60-Player Athletes Unlimited Softball Roster Finalized

Athletes Unlimited today announced the full roster for its second softball season, set for Aug. 28-Sept. 27 at Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, Illinois. Among the 60 players are a total of 23 Olympians, including 2020 Athletes Unlimited champion Cat Osterman. Thirteen final player signings rounded out the second season roster that includes 39 returning athletes.

Following the Tokyo Games, Osterman is now a three-time U.S. Olympic medalist (2004-gold, 2008-silver, 2020-silver), leading the list of 12 Olympic medalists on Athletes Unlimited’s roster. Nine of the 15 members of the silver medal-winning 2020 U.S. Olympic Softball Team will be playing for Athletes Unlimited, along with three athletes who just led Canada to its first-ever Olympic medal (bronze). Four Athletes Unlimited players were also selected as members of the Tokyo 2020 All-Olympic Softball Team – Ali Aguilar (USA), Amanda Chidester (USA), Haylie McCleney (USA) and Anissa Urtez (MEX).

“What an incredible lineup we have for our second Athletes Unlimited Softball season, with more than a third having just returned from the Olympics and half the rookies hot off the super successful NCAA Tournament,” said Athletes Unlimited CEO and Co-Founder Jon Patricof. “Returning to Chicago – the birthplace of softball – with this caliber of players will be a real treat for fans, who will get to see Athletes Unlimited Softball live in-person for the first time.” 

“Season 2 is going to be exciting as the roster of players now includes so many amazing Olympians, professionals and rookies who will make the leaderboard competitive,” said Osterman. “It’s an honor to return for a second season, and I look forward to competing with some of the best athletes in the game.”

The 39 league returnees include the top 16 players from 2020. In addition to inaugural champion Osterman (pitcher), runner-up Jessie Warren (infielder) and third-place finisher Victoria Hayward (outfielder) will be among the athletes to watch. 

The 13 final roster selections include eight newcomers. Newly signed rookie Dejah Mulipola (USA) was a medal-winner in Tokyo, while three additional 2020 Olympians return for a second Athletes Unlimited season – Kelsey (Jenkins) Harshman (CAN), Taylor McQuillin (MEX) and Michelle Moultrie (USA). 

Mulipola (Univ. of Arizona) was among Athlete Unlimited’s 2021 college draft class, along with additional new signees Aliyah Andrews (Louisiana State Univ.), Sis Bates (Univ. of Washington), Carrie Eberle (Oklahoma State Univ.), Amber Fiser (Univ. of Minnesota) and Sami Williams (Iowa State Univ.). A further three roster additions came from the Athletes Unlimited Open Tryout held in June – rookies Nicole Newman (pitcher) and Kayla Wedl (outfielder), as well as league veteran Lilli Piper (infielder). Returning pitcher Randi Rupp-Hennigan rounds out the final list of 13.

Among the league’s 21 rookies, 11 recently completed their NCAA softball careers, all advancing to the NCAA Tournament with five making it to the Women’s College World Series – Odicci Alexander (James Madison Univ.), Alyssa Denham (Univ. of Arizona), Eberle, Jessie Harper (Univ. of Arizona) and Mulipola. Mulipola is also one of six Athletes Unlimited rookies – along with Aguilar, Greta Cecchetti (ITA), Sara Groenewegen (CAN), Sydney Romero (MEX) and Britt Vonk (NED) – who are also Olympians. 

All 30 Athletes Unlimited softball games will broadcast or stream in both English and Spanish around the world as part of an unprecedented distribution package that includes CBS Sports Network, FOX Sports, FOX Deportes, Facebook and YouTube.