AUSL Adds Spark and Cascade as 2026 Expansion Teams; Two-Part Draft Set for December
Oklahoma City Spark Officially Joins the Athletes Unlimited Softball League
The news we’ve all been waiting for has become official. The Athletes Unlimited Softball League announced the two newest teams for the upcoming season. The Oklahoma City Spark will join as one of the expansion teams, along with Cascade. Those two, alongside the Talons, Bandits, Blaze, and Volts, will make up the six-team league for the Summer of 2026.
The Spark will be led by current Head Coach Amber Flores, with Kirk Walker serving as General Manager. Walker, who recently retired after 42 years in the college game, was the Talons’ Associate Coach during the inaugural AUSL season.
Spark Founder Dr. Tina Floyd will operate as Executive Director, overseeing local game day operations, marketing, and community engagement. Destinee McElroy, who was named the Spark’s General Manager in August 2024, will now serve as Chief Operating Officer of Spark Softball.
The OKC Spark have been one of the premier independent professional softball teams over the past couple years after departing the WPF. I had often wondered if they would ever consider joining the AUSL, and today that question has been answered.
A few key details to know:
Current player contracts for the Spark will expire at the end of the year, meaning the team will feature a new roster. Existing players will enter the AUSL Allocation Draft, where they can be selected by any team. OKC has featured a star-studded lineup in recent years, including Jocelyn Alo, Jayda Coleman, Sydney Sherrill, Haley Lee, and several others.
Mark your calendars for Monday, December 1, 2025, at 7:00 PM ET. The AUSL Draft will air live on ESPNU. This year’s draft will be a two-part event, creating balance and opportunity across the league as all six teams prepare for 2026.
The first portion will feature the Expansion Draft, allowing the Spark and Cascade to begin building their foundations. Each existing team will start by protecting five players from their 2025 rosters, with one additional protection added after each subsequent round.
Following that, the Allocation Draft will open up opportunities for all six teams to select players who opt into AUSL consideration, including athletes from last season’s Reserve Pool and professionals from other independent leagues and teams around the world.
Remaining roster spots will be filled during the AUSL College Draft in the spring. Golden Tickets will be sent to select NCAA athletes, inviting top collegiate talent who will wrap up their collegiate eligibility in May.
Further announcements, including team locations and the full 2026 league schedule, will be revealed at later dates.
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