The stands at Dell Diamond, home of the Round Rock Express, looked a little different this weekend. Sure, there were the usual flag-waving and fan chants, but what stood out most were the bows, Little League jerseys and wide-eyed girls dreaming big.
The Athletes Unlimited Softball League brought its Bandits vs. Volts series to Round Rock, and fans showed up, with Saturday’s
crowd
attendance peaking over 6,000.
While the Bandits ultimately clinched a trip to the AUSL Championship, the real story wasn’t all about the final score.
“It’s inspiring them to achieve their dreams of being a softball pro,” said Dollref Collins, who brought her daughter to Sunday’s game. “I played softball growing up, but now to see how big softball’s become. … It’s amazing. It’s not just a male sports environment anymore.”
The atmosphere hit like a major league game. With music between innings, dance-offs on the jumbotron and crowd challenges, every section was on its feet.
Fans wore everything from burnt orange to pro baseball jerseys. Plenty showed support to former Longhorn softball stars Mia Scott and Bella Dayton, and the cheers never stopped.
“It’s really cool to see the little girls out there who strive to be me, and I remember, ‘If I were their age, what would I want to see in professional softball?’” Volts’ infielder Tiare Jennings said. “When I look into the stands and I see a little girl, for me, that’s one of those moments that I take in.”
Softball’s professional momentum has been building for years. In 2020, Athletes Unlimited launched its first professional season with a player-first model that gave athletes more control over their careers.
For instance, AUSL’s governance structure includes a Player Executive Committee, composed of five current players, to help represent the athletes’ interests in decision-making.
New generations of players are also giving their flowers to the ones who paved the way, many of whom are still present in the game today. Softball legends, such as former Longhorn Cat Osterman, serve as advisors or coaches.
“(Nuveman-Deniz) led the way back in the day, and we continue to make noise from there on,” Bandits shortstop Skylar Wallace said when speaking about head coach Stacey Nuveman-Deniz. “She didn’t take no for an answer, and it’s cool to see that finally play in our favor.”
By 2024, the AUSL was born, and 2025 marked its first full touring season with four teams, Bandits, Blaze, Talons and Volts, competing in cities
nationwide
.
The AUSL’s next big move will be in 2026, as it plans to shift to a city-based model, bringing even more stability and fan connection.
“I think we’ve made noise year after year after year, and we’ve kind of gotten those answers now,” Wallace
said
. “To see a crowd like this and to show out … it’s just loud and everyone’s rooting and hollering and having a good time. It’s just cool to see how far this sport has come.”
As this inaugural season winds down, the Bandits now set their sights on the AUSL Championship, kicking off July 26.
But for the young fans who filled the stands this weekend, the season’s legacy is already written — in inspiration, possibility and the hope that next time, they won’t just be watching. They’ll be playing.
