Sis Bates and Baylee Klingler, UW Softball legends, return to Seattle as part of AUSL Preseason Tour
By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA - That same smiles that you could see after Washington Husky softball wins from 2020-2022 on the faces of infielders Sis Bates and Baylee Klingler were on display once again in the Emerald City, as the two UW greats returned as part of the “This is Legendary Pre-Season Tour” for the brand new Athletes Unlimited Softball League. The leagues inaugural season will take place this year, spanning from June 7th through July 23rd as the AUSL’s four teams (Bandits, Blaze, Talons, and Volts) will play at ten different locations including Husky Softball Stadium. Bates and Klingler will be pitted against each other, as Sis’ Volts and Baylee’s Blaze battle it out across a three-game series from July 11th-13th, and the duo is back in Seattle to promote the league and that series when they return in a few months. One of the stops on the tour was T-Mobile Park, the home of our Seattle Mariners, and both of the former Washington infielders were more than happy to discuss the league, the tour, their time as Huskies, and more.
University of Washington alum and current AUSL Volts infielder Sis Bates waves to the crowd before throwing the ceremonial first pitch ahead of the series opener between the Miami Marlins and our Seattle Mariners on Friday, April 25th, 2025 at T-Mobile Park. (Photo by Eric Hiller for Circling Seattle Sports)
Bates and Klingler getting the red carpet treatment
The main purpose of the “This is Legendary Pre-Season Tour” is to let fans learn about the AUSL and engage with professional softball players at community events, and that was exactly what Bates and Klingler are accomplishing over the course of these few days. Prior to their stop at T-Mobile Park, the duo made an appearance at the Seahawks’ NFL Draft Watch Party at the Museum of Pop Culture right under the Space Needle, and after today’s stop at the ballpark they’ll head to the Little League® Unlimited Games (9:30AM PDT), the Washington vs. Nebraska Softball game (3PM PDT) on Saturday before appearances at Rough & Tumble Pub for a Player Panel (10:30AM PDT) and the Seattle Sports Commission’s Region Ready Summit (3PM PDT) for a jam packed weekend.
“I think of it as, when I was little, I would’ve loved to see someone that looked like me in a space that I wanted to thrive in, so I’m excited. When I was young, I looked up to baseball players because there wasn’t many softball influences on TV. How cool that we know get to be in that space where we hopefully get to inspire the next generation to really do this and you can attain if you work hard.”
“We’re like kids in a candy store right now, we’re so excited to be back in front of our people, and just connecting with everyone has been really fun. To share a part of our loves, which is AU and softball, and to come back with such a full heart is so fun.”
Sis Bates, UW Softball alum and Volts infielder, modeling her teams very first jersey for their inaugural season in the AUSL. (Photo via the AUSL)
“I’m excited to see where the league goes, we know what Seattle fans are like but I’m excited for them to get that feel and know what raised us. I feel like I found so much about myself in Seattle, so I’m excited for all of our friends to come here and compete together.”
Returning home
The joy from Bates and Klingler once they stepped onto the warning track dirt at T-Mobile Park was radiant, sharing their energy from when they stepped out onto it, seeing the stadium DJ, speaking with a few media members about the tour, and afterwards when they met Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford and recorded some content for the league. It was apparent that the two were delighted to return to the city where their impressive collegiate careers took place, and they were fully enjoying this stop to help promote the league where those careers can continue playing the sport that they love.
“It’s the best, it’s so fun to reconnect and it’s like we haven’t skipped a beat. We all get together and it feels like we’re back in the locker room messing around, it’s really cool. They’re so supportive, how cool is it that we get to come here to play professionally and see all of our teammates. It’s just really full circle for sure.”
One of the major highlights for this return tour is obviously the return to their alma matter and reuniting with former teammates, including Brooke Nelson who now does commentary at times when Washington is on the Big Ten Network and Big Ten Plus. The duo got ice cream with Madison Huskey, a former Washington infielder that has also played with Athletes Unlimited before, the night prior to their visit to T-Mobile Park and breakfast the morning of with Brooke Nelson, Sami Reynolds, and Megan Vandergrift, all former Husky players that are involved in the sport or the University in same way or the other. While in the modern age, connecting through the internet is much easier for long distance friendships, Bates said that being able to see her former teammates and catch up in person goes deeper than just softball.
