WICHITA, Ks. – Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball has announced a multi-year agreement with Wichita State University and Visit Wichita to bring a professional women’s league to the city for the first time.
Beginning next summer, Wilkins Stadium, home of Wichita State softball, will play host to AU Pro Softball’s AUX competition. Pronounced A-U-X, the competition features 18 games across two weeks.
“Bringing the premier women’s professional softball league to Wichita is an exciting win,” says Josh Howell, vice president of sports development at Visit Wichita. “We are very proud that Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball has selected our city as host to this prestigious event.”
AU Pro Softball is part of Athletes Unlimited, and features an advisory board comprised of a group of high-profile contributors from the worlds of sports, business, and entertainment, including softball icons Jessica Mendoza and Cat Osterman, basketball legend Sheryl Swoopes, U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team member Abby Wambach; and two-time NBA champion and entrepreneur Kevin Durant, among many others.
Former Wichita State star and three-time All-American Sydney McKinney, who was the No. 1 overall draft pick in the 2023 AU Pro Softball College Draft, has already signed on to compete in the 2024 competition alongside former Olympians and other world-class athletes. Pitcher Rachel Garcia (who won a silver medal for Team USA at the 2020 Summer Olympics) was crowned the 2023 AUX Softball Champion, while pitcher Danielle O’Toole won the inaugural AUX Softball Competition in 2022. The full roster, game schedule, and broadcast details will be announced later.
“Wichita State and Wilkins Stadium are connected to some of my fondest memories as a softball player, and I’m so excited to be able to come back home as a professional with AU Pro Softball alongside the world’s top players,” says McKinney. “The Athletes Unlimited format is truly unique, and I can’t wait to see Wichita fans fill the stadium next summer to enjoy it.”
Wichita State University and Shocker Athletics are set to embark on a $19.85 million renovation project at Wilkins Stadium. A lead gift of $1.5 million was recently announced for the first phase of a four-phase master plan, which will begin development in the spring of 2024. Over the last two years, Wichita State has collectively invested more than $2 million in stadium upgrades to include new lights, batting cages, a third base dugout, and an artificial playing surface.
“Wilkins Stadium is a world-class softball venue, and everyone at Wichita State and Visit Wichita has been so eager and enthusiastic about bringing AU Pro Softball to their community. We are thrilled to make this commitment and call Wichita home for AUX Softball,” says Cheri Kempf, Athletes Unlimited senior vice president and director of sport for softball. “We look forward to bringing Sydney McKinney back home as a professional athlete to compete in front of the incredible Wichita fans, along with dozens more of the world’s top pros.”
“We are thrilled to host Athletes Unlimited over the next two summers at Wichita State University and Wilkins Stadium. This is a testament to what head coach Kristi Bredbenner and her student-athletes have built over the last decade,” says Kevin Saal, Wichita State University director of athletics. “Thank you to the senior associate AD of facilities and operations Brad Pittman and Athletes Unlimited for making this possible. This is another opportunity for our fans to showcase their support on a national stage, not only for Sydney but for the sport of softball within the community of Wichita.”
