Kim Ng named First Commissioner of Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL)
Trailblazing former MLB executive Kim Ng has been appointed as the first-ever commissioner of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL), marking another groundbreaking chapter in her storied career. The announcement comes ahead of the league’s much-anticipated 2025 debut season, set to launch this summer.
Ng brings more than three decades of experience in top-level baseball operations, including historic milestones that have reshaped the landscape for women in sports leadership.
A Return to Her Softball Roots
Ng, 56, was the first woman to serve as general manager in a major U.S. men's sports league when she took the reins of the Miami Marlins in 2020. Her three-year tenure culminated in a 2023 MLB playoff berth, Miami’s first in two decades.
Before that, she had served in senior front office roles with the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Major League Baseball headquarters.
However, Ng's roots run deep in softball. A former NCAA Division I softball player, her pivot to the AUSL represents a full-circle moment in her career.
“I think after 30-plus years in the business, I also owe it to myself to do some things that I hadn’t necessarily had the opportunity to do in the past,” Ng told The Athletic in an exclusive interview. “And this is, for me, it’s a passion.”
Laying the Foundation for Pro Softball's Future
Ng has already been instrumental in the league’s early development, having served as a senior advisor to AUSL prior to her appointment as commissioner.
“Knowing what an established, mature system of governance looks like, I think will be really helpful in establishing this league,” she said, highlighting her experience in building sustainable sports operations.
The AUSL arrives at a time when parity and visibility in college softball is on the rise, yet professional opportunities remain limited. Ng’s leadership is expected to drive credibility, structure, and growth in a sport primed for its professional breakthrough.
AUSL Season Launch: Tour-Style Format Begins June 7
The Athletes Unlimited Softball League 2025 season will launch on June 7, immediately after the conclusion of the 2025 NCAA Women’s College World Series. The debut campaign features:
- 4 inaugural teams
- 24 regular-season games
- 7-week national tour across 8 cities
- A final AUSL All-Star Cup in 2 additional cities in August
The tour format doubles as a market test, with each city competing to become one of six permanent home markets when the AUSL transitions to a location-based league model in 2026.
The AUSL aims to reshape the landscape of professional women’s sports, offering elite softball athletes a long-overdue platform for consistent, high-level competition.
SportsLigue