AUSL Golden Ticket Tracker: College Softball Stars Punch Their Ticket to the Pros

The Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) has concluded handing out its renowned Golden Tickets to some of the best collegiate seniors in the game. 17 shinning sheets were distributed in 2026, an increase of five from last season.

This magical slip of paper represents a guaranteed selection in the 2026 AUSL College Draft, set to take place on Monday, May 4.

The purpose of the Golden Tickets is to provide visibility of the growth of softball and celebrate the amazing careers of the student-athletes. Notable faces, including legends of the game, ambassadors, the Commissioner Kim Ng herself, and others with significant ties to the university or individuals, award the honors.

Teammates, coaches, families, and fans are often in attendance to witness the history.

NiJaree Canady, Texas Tech Red Raiders, RHP/UTL

As expected, Texas Tech two-way star NiJaree Canady was granted the first AUSL Golden Ticket in 2026.

Since becoming the first million-dollar collegiate softball player, the right-handed hurler has not only changed the game of softball but women's sports as a whole.

Canady's career accolades seem to be never-ending, highlighted by the 2024 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year and Women's College World Series (WCWS) runner-up in 2025. In her senior campaign, Canady has boasted an ERA of 1.35, good for top-15 in the nation, with 116 strikeouts and 13 wins.

Reese Atwood, Texas Longhorns, C

Last year's Johnny Bench Award winner and National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Catcher of the Year, Reese Atwood, earned the second AUSL Golden Ticket.

Atwood has been the Texas Longhorns' glue for her entire time in Austin, leading the program to its first-ever WCWS title last season. Her play speaks for itself in the box and behind the dish, as she will be prevalent in the Texas record books for many years to come.

Atwood is hitting .393 with 14 home runs, 44 RBIs, 17 walks, and 33 runs scored as her extraordinary chapter in the burnt orange slowly comes to a close.

Leighann Goode, Texas Longhorns, INF

Leighann Goode captured the third AUSL Golden Ticket just after witnessing Atwood's golden moment.

Goode came out of the gates hot as a rookie in Austin, being named an NFCA Freshman of the Year Top 25 Finalist. She has been a consistent threat in the Texas lineup since, filling whatever position she is called on, eventually securing a full-time residency at second base in her senior year.

The infielder holds the second-best batting average on the team at .442 with seven doubles, five home runs, 23 home runs, and 35 runs scored.

Sydney Stewart, Arizona Wildcats, C/UTL

Arizona great Jennie Finch gifted this year's fourth AUSL Golden ticket to Wildcat catcher and utility player Sydney Stewart.

The senior's slash line sits at .422/.559/1.012 with a team-best 13 home runs, 33 runs scored, and 56 RBIs. She is responsible for nearly 20 percent of Arizona's RBIs this season.

Stewart has played in all but one game since her time in Tucson, having transferred from the University of Washington after her sophomore season. She was named an NFCA All-American in 2025 and is surely making a dent in the Big 12 with her team's 9-3 record in conference play so far.

Karlyn Pickens, Tennessee Lady Vols, RHP

Tennessee's senior flame thrower Karlyn Pickens picked up the fifth AUSL Golden ticket on April 2 following a 3-1 conference win over South Carolina. To make the occurrence even more special, Pickens accepted the ticket from her childhood idol and U.S. Olympian Jennie Finch.

Pickens has been a constant force in the circle for Tennessee from the moment she put on a Lady Vol uniform. She's a two-time All-American, two-time top 10 finalist for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, and back-to-back SEC Pitcher of the Year.

Through 36 games in her senior campaign, Pickens' record is 9-3. In 76.2 innings and 16 appearances, Pickens has collected 100 strikeouts, limiting opponents to a .112 average. She owns the record for fastest pitch in NCAA softball history at 79.4mph, a part of her game fans can't wait to see at the pro level.

Dakota Kennedy, Arkansas Razorbacks, OF

The sixth Golden Ticket was presented to Arkansas' Dakota Kennedy on April 6 by Commissioner Ng. After spending her first three collegiate seasons at Arizona, Kennedy transferred to the SEC powerhouse for her senior stint. She left Tucson as a back-to-back third-team NFCA All-American selection, a First Team All-Big 12 and Big 12 All-Defensive Team honoree, plus a NFCA/Rawlings Gold Glove recipient (left field) in 2024.

This year, the outfielder from Sacramento, Calif. is batting .353 by way of 41 hits, nine doubles, a team-leading 13 home runs and 38 RBI. She has tallied 43 runs, 17 walks, and is a perfect seven-for-seven on the base paths.

