Ceres native Nicole “Sis” Bates continues to serve as an ambassador for the sport of softball.
The 2016 Ceres High School grad/three-time NCAA Division-I All-American middle infielder with the University of Washington/Team USA member/Adidas athlete visited the Major League Baseball (MLB) headquarters in New York on Thursday to talk about the relaunch of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL).
Bates and fellow women’s professional softball player Sharlize Palacios (UCLA) were interviewed by Harold Reynolds.
Bates and Palacios had reason to be excited as Major League Baseball announced last week it’s investing in the AUSL.
“I just think to when I was a little girl and I looked up to a lot of baseball players,” said Bates, who was a big fan of Derek Jeter. “And now, with MLB partnering with us, there is going to be visibility for little girls that can look up to us. And think man, I can be a professional softball player. That gives me the chills.”
“It’s really exciting,” she added. “To be able to be here, and talk about how amazing our league is, I’m really grateful. I just want to say thank you to the people that have been here before us. I know Natasha (Watley) and Jennie (Finch) are here and they’ve been paving the way for us to be able to sit here with you. So thank you to all of the amazing athletes that have paved the way to get here.”
The landmark relationship will build on MLB’s longstanding efforts to grow the game of softball while providing greater access and visibility to girls and women in the sport nationwide, including through the League’s longstanding association with USA Softball and support of the Women’s National Team, more recently as an Official Sponsor of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), and through MLB’s youth engagement initiatives such as PLAY BALL, the Nike RBI program, the Elite Development Invitational, the Breakthrough Series, and more.
This wide-ranging partnership encompasses significant engagement with the AUSL across many areas of MLB’s business operations, including collaborative sales and marketing efforts, while AUSL athletes and storylines will be featured across MLB’s digital platforms and incorporated into select MLB events, including the All-Star Game and throughout the MLB Postseason.
“This is a watershed moment for women’s sports and especially for softball,” AUSL Commissioner Kim Ng said. “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.”
“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,” said Commissioner of Baseball Robert D. Manfred Jr.. “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. 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 revamped Athletes Unlimited Softball League launches its 2025 season with Opening Day this Saturday, with games in Rosemont, Illinois, and Wichita, Kansas.
The pro softball league’s four teams – the Bandits, Blaze, Talons, and Volts – will play 24 games each from June 7 to July 23, culminating with the top two teams competing in the AUSL Championship, a best-of-three series to be held July 26 to 28 at the University of Alabama’s Rhoads Stadium.
Following the AUSL Championship, 60 players will compete for an individual championship in the AUSL All-Star Cup, a 21-game competition in August featuring the innovative Athletes Unlimited scoring system.
