Last season, 12 women got their chance at a professional softball career through Athletes Unlimited Softball League’s Golden Ticket program. As of this writing, 17 Golden Ticket winners will join their ranks. The following players are listed in the order that they received their ticket.
NiJaree Canady, RHP, Texas Tech
Canady was the D1 Softball Pitcher of the Year in both 2024 and 2025. In her two seasons with Texas Tech, she has posted a 1.22 ERA in 362 innings. She is also the first softball player to sign a seven-figure NIL deal, something she has actually done twice.
Reese Atwood, C, Texas
Atwood was the 2025 Johnny Bench Award winner, excelling both at the plate and behind it. She is Texas’ all-time home run leader, surpassing Taylor Hoagland’s previous record of 58 set in 2013. As of this writing, Atwood has hit 70 home runs with the Longhorns.
Leighann Goode, INF, Texas
Goode is having a career year at the plate, hitting .375/.474/.679 with nine home runs and 32 RBIs in her senior season. Along with Atwood, Goode was also a member of Texas’ first-ever national championship team in 2025.
Sydney Stewart, C, Arizona
Another threat both at and behind the plate, Stewart is hitting .436 with a 1.032 slugging percentage, seven doubles, two triples, 15 home runs and 60 RBIs in 39 games. She was presented her ticket by fellow Arizona softball legend Jennie Finch.
Karlyn Pickens, RHP, Tennessee
Pickens is a two-time SEC Pitcher of the Year with a career 1.48 ERA. She holds the fastest recorded pitch in NCAA softball history with 79.4 mph, breaking her own previous record of 78.2 mph.
Dakota Kennedy, OF, Arkansas
Hitting .444 as a junior, Kennedy has entered her senior season with a major jump in slugging, posting a .794 mark and hitting 14 home runs in the first 42 games of the 2026 season.
Kenzie Brown, RHP, Arizona State
As of this writing, in her 297 innings pitched since 2025, Brown has struck out 500 batters, which is 15.2 strikeouts per nine innings.
Taryn Kern, INF, Stanford
As a freshman, Kern was named Big 10 Player of the Year. It is no surprise to find her here as a senior, hitting .405/.553/.962 (1.515 OPS) with 18 home runs through 45 games.
Maya Johnson, LHP, Belmont
Belmont is the first mid-major school to have a player selected in the AUSL draft. Johnson has done her program proud, posting a 0.70 ERA with 317 strikeouts (and just 28 walks) in 170 innings this season.
Jocelyn Erickson, C, Florida
The 2024 SEC Player of the Year and two-time Gold Glove Award-winning catcher, Erickson is hitting .421 with 19 home runs and 67 RBIs in her senior season. She was presented her golden ticket by A.J. Andrews, who was the first woman to win a Gold Glove Award.
Kenleigh Cahalan, INF, Florida
An elite defender, the starting shortstop has had a strong year at the plate, hitting .379 with 14 doubles, 15 home runs and 60 RBIs (.728 slugging percentage).
Megan Grant, UTIL, UCLA
UCLA has dominated this year, becoming the first program in AUSL history to have three players taken in the same draft. Grant pairs defensive versatility with 34 home runs and 1.372 slugging percentage.
Jordan Woolery, INF, UCLA
Woolery, hitting .521 with 31 home runs in 48 games, recently became the fifth player in NCAA Division I softball history to reach 100 RBIs in a season. She and Grant are also the first set of teammates in Division I softball history to hit 30 home runs in the same season.
Taylor Tinsley, RHP, UCLA
Tinsley opened her college career by throwing a no-hitter and, after four seasons, can boast a career 2.22 ERA.
Amari Harper, UTIL, Oregon
After three seasons with Texas A&M, Harper has left an impact at Oregon, hitting .388/.509/.783 with eight doubles, two triples, 13 home runs and 41 RBIs.
Ailana Agbayani, INF, Oklahoma
The 2025 Gold Glove winner at second base is hitting .400 with a .514 on-base percentage and 13 stolen bases in her senior season at Oklahoma. She is also the daughter of Mets outfield Benny Agbayani.
Peja Goold, RHP, Mississippi State
Goold made herself indispensable at Mississippi State, posting a 2.08 ERA with 159 strikeouts in 131 innings, while holding opponents to a .175 average.
What does a golden ticket mean?
In the AUSL a Golden Ticket serves as an invitation to the AUSL college draft. The golden ticket carries the promise of being selected and continuing a professional career, but the 17 players will not know their destinations until the AUSL College Draft show, which will air May 4 at 7 p.m. ET.