Kennedy has had her name written in the starting lineup for all 38 of the Razorbacks' competitions (33-5, 8-4 SEC). On March 1, against Kansas, Kennedy produced a career-best offensive performance of 12 total bases on three big hits, all three balls which left the yard.

Kenzie Brown, Arizona State Sun Devils, RHP

Arizona State's Kenzie Brown was handed the seventh Golden Ticket by sports broadcaster Holly Rowe on April 7. Following a lone year at Tulsa, Brown transferred to Arizona State where she has continued to turn heads season after season for her performance in the circle.

The right-handed pitcher earned a First Team All-American nod in 2025. A career-best 19-8 record, a 1.28 ERA, and 289 strikeouts solidified her name on the USA Softball Player of the Year Top 50 Watch List in 2026.

She's off to another strong senior campaign having fired 81.1 innings for the Sun Devils so far. Of the 20 appearances, 15 are starts and 7 are complete games. The Illinois native is also ranked nationally in the top 15 in strikeouts (142) and leads Arizona State in ERA (2.84).

Taryn Kern, Stanford Cardinal, INF

ESPN broadcaster and former Texas A&M standout Amanda Scarborough treated Stanford's infielder Taryn Kern to this year's eighth Golden Ticket on April 10.

The golden honor came after the Cardinal defeated Florida State, 9-8, on a walk-off grand slam in an exciting back-and-forth ACC matchup. Kern blasted a three-run bomb in the bottom half of the sixth to inch closer to sabotaging the Seminoles' 25-game victory streak.

Kern, who transferred from Indiana after an exceptional freshman season, found a home closer to her Bay Area roots. From Big Ten Player and Freshman of the Year in 2023 to her second NFCA All-American Second Team accolade in 2025, Kern has been nothing short of a consistent competitor for Stanford.

The senior leads the team in nearly all offensive categories, and it's not even close, including batting average (.413), OPS (1.508), home runs (14), doubles (12), RBI (37), SLG (.963), runs (50), OBP (.545). In the field, she's committed just four errors in 206 chances for a fielding percentage of .981.

Maya Johnson, Belmont Bruins, LHP

The reigning Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Pitcher of the Year, conference tournament Most Valuable Player and Belmont Bruin All-American Maya Johnson received the ninth Golden Ticket on April 17. ESPN softball legend and two-time Olympic medalist Jessica Mendoza delivered the reward.

Year after year Johnson's numbers in the circle have significantly progressed. Just when you thought her 2025 junior campaign, made up of a 24-6 record, a 1.52 ERA, and 366 strikeouts across 207 innings couldn't get better, Johnson said otherwise.

The south paw started her senior stint with a perfect game against Missouri State, followed by a huge 2-1 upset win over top-ranked Georgia.

Across the NCAA, Johnson ranks at the top of nearly every pitching category, such as ERA (.57), complete games (22), shutouts (11), strikeouts (286), and strikeouts-to-walks ratio (14.30).

To add to the list, Johnson will become the first mid-major athlete ever drafted by the AUSL.

Jocelyn Erickson, Florida Gators, C

Jocelyn Erickson of the Florida Gators was gifted the tenth Golden Ticket by AJ Andrews, host and analyst of MLB Network, on April 18.

Erickson has amassed many career honors in her time in Gainesville, enhanced by 2024 NFCA and SEC Player of the Year, and the 2025 Rawlings Gold Glove recipient at the catchers position.

Upon transferring from Oklahoma after her freshman year, Erickson has consistently been at the top of the Gators' offensive production. She's tallied three 15+ home run seasons, including a team-high 19 so far in her senior campaign.

She's also second on the team in average (.435), runs (56), hits (64), and doubles (13). Her 67 RBI in 2026 is well on its way to matching her career-best 86 in 2024. She's committed just three passed balls on 285 chances and been part of six double plays.

Kenleigh Cahalan, Florida Gators, INF

Shortly after her teammate was awarded, Kenleigh Cahalan also secured a spot in the 2026 AUSL College Draft with the 11th Golden Ticket in hand.

Cahalan is a 2024 All-SEC Second Team performer and 2023 NFCA All-South Region Third Team honoree, as well as a top 25 finalist for 2023 NFCA National Freshman of the Year.

Having spent two years at shortstop for Alabama, Cahalan has proven her versatility on the left side for the Gators at both short and third base. Her slash line in 2026 through 48 games is .392/.450/.759 with 59 RBI, 15 home runs, 13 doubles, 19 walks, and 42 runs scored.

Megan Grant, UCLA Bruins, Utility Player

Bruin power hitter Megan Grant was one of three UCLA standouts to solidify a ticket into the 2026 AUSL College Draft following her team's dominant and record-setting performance in a doubleheader sweep over California on April 18. Netflix sports anchor Elle Duncan presented Grant with the honors of the 12th Golden Ticket.

