AUSL Expands to Six Teams With Oklahoma City Spark and Portland Cascade

NEW YORK — The Athletes Unlimited Softball League announced two expansion franchises on Nov. 12, 2025, adding the Oklahoma City Spark and Portland Cascade to the league’s roster for the 2026 season. The expansion grows the AUSL from four to six teams and marks the league’s shift to a permanent city-based model.

The Spark will be based in Oklahoma City and play home games at Tom Heath Field at Oklahoma Christian University. The Cascade will be based in Hillsboro, Oregon, playing at Hillsboro Ballpark as Portland’s newest professional sports franchise.

The four original teams — the Chicago Bandits, Carolina Blaze, Texas Volts, and Utah Talons — will be joined by the expansion clubs beginning with the 2026 season. An expansion and allocation draft was scheduled for Dec. 1 to help the new franchises build their rosters.

Why OKC and Portland

The selection of Oklahoma City and Portland reflected the AUSL’s strategy to place franchises in markets with strong softball culture and growing professional sports infrastructure. Oklahoma City, home to the NCAA Women’s College World Series, is widely considered the capital of American softball, while Portland’s success with the NWSL’s Portland Thorns demonstrated the Pacific Northwest’s appetite for women’s professional sports.

The expansion also balanced the league’s geographic footprint, adding a Pacific Northwest presence and strengthening the league’s footprint in the central United States. The six-team structure provides enough teams for a robust schedule while keeping roster talent concentrated enough to maintain competitive quality.

Transition to Permanent Homes

The expansion coincided with the AUSL’s transition from a touring model to permanent home cities. During the 2025 inaugural season, teams traveled to 10 host cities across the country. The move to six permanent venues for 2026 allows teams to build local fan bases, establish community partnerships and create the home-field atmosphere that drives sustained attendance growth.

The permanent home-city model also simplifies logistics and reduces travel costs, contributing to the league’s long-term financial sustainability. Each team will host multiple series throughout the 50-game season, giving fans regular opportunities to attend games in their home market.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the new AUSL expansion teams?

The Oklahoma City Spark and Portland Cascade are the two expansion teams joining the AUSL for the 2026 season.

How many AUSL teams are there?

The AUSL expanded from four to six teams for 2026, with franchises in Chicago, Durham, Oklahoma City, Portland, Round Rock, and Salt Lake City.

Where will the expansion teams play?

The Oklahoma City Spark play at Tom Heath Field at Oklahoma Christian University. The Portland Cascade play at Hillsboro Ballpark in Hillsboro, Oregon.