“They’re people who are gonna be in our lives forever, so it’s exciting to play in front of them but it’s like ‘girl, you should be down here with us!’”
It’s a different time for the softball program at Washington as compared to when Bates and Klingler were there when they played in the PAC-12, as obviously the schools transition to the Big Ten conference changes thing in multiple ways. Head coach Heather Tarr has remained with the program despite the changes to the roster, the travel, and the conference after some believed that she’d pursue opportunities elsewhere in a “the grass is greener” type of situation. Both Bates and Klingler acknowledged that it’s a different landscape from when they were there, in both the conference and the game evolving, but they do keep up with what the team is doing in order to show their support for the next wave and their former teammate in Nelson as she starts her commentary career. Bates mentioned that something that encourages her about this years group is their love for each other, highlighting how their chemistry appears to be “through the roof,” and she loves to see their improvement over the course of the programs inaugural season in the Big Ten conference.
While the duo has made their own impact on the program and it’s history, there are other alum in the area that come from the university that remain here, including current Seattle Mariners broadcast Angie Mentink. The Husky alum was part of a group that was just getting the program off the ground for Washington, and Mentink has herself has created some firsts as she became the first woman in Seattle Mariners broadcasting history to serve a regular role as an in-game color analyst when ROOT Sports announced it’s roster back in February. Bates and Klingler attributed the influences of the program that are visible all over now to Tarr, crediting her as the “Dawg mother.” Klingler praised Tarr’s leadership, calling her inspirational, for the lessons she teaches her players to how she loves the game of softball, which in part pushes her players to continue that love and to give back. Sometimes that giving back comes in the former of coaching, which Bates has done previously with Washington and Klingler wants to do but the the only thing shopping her from trying is opportunities to play in other countries, as she most recently finished a season playing in Mexico. Klingler called Tarr a perfect example of a strong female leader, which has pushed this duo of her former players to be the same.
“She is our Dawg mother through and through, I would do anything for her. I think that she is a firm believer in ‘it’s bigger than just this,’ so ways that we can grow women’s sports, not only softball, on a global level she’s really big on that and that in turn goes into me and Baylee. We wanna keep growing this thing as much as we can.”
Lastly for Bates and Klingler, these two are hoping to continue their softball playing careers through at least 2028, when softball returns to the Olympics, so the main goal currently as mentioned by the two is that this league gets established enough by that time so that the players within it and that are coming up from college won’t have to juggle different jobs in order to make their ends meet. With these teams finding cities next season, and sources telling CSS that Seattle already has made a great case to the AUSL and appears to be a favorite when the league decides to assign teams, either Bates or Klingler, maybe both, could end up continuing their playing dream in the city where their careers really took off.
“How cool is it to potentially be an inspiration for the little ones? To say, ‘I wanna grow up and play professional softball’ is just such a big deal and I don’t think we really fully understand it yet because the sky is the limit. When me and Sis were growing up, playing was college. We didn’t know if there was ever an option to play professionally, so just inspiring the younger ones is what it’s all about so they can be full time softball players, and it’s so awesome that that’s the direction we’re going. ”
“That’s the dream. To be a professional softball player, end of question, nothing else? In the past we’ve had to juggle different jobs to keep this dream alive, but the future is that we’re going to be professional softball players and that’s the end of the story. How exciting is it that that’s something for the next generation to look forward to? If this is something you want to do, it’s absolutely something you can. How awesome that a league is really buying into us and trying to make that dream a reality.”
Learn about the Athletes Unlimited Softball League
As mentioned, there are four teams currently in the inaugural season of the AUSL, as the league will be a touring property this year while making stops in ten different cities. The teams will each be assigned to a single city when the league becomes city-based in 2026, and you could liken playing their games around the country to the PWHL’s Takeover Tour as that league used the tour as means to scout cities for their very first round of expansion. With Seattle slated to get the second expansion team of this current round, alongside Vancouver, BC, Seattle could make it two new professional women’s sports teams in as many years if Athletes Unlimited is happy with what they see from the attendance and support surrounding this stop at Husky Softball Stadium. Bates mentioned herself that part of this inaugural season and touring is to get a feel for the different cities that they’ll be traveling to, so fans of softball and Husky fans can potentially directly impact whether or not the city gets a team here next year.
