Major League Baseball announced an investment in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League on Thursday.
MLB did not provide specifics, but ESPN reported that it is purchasing an equity stake of “more than 20 percent” in the fledgling women’s professional league and also will assist with marketing and content distribution.
“Major League Baseball’s investment in the AUSL represents an opportunity to support softball’s long-term growth and expand our engagement with these outstanding athletes and their fans,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement.
The AUSL’s inaugural season begins on June 7, with four teams — the Bandits, Blaze, Talons and Volts — competing in a barnstorming style. Teams will play 24 games each across 10 different cities through July 23. The top two teams will meet in a best-of-three championship series from July 26-28 in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
The AUSL is owned by Athletes Unlimited. Former Miami Marlins general manager Kim Ng was hired as the AUSL’s first commissioner last month.
“As a part of our broader commitment to growing softball and creating more opportunities for women and girls in sports, this agreement reflects our confidence in Kim Ng’s leadership, the AUSL vision and the incredible talent of its athletes,” Manfred said. “During this extraordinarily exciting time for women’s sports, we want softball to thrive. MLB is committed to help build a sustainable and impactful league that drives fandom, serves the softball community and benefits all female athletes.”
The league already had a deal with ESPN to broadcast 33 games. With the new partnership, games will also air on MLB Network and MLB.tv.
“This is a watershed moment for women’s sports and especially for softball,” Ng said in a statement. “MLB’s investment will supercharge our efforts to build the sustainable professional league this sport has long deserved and sends a powerful message about the value of female athletes and the importance of creating professional opportunities for them. Together, we’re going to reach new fans and inspire the next generation of softball players.”
