Ceres native Nicole “Sis” Bates has been selected to compete in the 2026 Athletes Unlimited Softball League All-Star Cup next month.

The announcement was made on July 1.

Fans played a direct role in choosing the first 10 players for the four-week competition.

Bates, Portland Cascade teammate Megan Grant, Carolina Blaze’s Reese Atwood, Alyssa Brito, Dakota Kennedy and Karlyn Pickens, Utah Talons’ Jayda Coleman, Bri Ellis and Jordan Woolery, and Texas Volts’ Rylie Boone received the most votes from June 15 through June 30.

Additional players will be announced in the coming weeks.

A first-year middle infielder with AUSL’s Portland Cascade, Bates graduated from Ceres High School in 2016 and became a three-time NCAA Division-I All-American with the University of Washington prior to becoming a professional softball player.

“So much joy,” Bates stated in a post on Instagram while talking about her current chapter of life. “So much gratitude. Gosh, I am SO dang lucky to be a Cascader.”

Bates helped lead Portland to an 8-5 record through its first 13 games of the 2026 season.

She collected two triples, one double, six singles, 10 runs and three walks for the second-place Cascade.

She had an on-base plus slugging percentage of .775.

Bates had a fielding percentage of .974.

She totaled 60 putouts and 51 assists.

She turned nine double plays.

“You can’t take a pitch off here,” Bates said. “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.”

The Athletes Unlimited Softball League All-Star Cup will be staged from Aug. 8-30 at Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, Illinois.

Approximately 45 professional softball players will compete during the four-week event.

Teams are redrafted each series.

At the end of the season, the athlete who sits atop the leaderboard is crowned champion.

A player’s total points determine their ranking.

Position players and pitchers earn points based on their performance, and when their team wins a game or inning, and when they are voted one of the top three MVPs of a game by players and fans.

Bates signed with Portland following 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,” she stated during the Cascade’s introductory press conference in January. “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.”

Bates brings a wealth of experience and talent to Portland.

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.

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 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.

Bates has ascended to heights only a small percentage reach.

“It’s pretty special to be in a space where I can help the sport grow and pave the way for young women,” she said.