Nicole “Sis” Bates will be returning to the Pacific Northwest this summer to play professional softball.
The 2016 Ceres High School grad/three-time NCAA Division-I All-American with the University of Washington will suit up for the Portland Cascade, the newest expansion franchise of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League.
The Oregon-based team selected Bates in the AUSL Expansion Draft on Dec. 8.
“I feel like the luckiest human that’s ever existed to be here and to help share a sport that has given me so much,” 27-year-old Bates stated during the Cascade’s introductory press conference. “I’m so thankful for all the relationships and everything it’s brought me. I get emotional when I think about being a little girl and being in the stands and being able to see what our league is doing. It’s inspiring the next generation. I hope that they shoot for the stars. I never thought this was possible. Now, the sky is the limit.”
A standout middle infielder, Bates brings a wealth of experience and talent to the Cascade.
She completed her fifth season of pro softball this past summer.
Drafted to the Texas Volts for the AUSL’s inaugural season, Bates collected eight hits, three RBIs, five runs and four walks in 20 games.
The Volts played a three-game series against the North Carolina Blaze at Bates’ college alma mater.
She batted 3-for-9 from the plate with one RBI, one run and one walk while competing in front of sold-out crowds, July 11-13, at Huskie Softball Stadium in Seattle.
“The crowd there was insane,” Bates said. “I know that that is going to be what’s happening here. I know that our people show up, and they love women’s sports.”
The Cascade will be coached by Olympic gold medalist Tairia Flowers.
The team’s roster features AUSL talent from the inaugural season and a pool of new players.
Every AUSL team will carry a 16-player roster. Additions will be made through the college draft this spring.
“We’re going to be really gritty,” Bates said. “We’re going to be really competitive. We’re going to play with a lot of joy.”
The Cascade will compete against five other teams, including the Volts, Blaze, Utah Talons, Oklahoma City Spark and Chicago Bandits.
Each team will play a 25-game regular season schedule this summer.
The Cascade will open the 2026 season on June 9.
Portland’s first home series versus the Oklahoma City Spark will be staged on June 18 at Hillsboro Ballpark.
“You can’t take a pitch off here,” Bates said. “In college, sometimes you get away with it. You’re facing the best players in the world every single day. How cool is that? This sport is so awesome because you never have it (figured out). You’re constantly evolving and learning new things. That’s why I love it so much.”
Raised in Ceres, Bates attended Carroll Elementary School, Mae Hensley Jr. High and Ceres High School before earning a softball scholarship to the University of Washington.
Bates generated a lifetime of memories with the Huskies from 2017-21.
She filled a major role in leading Washington to 222 wins, three trips to the Women’s College World Series—including one finals berth—and one Pac-12 regular-season title.
She became just the second player in Pac-12 history to earn three Defensive Player of the Year awards (2021, 2019 and 2018).
In her last 75 games, Bates made three total errors.
One of the most decorated players in Washington history, Bates became the program’s all-time hits leaders during her final season.
She collected 320 hits in 261 career games.
She ranks first in triples (18), third in runs (227), fourth in batting average (.385) and fifth in doubles (54) in program history.
Bates also made history by becoming just the fifth Huskies player to earn NFCA All-American honors for a third time.
Bates was a Top-10 finalist for 2021 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year.
She was named Washington’s 2020-21 Pac-12 Tom Hansen Conference Medal recipient for Outstanding Female Student-Athlete.
She made the Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll in 2020 and earned Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention recognition in 2019.
She won the 2019 Seattle Female Sports Star of the Year award.
She was voted best shortstop on ESPN’s Greatest All-Time Softball Team via a fan poll in 2019.
Bates earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s in educational leadership and policy studies with a 3.92 grade-point average.
A four-year standout at Ceres High School, Bates was voted 2016 Cal-Hi Sports Ms. Softball State and Medium Schools Player of the Year. She also participated in the Premier Girls Fastpitch (PGF) High School All-American Game.
Bates batted .571 from the plate with five homers, four triples, nine doubles, 33 RBIs, 45 runs and 14 stolen bases while striking out just five times in 113 plate appearances during her senior year with the Bulldogs. She made just one error on defense.
Led by Bates, Ceres High collected 85 wins, claimed one Sac-Joaquin Section championship, captured three Western Athletic Conference crowns and appeared in the playoffs four times.
Bates has represented the U.S. Women’s National Softball Team on the international stage in Italy, Chile, Guatemala, Mexico, Canada, Australia, Ireland and Japan.
She also endorses products with a handful of companies. She has her own signature cleats with Adidas.
“I never thought in a million years this would be my life,” Bates said. “I’m really lucky for that. I feel like it’s such an honor to have that responsibility. We get to influence the youth. Being a good human is at the core of all of it.”
