Legends & Leadership

The people running the AUSL aren't just famous names on a letterhead. They're building rosters, negotiating broadcast deals, and making the decisions that shape professional softball. Combined, this group holds six Olympic medals, 17 NCAA championships, and 17 All-American honors.

Commissioner
Advisors
Jennie Finch
Jennie Finch
MLB Softball Ambassador

Two-time Olympic medalist (2004 gold, 2008 silver). Arizona Wildcats. MLB Softball Ambassador.

Jessica Mendoza
Jessica Mendoza
MLB Softball Ambassador

Two-time Olympian (2004 gold, 2008 silver). Four-time first-team All-American at Stanford. ESPN analyst. USA Softball Hall of Fame (2019). MLB Softball Ambassador.

Cat Osterman
Cat Osterman
Advisor / Volts GM
Texas Volts

Three-time Olympian (2004 gold). Four-time All-American at Texas. Also serves as Volts GM. MLB Softball Ambassador.

Natasha Watley
Natasha Watley
MLB Softball Ambassador

Two-time Olympian (2004 gold, 2008 silver). UCLA. MLB Softball Ambassador.

General Managers
Lisa Fernandez
Lisa Fernandez
General Manager
Utah Talons

Three-time Olympic gold medalist (1996, 2000, 2004). UCLA associate head coach. Two-time national champion and four-time All-American as a player. Built the 2025 AUSL championship roster.

Jenny Dalton-Hill
Jenny Dalton-Hill
General Manager
Chicago Bandits

Three-time WCWS champion at Arizona (1993, 94, 96). First college player to hit .400 with 50 HRs, 200 RBIs, and .800 slugging in a career. Three-time first-team All-American. ESPN softball analyst.

Cat Osterman
Cat Osterman
General Manager
Texas Volts

Three-time Olympian (2004 gold). Four-time All-American at Texas. Won Athletes Unlimited's inaugural softball championship in 2020. Dual role as Advisor and GM.

Dana Sorensen
Dana Sorensen
General Manager
Carolina Blaze

Three-time NFCA All-American. Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame. Played in two College World Series.

Kirk Walker
Kirk Walker
General Manager
OKC Spark

40+ years collegiate coaching. Helped UCLA win six WCWS titles (1984-94). Winningest coach in Oregon State softball history. Coached 2025 champion Talons.

Jami Lobpries
Jami Lobpries
General Manager
Portland Cascade

CEO of The Alliance Fastpitch. Played pro in NPF (2009-12). Texas A&M, including 2008 national runner-up finish.

Head Coaches
Cindy Ball-Malone
Cindy Ball-Malone
Head Coach
Utah Talons

Named Utah Talons head coach for 2026. 20+ years collegiate head coaching experience at UCF. Tasked with defending the franchise's inaugural 2025 championship under GM Lisa Fernandez.

Ricci Woodard
Ricci Woodard
Head Coach
Texas Volts

25+ seasons as head coach at Texas State. 878-521-2 career record. 14 conference championships. 11 NCAA Tournament appearances.

Shonda Stanton
Shonda Stanton
Head Coach
Chicago Bandits

Head coach at Indiana. Three straight NCAA Tournaments, first in program history.

Kara Dill
Kara Dill
Head Coach
Carolina Blaze

Head coach at UT-Arlington. Previously coached at Texas A&M and LSU. Helped Kentucky reach its first WCWS (2014).

Amber Flores
Amber Flores
Head Coach
OKC Spark

Former Oklahoma three-time NFCA All-American. 13-year tenure at Seminole State with a .826 winning percentage.

Tairia Flowers
Tairia Flowers
Head Coach
Portland Cascade

Olympic gold medalist (2004) and silver medalist (2008). Assistant coach at 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Head coach at Loyola Marymount (137 wins, two WCC titles, two NCAA bids). Named Cascade HC for 2026 debut.