“It’s been huge, I think it’s something that we’ve always believed in and it’s so rewarding when you get that return and support from the fans to buy in because we know how big it can be and how big and fast it’s growing. It’s really nice to get that and for everyone to be on the same page because softball is so awesome.”
“We feel it even now, we’ve been out of Seattle for a little while but our fans love us and it’s so cool. They will comment on all of our things still and now we get to come home and see them, see the girls that we used to give lessons to and hopefully they will come to our games. What a full circle moment for us.”
Also mentioned previously, the four inaugural teams in the AUSL will will play 24 games each between June 7th and July 23rd, culminating with the top two teams competing in the AUSL Championship, a best-of-three series to be held July 26th-28th at the University of Alabama’s Rhoads Stadium. Both Klingler and Bates mentioned that it’ll be nice to be on one team for the entirety of a season, as previously in AUSL Championship play they’d rotate teams weekly. Having that team culture and connection is something both really wanted to have, also citing that fans being able to cheer on specific teams will be cool after previously having to just cheer their favorite players on as they rotate. Following that AUSL Championship, 60 players will compete for an individual championship in the AUSL All-Star Cup, a 24-game competition in August featuring the innovative Athletes Unlimited scoring system. To watch the league this year, ESPN has signed on as a founding broadcast partner of the AUSL, and will carry 33 total games exclusively across platforms in 2025, with 30 of them to air on linear television.
A big piece of news surrounding the league is that Kim Ng, former Miami Marlins general manager, was named Commissioner of the league just under two weeks ago. Ng previously joined Athletes Unlimited last summer as a Senior Advisor charged with developing the new pro softball league, already has many accomplishments to her name with the league including: assembling a world-class collection of softball’s biggest names to serve as General Managers, Head Coaches and ambassadors; engineering the creation of the first four team brands as well as the league’s inaugural draft; establishing a package of player benefits unprecedented in the history of the sport; leading negotiations with the 12 cities and venues that will host the AUSL this season; and overseeing all operations for the new league, including league structure, rules and scheduling. It’s obvious that Kim has played a major role with the league already, but now she’ll continue to do so as the AUSL hopes to take a gigantic leap just as the WNBA, NWSL, and PWHL have as women’s professional leagues in the United States. She will be charged with fostering the league’s growth, promoting its brand, and driving its long-term success. Ng will report to Athletes Unlimited CEO and Co-Founder, Jon Patricof, and work closely with Patricof, Athletes Unlimited Co-Founder Jonathan Soros, and the Athletes Unlimited Board of Directors to set the strategic direction for the AUSL, ensuring sustained success and expansion.
Husky representation in the AUSL
Four Washington alum are currently on rosters in the AUSL, representing three of the leagues four inaugural teams with the lone team not having a Husky being the Bandits. Outfielder Victoria Hayward and infielder Ali Aguilar are on the Talons, while infielders Klingler and Bates are on the Blaze and Volts, respectfully, as previously mentioned. Given the rich history of Washington softball, it’s not at all surprising to see that there’s some solid representation for the Huskies, and it’ll be interesting to see what other players for the program may continue their playing career to this league now that there is an option to play professional softball after your collegiate career comes to an end.
UW Softball alum Victoria Hayward during her time previously with Athletes Unlimited. (Photo via Athletes Unlimited)
Hayward is the most senior of the four representing Washington in the AUSL, including with Athletes Unlimited as she’s played in seven AU Softball campaigns, most recently finishing 12th place in the 2024 Championship Season. In addition to her time at Washington (Four seasons as a Husky) as a player, Hayward spent a brief moment coaching alongside Heather Tarr before taking her current role as the head coach at the University of Nevada. Hayward’s coaching career hasn’t stopped her from continuing to play the game as well, including at the international level as she is the youngest person ever named to the Canadian Senior National Team after joining the team at 16 in 2009. Victoria helped lead Canada to its first-ever Olympic medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where she hit .300 with a team-high seven runs scored. Back to her Athletes Unlimited career, Hayward was a starter in 14 games during that 2024 campaign, as she ranked fifth in the league with .341 batting average. She was also the third-place medalist of the inaugural season in 2020. Hayward holds multiple Championship Season records including at-bats (248), hits (85), and stolen bases (26).
