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Karlyn Pickens 1st, NiJaree Canady 2nd in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League Draft
Pickens went first and Canady second as 17 players from AUSL’s Golden Ticket program were selected to fill league rosters.
- On Monday, the Athletes Unlimited Softball League held its draft, selecting Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens with the first overall pick for the Carolina Blaze. The Texas Volts chose NiJaree Canady of Texas Tech with the second selection.
- The 17 draftees were previously identified through the league's Golden Ticket program, which included on-campus presentations across the country in recent weeks.
- Pickens, a two-time SEC Pitcher of the Year, holds a 1.44 earned run average with 154 strikeouts this season. Canady made waves by signing two deals worth more than $1 million at Texas Tech.
- The league is pivoting to a city-based model with six teams for its second full season. Play begins June 9, and ESPN will carry 50 exclusive games annually, including the championship series.
- Beyond the Blaze and Volts, the league features the Chicago Bandits, Utah Talons, Portland Cascade, and Oklahoma City Spark across six cities. This marks a significant transition from the league's previous touring format.
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Dothan Eagle
Dothan EaglePortland Cascade picks former Alabama high school star in AUSL Draft
Florida shortstop Kenleigh Cahalan has known for more than two weeks that she had been picked in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League Draft. But the former Hewitt-Trussville High School star didn’t know which team had picked her until Monday.
·Alabama, United States
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Tennessee ace Karlyn Pickens selected 1st overall in AUSL College Draft
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — University of Tennessee softball ace Karlyn Pickens became the first player selected in the 2026 Athletes Unlimited Softball League College Draft on Monday. The senior pitcher will head to Durham, North Carolina to join the Carolina Blaze following the conclusion of the Tennessee softball season. It marks a bit of a [...]
·Nashville, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources24
Leaning Left10Leaning Right0Center11Last UpdatedBias Distribution52% Center
Bias Distribution
- 52% of the sources are Center
52% Center
L 48%
C 52%
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