Bella Dayton

Bella Dayton is a 5-foot-6 outfielder from Wylie, Texas. She was acquired in the 12th round of the 2025 Inaugural Draft.

Personal Life

Background: Threw the ceremonial first pitch before the Chicago Cubs game on April 22, 2026.

Hobbies: Enjoys photography and working out, and has a dog named Bud.

Professional Experience

Athletes Unlimited Softball League (2025–)

2026 AUSL Postseason (Chicago Bandits): Dayton started in all three of the Bandits' postseason games. She collected five hits in 10 at-bats during the postseason, including a pair of two-hit outings against Utah in the AUSL Championship.

2026 AUSL Regular Season (Chicago Bandits): Dayton batted .321 with 17 hits, including one double, while scoring 12 runs. She tied for second in the AUSL with two sacrifice bunts. During a seven-game hitting streak from June 28 to July 10, she posted a .579 average, going 11-for-19. She recorded a season-high three hits in a June 30 victory over Portland while also scoring three runs. Dayton then posted back-to-back two-hit efforts against Texas on July 5 and July 6, scoring two runs in each contest. She closed out the regular season by recording a hit in three of her final four games, scoring two runs over that stretch.

2025 AUSL All-Star Cup: Secured a 20th-place finish with 880 leaderboard points. Compiled a .233 batting average with seven hits, including one home run.

2025 AUSL Regular Season (Bandits): Earned 21 starts for the Bandits, logging a .347 batting average with 25 hits and five doubles. Closed the season on a six-game hitting streak.

International Experience (2024)

Team Italy: Competed at the 2024 WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Finals, posting a .500 batting average with nine hits over five games. Also played for Italy during the 2024 WBSC European Championship, tallying a .520 average.

College Experience: Arizona & Texas (2020–2024)

Dayton appeared in 246 career games across Arizona and Texas, finishing with a .313 batting average and 160 hits.

Senior Campaign (2024, Texas): Started 61-of-62 games as a fifth-year senior, boasting a .378 batting average with 56 hits.

Junior Year (2022, Texas): Hit .350 at the Women’s College World Series and was named to the All-Tournament Team after guiding the Longhorns to the Championship Series.