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The Athletes Unlimited Softball League has surprised star collegiate softball players with “golden tickets” in the weeks leading up to the draft — letting them know they’ll be drafted this season by one of six AUSL teams.
On Monday, draftees will find out which team selected him during the AUSL Draft Show (ESPN2; 7 p.m. ET).
AUSL Draft Picks:
First round
1. Carolina Blaze: P Carlin Pickens
2. Texas Vault: P Nizari Canady
3. Oklahoma City Spark: P Maya Johnson
4. Portland Cascade: UTIL Megan Grant
5. Bandit: C Jocelyn Erickson
6. Utah Talons: INF Jordan Woolery
Second round
7. Blaze: C Reese Atwood
8. Volt: INF Leighann Goode
9. Cascade: C Sydney Stewart
Seventeen players were awarded golden tickets in the weeks leading up to the draft:
Player No. 17: P Pezza Gould, Mississippi State
The 17th and last golden ticket was distributed on ✨Peza Gold ✨ @hellstatesb x @pejagood7 pic.twitter.com/rFk4kWyAuL
— AUSL (@theAUSLofficial) April 25, 2026
Player No. 16: INF Ailana Agbayani, Oklahoma
Ailana is G⭐️LDEN
The Gold Glove-winning infielder received a 16th Golden Ticket, signifying that he has been drafted to the AUSL! pic.twitter.com/ahE7tZ7xbZ
— AUSL (@theAUSLofficial) April 25, 2026
Player No. 15: UTIL Amari Harper, Oregon
⭐️ I am golden ⭐️
Oregon utility Amari Harper has been given a golden ticket to be drafted into the AUSL! 🎫 pic.twitter.com/0rkJW4gkkS
— AUSL (@theAUSLofficial) April 20, 2026
Players Nos. 12, 13 and 14: INF Jordan Woolery, UTIL Megan Grant and P Taylor Tinsley, UCLA
⭐️ Golden Ticket Trio ⭐️
UCLA’s Jordan Woolley, Megan Grant and Taylor Tinsley all received a golden ticket to be drafted into the AUSL! pic.twitter.com/Z9DJZRBN9q
— AUSL (@theAUSLofficial) April 18, 2026
Players Nos. 10 and 11: C Jocelyn Erickson and INF Kenleigh Cahalan, Florida
Golden, but make it a pair ✨
Jocelyn Erickson and Kenleigh Cahalan both received golden tickets to be drafted into the AUSL! pic.twitter.com/3mkkApaG8d
— AUSL (@theAUSLofficial) April 18, 2026
Player No. 9: P Maya Johnson, Belmont
The accolades keep coming, but this one is golden ✨✨
Maya Johnson becomes the first mid-major player to receive a golden ticket! 🎫 pic.twitter.com/snQtwL1kiF
— AUSL (@theAUSLofficial) April 17, 2026
Player No. 8: INF Taryn Kern, Stanford
Friday Night Lights, but make it ✨Golden✨ @stanfordsball infielder, @tarynkernn Got a ticket to the pros! pic.twitter.com/xQoQoKDAPu
— AUSL (@theAUSLofficial) April 11, 2026
Player No. 7: P Kenzie Brown, Arizona State
Decibel levels were off the charts in Tempe today 🗣️@SportsSiren Kenzie Brown surprises with golden ticket to get drafted in AUSL! Congratulations Kenji 🥳 pic.twitter.com/3J0mdDp18b
— AUSL (@theAUSLofficial) April 7, 2026
Player No. 6: Of Dakota Kennedy, Arkansas
Big night in Bogale 🐗
After securing a series sweep, Dakota Kennedy secured a golden ticket to be drafted to the pros 🎫 pic.twitter.com/q7T7G0mCwx
— AUSL (@theAUSLofficial) April 7, 2026
Player No. 5: P Carlin Pickens, Tennessee
Golden moment for Carlin!
congratulations @pickenscarlin After getting the 5th Golden Ticket of 2026@vol_softball | @SECNetwork pic.twitter.com/QgqPTqyoyo
— AUSL (@theAUSLofficial) April 3, 2026
Player No. 4: C Sidney Stewart, Arizona
⭐️ Golden Ticket. Sidney Stewart. ⭐️@sydneyyystewart Received the 4th Golden Ticket of 2026 to be drafted into the AUSL! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/VCGaRzfJey
— AUSL (@theAUSLofficial) March 29, 2026
Player No. 3: INF Leighann Goode, Texas
🌟 As good as gold! 🌟@leighann_11 3rd gets golden ticket. 🤘 @SEC | @texassoftball pic.twitter.com/YabPIpgPaN
— AUSL (@theAUSLofficial) March 28, 2026
Player No. 2: C Reese Atwood, Texas
Hook them up! Reese Atwood is ✨Golden✨
The second golden ticket goes @texas softballof @atwood_reese! 🤘 pic.twitter.com/ONA5E314u2
— AUSL (@theAUSLofficial) March 28, 2026
Player No. 1: P Nizari Canady, Texas Tech
On March 27, commissioners Kim Ng and Patrick Mahomes presented pitcher Canady with the first golden ticket.
First Golden Ticket of 2026 📷📷
NiJaree Canady has received the first Golden Ticket of 2026 to be drafted in the AUSL! pic.twitter.com/2mB7bWIfgj
— AUSL (@theAUSLofficial) March 28, 2026
2025 Big 12 Pitcher of the Year, Texas Tech senior Signed two seven-figure NIL deals and led Stanford to two straight World Series appearances before transferring. Last year, Texas Tech advanced to the National Championship Series before falling in Game 3.
