taking Duke infielder Ana Gold at No. 9, the Bandits opting for Arizona pitcher Devyn Netz at No. 10, the Volts choosing LSU utility player Daneica Coffey at No. 11, and the Talons picking Mississippi State pitcher Raelin Chaffin as the 12th and final selection.
The draftees were informed through a surprise “Golden Ticket” presentation, inviting them to compete in the upcoming AUSL. The excitement generated by these announcements, which included appearances from AUSL Commissioner Kim Ng and league advisers Jennie Finch, Jess Mendoza, and Natasha Watley, has captured significant attention online, accumulating over 2 million views and 4.7 million impressions.
Kim Ng highlighted the enthusiasm and the unique atmosphere surrounding these “Golden Ticket” moments, emphasizing the importance of this development in the softball world. Ng expressed optimism about the league’s potential, stating, “We look forward to welcoming these exciting young players to join our teams, compete with and against the world’s best players and help us all build the next great women’s sports league together.”
The AUSL’s four teams are set to battle it out in 24 games, culminating in a championship showdown between the top two teams in a best-of-three series from July 26-28, hosted at the University of Alabama’s Rhoads Stadium. The inaugural season in 2025 will be special, as it will take the form of a touring event spanning 12 cities, with the league transitioning to a city-based structure the following year.