Oklahoma City Spark shortstop Sydney Romero has won the first Rawlings Gold Glove Award in AUSL history. Rawlings announced the award on Sunday. It goes to the league’s top defensive player for the 2026 season.
Romero led AUSL shortstops with 45 assists. Portland Cascade rookie Kenleigh Cahalan was next with 39 in the regular season. Romero made two errors in 77 chances at the position for a .974 fielding percentage, and she turned five double plays in 24 games there.
“Sydney embodies everything the Rawlings Gold Glove Award represents,” said Mike Thompson, the chief marketing officer at Rawlings.
The finalists
The three finalists were set by a vote of representatives from each AUSL team, including its general manager and head coach. Romero was chosen from that group.
The other two finalists were Utah Talons outfielder Jadelyn Allchin and Carolina Blaze infielder Alyssa Brito.
Allchin had 54 putouts in the outfield and no errors in 23 regular-season games. She was also the MVP of the 2026 AUSL Championship Series, when the Talons swept the Chicago Bandits for their second straight title.
Brito played mostly shortstop for the Blaze, with a few games at third base. She had 37 assists in 21 games at shortstop and fielded .970 there.
A first for the league
Rawlings introduced the award in 1957 to honor defense in Major League Baseball. The award expanded to college softball in 2022, and 2026 is the first year it has gone to an AUSL player.
Rawlings is the official glove of the AUSL.
Romero’s season
Romero won the 2025 AUSL title with the Talons in the league’s first season. The Spark took her in the expansion draft in December 2025.
She was named to the All-AUSL Team as a middle infielder in July. At the plate she hit .376 with nine home runs and 28 RBIs in 25 games. The Spark finished 13-12 and missed the postseason.
Romero played college softball at Oklahoma, where she was the 2019 Big 12 Player of the Year and became the program’s career leader in doubles. She also played for Mexico at the 2020 Olympics.
Who won the first AUSL Rawlings Gold Glove Award?
Sydney Romero, the Oklahoma City Spark shortstop, for the 2026 season.
Who were the finalists for the 2026 AUSL Rawlings Gold Glove Award?
Sydney Romero of the Oklahoma City Spark, Jadelyn Allchin of the Utah Talons and Alyssa Brito of the Carolina Blaze.
Who led AUSL shortstops in assists in 2026?
Sydney Romero of the Oklahoma City Spark, with 45. Kenleigh Cahalan of the Portland Cascade was second with 39 in the regular season.
How is the AUSL Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner chosen?
Representatives from each AUSL team, including the general manager and head coach, vote to set three finalists. The winner is chosen from that group.
About the AUSL. The Athletes Unlimited Softball League is a professional softball league with six teams across the U.S. Commissioner Kim Ng leads the league, whose games air on ESPN, ABC, CBS Sports Network and MLB Network.
Sources: MLB.com: Romero wins inaugural Rawlings Gold Glove Award in AUSL; AUSL 2026 stats; AUSL: Sydney Romero player page. Featured photo: AUSL.
About Aspen Eighty
Aspen Eighty is a female-founded, independent digital publication covering the Athletes Unlimited Softball League. We publish news, season coverage, and player profiles for all six AUSL teams. Our mission is to amplify women’s professional softball and inspire the next generation of athletes.
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