Softball | The GIST

Previewing the inaugural best-of-three Athletes Unlimited Softball League championship

One historic inaugural regular season full of groundbreaking deals, record attendance, and truly beautiful partnerships later, the Talons and Bandits will face off in the first-ever Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) championship series, hosted at famed Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, beginning tomorrow at 3 p.m. ET.

July 25, 2025

💄 Hot girl summer

🥎

Today, Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) announced that Sephora will become its exclusive beauty partner and presenting sponsor of its AUSL Championship series, which airs on ESPN this weekend. While Sephora isn’t the first beauty brand to join the women’s game, it’s gaining ground and further cementing its status as the beauty industry’s top dog.

July 21, 2025

🥎 More where that came from

🥎

Not done yet. No. 12 seed Texas Tech softball beat No. 6 seed Texas 4–3 in last night’s Women’s College World Series (WCWS) final Game 2, forcing a winner-take-all Game 3 tonight at 8 p.m. ET.

June 06, 2025

🎓🥎 Ain’t no hold ’em

🥎

And then there were two. The best-of-three Women’s College World Series (WCWS) championship series begins tonight at 8 p.m. ET, featuring last year’s runner-up, No. 6 seed Texas, vs. No. 12 Texas Tech, fresh off a stunning upset of the sport’s greatest dynasty. Let’s tee it up.

June 04, 2025

🥎 Knocking it out of the park

🥎

Yesterday was like Christmas for softball fans, starting with the news that MLB will make a strategic investment in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) ahead of their debut season next week, followed by a high-octane opening day of the Women’s College World Series (WCWS). Let’s unpack all the latest.

May 30, 2025

🥎 Bases loaded

🥎

Yesterday, MLB announced a sizable strategic investment in Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL), which hits off its inaugural season next week. It’s a major move to see MLB backing AUSL off the bat and represents a shift in how established men’s sports leagues are approaching startup women’s leagues.

May 30, 2025

🎓🥎 This is the greatest show

🥎

Merry Women’s College World Series (WCWS) eve to all who celebrate — the eight-team NCAA softball championship tournament begins from hallowed Oklahoma City with tomorrow’s four-game opening slate. Here’s everything you need to know before the first pitch is thrown.

May 28, 2025

AUSL kicks off a historic softball marketing campaign as ESPN expands its reach

Sports Business

AUSL kicks off a historic softball marketing campaign as ESPN expands its reach

🥎

March 26, 2025

Yesterday, the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) officially debuted its "This is Legendary" campaign ad, which the league describes as the largest marketing initiative for pro softball in the U.S. The star-studded spot will air across ESPN networks to promote the new league, which tips off June 7th.

Read Full Story

The GIST of It Podcast

Ep #504

Being paid not to work: A college football story

October 30, 2025

Listen on Apple Music Listen on Spotify

Being paid not to work: A college football story

Buyouts, buyouts, buyouts.

The NCAA football landscape looks a bit different than it did when the season kicked off in August, especially after three head coaches of AP Preseason Top 25 teams were fired for underperformance. But they aren’t walking away empty-handed: All three are owed tens of millions of dollars from their respective schools.

On today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz set the scene for the college football coaching carousel before examining the ripple effects of letting a good-but-not-great coach go. Hut hut, here they go.

A big thank you to BMO for sponsoring today’s pod! BMO has been committed to growing the beautiful game in North America for two decades. Today, BMO supports the NWSL’s Angel City FC and is the official bank of the Northern Super League. Learn more by visiting our Soccer Help Desk today.