What to know about 2026 AUSL All-Star Cup

Softball season isn’t over just yet. The Talons secured their second straight AUSL championship in July, but the AUSL All-Star Cup kicks off on Saturday. All-Star Cup is the original Athletes Unlimited format as an individual competition. During the four-week competition, players earn individual leaderboard points through team success, statistical performance and MVP voting. At the conclusion of each series, the top three players in the standings will become the next captains and draft new teams for the following series. AUSL All-Star Cup Rosters For the first three games, the three captains are last year’s top three finishers: Kayla Kowalik, Rachel Garcia and Keilani Ricketts. However, Kowalik will not participate this season after winning the 2025 All-Star Cup; Georgina Corrick has taken her spot. Team Garcia Captain: Rachel Garcia, Right-Handed Pitcher Skylar Wallace, Middle Infielder Dejah Mulipola, Catcher Karlyn Pickens, Right-Handed Pitcher Sami Williams, Corner Infielder Rylie Boone, Outfielder Aubrey Leach, Middle Infielder Bubba Nickles-Camarena, Outfielder Ailana Agbayani, Middle Infielder Ana Gold, Corner Infielder Aliyah Binford, Right-Handed Pitcher Sydney Stewart, Catcher Sam Landry, Right-Handed Pitcher Delanie Wisz, Corner Infielder Aleshia Ocasio, Outfielder Team Ricketts Captain: Keilani Ricketts, Left-Handed Pitcher Sydney Romero, Middle Infielder Maya Brady, Outfielder Kat Sandercock, Right-Handed Pitcher Hannah Flippen, Middle Infielder Kenzie Brown, Right-Handed Pitcher Morgan Zerkle, Outfielder Tiare Jennings, Middle Infielder Reese Atwood, Catcher Jordan Woolery, Corner Infielder Baylee Klingler, Corner Infielder Amari Harper, Outfielder Kendra Falby, Outfielder Amber Fiser, Right-Handed Pitcher Michaela Edenfield, Catcher Team Corrick Captain: Georgina Corrick, Right-Handed Pitcher Montana Fouts, Right-Handed Pitcher Lexi Kilfoyl, Right-Handed Pitcher Megan Grant, Outfielder Jadelyn Allchin, Outfielder Bri Ellis, Corner Infielder Sharlize Palacios, Catcher Sydney McKinney, Outfielder Alyssa Brito, Middle Infielder Jessi Warren, Corner Infielder Bella Dayton, Outfielder Megan Faraimo, Right-Handed Pitcher Mary Iakopo, Catcher Kenleigh Cahalan, Outfielder Sydney Sherrill, Middle Infielder Who will win AUSL All-Star Cup? Which players are favorites to win the AUSL All-Star Cup? Historically, counting all the Championships, AUX and All-Star Cup competitions dating back to 2020, the split between pitchers and hitters winning the title has been pretty even. Pitchers won five of the first six championships, but hitters have claimed the last three competitions. Sami Williams, Skylar Wallace and Maya Brady stand out as hitters who could be favorites to claim the title. Williams won AUSL Hitter of the Year; had Wallace been with the Bandits the whole season, she could’ve won that award. Brady led the AUSL with 11 home runs while batting .403 despite missing games due to injury. Based on AUSL results, Sydney Romero, Megan Grant and previous winner Dejah Mulipola would be good bets to finish near the top. Montana Fouts could continue her great summer with an individual title. Garcia, who has been one of the nine winners, Ricketts, Corrick and Lexi Kilfoyl have performed well in the past. Karlyn Pickens shouldn’t be ruled out either, especially in this format. At the end of the day, it is still most important to win innings and games to fuel your points, even if you’re performing as the best individual. AUSL All-Star Cup Schedule August 8 Team Garcia vs. Team Corrick | 7:00 PM ET | ESPN August 9 Team Corrick vs. Team Ricketts | 8:00 PM ET | MLB Network August 10 Team Ricketts vs. Team Garcia | 7:00 PM ET | ESPN August 14 Team 1 vs. Team 3 | 8:00 PM ET | CBS Sports Network August 15 Team 3 vs. Team 2 | 7:00 PM ET | ESPN August 16 Team 2 vs. Team 1 | 8:00 PM ET | MLB Network August 21 Team 1 vs. Team 3 | 7:00 PM ET | CBS Sports Network August 22 Team 3 vs. Team 2 | 7:00 PM ET | ESPN August 23 Team 2 vs. Team 1 | 8:00 PM ET | MLB Network August 28 Team 1 vs. Team 3 | 7:00 PM ET | CBS Sports Network August 29 Team 3 vs. Team 2 | 8:00 PM ET | MLB Network August 30 Team 2 vs. Team 1 | 8:00 PM ET | MLB Network