​Professional softball is here, and it’s officially for real.The Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) is in its second season of operation with six teams (Chicago Bandits, Carolina Blaze, Portland Cascade, Oklahoma City Spark, Utah Talons and Texas Volts).AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe league, with significant investment from Major League Baseball, moved to a permanent city-based structure for 2026. These moves have paid off as a massive TV ratings boost of over 200 percent from the 2025 season has transpired.As one of the dominant programs in college, Florida softball has seven players competing this season. The number was eight before the season, but Amanda Lorenz took the season off due to the birth of her first child.The seven Gators have made their mark. The 30 game regular season ends Monday, July 20. The No. 2 and 3 teams in the standings will meet in a one game play-in on Thursday, July 23. The winner will face the No. 1 seed in a best-of-three championship series, held from July 25-27.1 / 28Florida head coach Tim Walton, left, talks with the NCAA site rep during game 3 of the super regional of the NCAA Division 1 softball championship at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Sunday, May 24, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun](Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun)As of Wednesday, July 15, defending champion Utah Talons are the No. 1 seed. The Bandits and Cascade sit at two and three, respectively.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHere are how the former Gators are doing in the AUSL:In her rookie season, Cahalan has played in 21 games for the Cascade. She holds a .189 batting average with 10 hits, seven runs, two home runs and six RBIs in 53 at-bats.Like Cahalan, Erickson moved straight from the end of the Gators season to the Bandits. She’s played 19 games with 49 at-bats. In those games, she has eight runs, 12 hits, a home run and eight RBIs.GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – APRIL 12: Kendra Falby #27 of Florida Gators runs to third base during a game against the North Florida Ospreys at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium on April 12, 2023 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)Falby, who wasn’t drafted in 2025, is enjoying fine success with the surging Cascade after a season as the Gators first base coach. She’s hitting .268 with eight runs and 15 hits. She’s even done something she seldom did with the Orange and Blue – hit a home run. Now, we just have to wonder if the pregame Carrabba’s runs are still a thing.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Gators third member of the Cascade, Otis is having the most success at the plate. It probably helps this is her second campaign in the league. Her 14 runs, 20 hits and 13 RBIs rank in the top 10 of the league. She has three home runs as well with .485 slugging percentage.Injuries have hampered Wallace’s season to an extent, but when the Gators program legend has been healthy, she’s been a hitting machine – just like she was i