Kim Ng Leads Athletes Unlimited Softball League Expansion
The Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) has named Kim Ng as its commissioner, entrusting the experienced executive to lead the league’s expansion this summer and in the future. Ng, who made history as the first female general manager in a men’s professional sport in North America, takes on this new role following her time with the Miami Marlins.
Ng, 56, previously served as a senior advisor to the league as it prepares for a four-team, 10-city, 24-game tour. This initiative will serve as a test for its expansion next year, which will include six teams in permanent locations.
I love this sport. I grew up playing softball. Since high school, I played softball, I played in college, and, at times in my career, I worked to try to help strengthen the game. I’ve always followed it closely, while I was in baseball, pursuing other things. But it’s been a big part of my life.
Kim Ng
The AUSL, which has organized annual softball events for five years, also operates women’s basketball and volleyball competitions. Following the AUSL season, the AUSL All-Star Cup will be held, with 24 additional games in Illinois and North Carolina to crown another individual champion.
The league has recruited an executive with over 30 years of experience in the world of MLB baseball, from her start as an intern with the Chicago White Sox to her rise to assistant general manager with the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers, and finally to a senior vice president position at MLB before her time with the Marlins.
Ng has acknowledged that running a league is different from running a team. With the AUSL’s intention to involve the players in decision-making and the league’s ownership by a single group, Ng’s role differs from that of his previous employer.
When I hear the word commissioner, it simply means leadership. Being in Major League Baseball really helped me understand the commissioner’s office and the services they provide. It’s not just about understanding what the clubs need, but also about leading.
Kim Ng
The AUSL season will begin on June 7 in Rosemont (Talons vs. Bandits) and Wichita, Kansas (Volts vs. Blaze). Other cities on the schedule include Tuscaloosa, Alabama, which will host the championship series from July 26-28, as well as Sulphur, Louisiana; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Norman, Oklahoma; Omaha, Nebraska; Seattle; Salt Lake City; and Round Rock, Texas.
The league plans to use social media to increase its profile. “Golden tickets” have been given to outstanding players, and the broadcast of the “AUSL College Draft Show” on ESPNU is expected on May 3.
The reality is that we need to reach more people. We need to put the product in front of more people. We need to expand the presence of the sport.
Jon Patricof, co-founder of Athletes Unlimited
In addition to media efforts, the AUSL is bringing together some of the biggest names in sports. The four general managers are Cat Osterman (Volts), Lisa Fernandez (Talons), Dana Sorensen (Blaze), and Jenny Dalton-Hill (Bandits). League advisors include Jennie Finch and Jessica Mendoza.
Softball will have even more prominence in three years with its Olympic return at the Los Angeles Games.
There are all these dots that I think just need to be connected in a smart and thoughtful way. If we can do that, we’re still a few years away from ’28, but if we can do that and make some good moves, hopefully we’ll take home the gold in ’28, and that’s another springboard for the sport.
Kim Ng
Patricof sees Ng as a fundamental piece in the future of AUSL, highlighting his ability to attract high-level talent both on and off the field.
