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          AUSL surprises players with 'golden tickets'

          NiJaree Canady was the first collegiate softball player presented with a golden ticket by the AUSL. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)
            Apr 11, 2026, 04:47 AM

            The Athletes Unlimited Softball League will surprise star collegiate softball players with "golden tickets" over the coming weeks leading up to the draft -- letting them know they will be drafted this season on one of the six AUSL teams.

            Draftees will find out which team selected her -- and the overall order of selection -- during the AUSL Draft Show on May 4 (ESPN2; 7 p.m. ET).

            The first golden ticket was presented to pitcher NiJaree Canady by commissioner Kim Ng and Patrick Mahomes on March 27.

            The 2025 Big 12 Pitcher of the Year, the Texas Tech senior has signed two seven-figure NIL contracts and led Stanford to two straight World Series appearances before transferring. Last year, Texas Tech made it to the national championship series before falling in Game 3.

            Since then, eight players have been presented with golden tickets:

            Player No. 8: INF Taryn Kern, Stanford

            Player No. 7: P Kenzie Brown, Arizona State

            Player No. 6: OF Dakota Kennedy, Arkansas

            Player No. 5: P Karlyn Pickens, Tennessee

            Player No. 4: C Sydney Stewart, Arizona

            Player No. 3: INF Leighann Goode, Texas

            Player No. 2: C Reese Atwood , Texas