Grant has delivered unbelievable numbers from the moment she stepped foot on the campus in Westwood. Grant is a two-time NFCA All-American and earned a spot on the USA Softball Player of the Year Top 25 Finalist list in 2025.

With video game statistics, Grant has batted .333 or better since her rookie campaign. The lefty has blasted 80 home runs in her career, approaching the UCLA program record with plenty of games to either match or surpass the feat of 90 total.

She's slashing .478/.651/1.339 in 2026 with 70 RBI, six doubles, 31 home runs, and 68 runs scored.

Taylor Tinsley, UCLA Bruins, RHP

Bruin alumna Jen Schroeder gave away the 13th Golden Ticket to UCLA ace Taylor Tinsley on April 18. She's a NFCA Third Team All-American and a two-time All-West Region First Team selection, with an overall career record of 62-18 in the circle for the Bruins.

Over the last three seasons, she's tossed a majority of UCLA's innings, with an average of 140 innings per year. In 2026, she's posted a 23-3 record with 15 complete games, five shutouts, and 115 strikeouts.

Jordan Woolery, UCLA Bruins, INF

After blasting four individual home runs on the day, Jordan Woolery attained her AUSL professional invitation from UCLA legend and AUSL advisor Natasha Watley. It was the 14th Golden Ticket passed out in 2026.

Adding to the Bruins' blockbuster performance on April 18, Woolery and Grant became the first teammates in NCAA history to knock 30+ homers in the same season.

Woolery has racked in the career highlights including two-time NFCA All-American and 2023 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. She has started in every single game of her career sine 2023. Her career average at the moment sits above .400, with four years of double digit home runs.

In her senior year, Woolery leads UCLA at the plate, batting .529 with 100 RBI, the fifth player in NCAA history to top the achievement. She's slugging for 1.286 with 44 of 74 hits being for extra bases. 37 walks and 65 runs scored contribute to her 180 total bases and an on-base percentage of .625.

Amari Harper, Oregon Ducks, Utility Player

Former Oregon Duck three-point shooter and WNBA All-Star Sabrina Ionescu announced Amari Harper's Golden Ticket moment on April 19 via the video board at Jane Sanders Stadium.

Harper competed for Texas A&M for three seasons garnering 2025 All-SEC and NFCA All-South Region honors. For the Aggies, she totaled a .364 career average with 22 doubles, nine home runs, and 85 RBI.

She's on a tear once again in her senior campaign in Eugene, averaging .377 with 13 home runs, eight doubles, and 41 RBI. She's started in all 44 games for the Ducks, primarily in left field.

Ailana Agbayani, Oklahoma Sooners, INF

Commissioner Ng turned over the 16th Golden Ticket to Oklahoma Sooners' starting second baseman, 2025 Rawlings Gold Glover and SEC All-Defense Ailana Agbayani on the night of April 24.

So far, Agbayani is batting .402 with 45 hits, four doubles and six home runs. She's collected 29 RBI, 41 runs, and 23 walks. She's also 13-for-15 on the base paths. The Hawaii native tallied a season-high five RBI at New Mexico State on February 13.

Prior to wearing the Crimson and Cream, Agbayani swiped her first of three NFCA All-Region awards and 2023 WCC Defensive Player of the Year at BYU.

Not only has Agbayani been a constant for the Sooners but she is also set to attend the American Samoa Softball Association camp this summer as the program gears up for the LA28 Summer Olympic qualification process.

Peja Goold, Mississippi State, RHP

Peja Goold landed the 17th and final Golden Ticket after the right-handed hurler recorded an 11 strikeout victory over No. 20 LSU, 5-2. It was Goold's 12th complete game of the season, improving her record to 15-9 on her senior tour.

Goold transferred to Mississippi State after three impressive years at Chattanooga. She was a two-time Southern Conference Pitcher of the Year, NFCA First Team All-South Region in 2025, and a two-time First Team All-Southern Conference.

Softball America listed Goold as the No. 6 pitcher in the NCAA for the month of April. In Starkville, Goold has tossed 131.0 innings, leaving opponents to just a .175 average with 157 strikeouts. Across 31 appearances, she's compiled an ERA of 2.08.

She threw a season-high 13 Ks against UT Martin on March 25, which ultimately led to NFCA National Pitcher of the Week recognition.

Given the way the 2026 season has played out so far, the 2026 AUSL Draft Class is nothing short of a stacked lineup and will continue to turn heads at the professional level. For more information on the AUSL College Draft Rules, click here.

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