Three Bruins, One Class: UCLA’s Grant, Tinsley and Woolery Make AUSL History

LOS ANGELES — Three Bruins from the UCLA softball program received AUSL Golden Tickets Saturday, making UCLA the first program in the league’s history to place three players in the same Golden Ticket class.

Utility player Megan Grant, pitcher Taylor Tinsley and infielder Jordan Woolery were presented with their tickets by former UCLA standouts Natasha Watley and Jen Schroeder, along with ESPN broadcaster Elle Duncan. Where the three will play is answered on May 4, when Commissioner Kim Ng and team general managers make picks live on the AUSL College Draft Show at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

A First for the Program

No program had previously placed more than two players in the same AUSL Golden Ticket class. Mississippi State and Florida previously each produced two in a single class. The UCLA trio, announced Saturday, pushed the 2026 Golden Ticket class to 14 players once Florida’s two additions on the same afternoon were factored in.

Grant, Tinsley and Woolery

Grant, a two-time NFCA All-American, enters the draft as one of the most complete players in the class. The AUSL’s announcement credited her with a .473 batting average and a 1.336 OPS through 44 games of her senior season. Her value comes in part from versatility — she can contribute across multiple positions, which gives any roster that drafts her added lineup flexibility.

Tinsley arrives with a 22-3 pitching record and a career opponent batting average of .229, earned over a career that includes two NFCA First-Team All-West Region selections. Her profile fits teams looking for a proven starter who can operate alongside one of the class’s three power strikeout arms — NiJaree Canady (Texas Tech), Karlyn Pickens (Tennessee) and Kenzie Brown (Arizona State).

Woolery enters the professional class with considerable offensive credentials. According to the AUSL’s announcement, she has 26 home runs, 90 RBIs and 60 runs scored through 44 games this season. A consensus First-Team All-American at infield, she and Grant have anchored UCLA’s offense together over multiple seasons.

Draft Implications

The 2026 Golden Ticket class stood at 14 players after Saturday’s announcements, with Oregon’s Amari Harper added the following day. The six AUSL clubs — Carolina Blaze, Chicago Bandits, Oklahoma City Spark, Portland Cascade, Texas Volts and Utah Talons — select from that pool on May 4.

Looking Ahead

The full Golden Ticket class also includes Reese Atwood (Texas, catcher), Leighann Goode (Texas, infielder), Sydney Stewart (Arizona, catcher), Dakota Kennedy (Arkansas, outfielder) and Taryn Kern (Stanford, infielder). The AUSL season opens June 9, with 50 games on ESPN and ABC.