UW Softball alum Ali Aguilar during her time previously with Athletes Unlimited. (Photo via Athletes Unlimited)
Aguilar, an infielder, is the second most senior of the four and returns to Athletes Unlimited play after competing in the 2021 AU Pro Softball Championship Season, taking the field in all 15 games of that campaign. Ali recorded a .295 batting average with four doubles and five home runs, contributing to the second-best slugging percentage that season (.727). A native of Rocklin, California, Aguilar played for the Washington Huskies from 2014 to 2017 where she was named a three-time First Team All-Pac-12 and an NFCA All-American in her last two years with the program. Much like Hayward, Aguilar has represented her country internationally as she is a 2020 Olympic silver medalist with Team USA and has played for the national team since 2016. Her impressive playing career includes her being a two-time gold medalist in the Pan American Games and the WBSC Women’s World Championship.
UW Softball alum and infielder Baylee Klingler with Team USA Softball, where she’s represented her country internationally on numerous occasions. (Photo via USA Softball)
Klingler was drafted in the eighth round of the AUSL Inaugural Draft after previously being selected in the 2023 AU Pro Softball College Draft, one of 14 players taken in that event. During her time at Washington, Baylee was one of the more impressive offensive producers in program history as she ranks third on Washington’s career lists for batting average (.420), slugging percentage (.795), and on-base percentage (.499), posting three consecutive seasons with 70 or more hits and scored 163 runs during her career, including 56 runs as a sophomore, and ranking fifth on the Huskies’ career home runs list and is one of eight players to drive in 200 or more career runs. In addition to her impressive hitting history, she was a four-year letter winner at Washington. Klingler has all sorts of professional experience in addition to her time with Athletes Unlimited, including being selected second overall pick in the 2023 Women’s Professional Fastpitch Draft by Texas Smoke where she appeared in 30 games and was selected to the All-WPF Team during her rookie season. During her 2024 Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball Championship Season, Klingler tied for seventh in the league with 140 MVP points and was named to the AU Pro Softball All-Defensive Team, was a two-time Game MVP selection, finished Week Four with MVP 1 recognition and a season-high 200 leaderboard points, and earned MVP 1 honors in the Week Two finale against Team Lorenz. Baylee’s international experience includes leading Team USA to a gold medal at the 2017 WBSC Junior Women’s World Championship by hitting .393 with 10 runs scored, two home runs, and 12 runs batted in and guiding Team USA to the 2022 Canada Cup title. Additionally, she participated in the 2022 Japan All-Star Series and was named to the Team USA roster for the 2023 WBSC World Cup Qualifier.
UW Softball alum Sis Bates during her time previously with Athletes Unlimited. (Photo via Athletes Unlimited)
Bates is one of the greatest defensive players in NCAA Softball history, and she’s coming off one of her best offensive performances last summer in Athletes Unlimited (Having started playing with the organization back in 2021) when she was tied for seventh in the league in stat points, recording a .327 batting average. Bates’ 16 hits were good for fifth in the circuit during her 2024 campaign and she led in stolen bases with four. Sis tallied at least one hit in 12-of-15 games and started the season with a seven-game hitting streak. Bates garnered MVP 3 distinction and matched her season high with 150 leaderboard points, while claiming the Defensive MVP certificate in the Week Five opener against Team Ocasio. She recorded five games with 100 or more leaderboard points. She is known for her defensive prowess as a pro and collegiately, she earned the 2023 AUX Softball Defensive MVP and earning All-Defensive Team honors at the Championship Season that year. She has finished in the top 10 on the leaderboard twice: ninth overall at the 2023 AUX season and 2021 Championship season. Back at Washington, Bates was a five-year letter winner at Washington and started all 261 career games from 2017-21, closing out her career as the Huskies all-time leader with 320 hits and was a three-time Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year recipient. Sis earned NFCA All-America honors three times, including First-Team recognition as a sophomore and junior, also receiving All-Pac-12 First Team notice as a sophomore, junior, and graduate student. In 2019, she was named Seattle Female Sports Star of the Year, and was one of seven unanimous All-America selections during the 2019 campaign. Bates was a finalist for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award and is one of six players in program history to record 200 or more hits over the first three seasons. Make it four for four with all of these Huskies having international experience, as Bates is a member of Team USA and most recently earned a silver medal at the 2024 WBSC World Cup, winning a Gold medal with Team USA in the 2017 WBSC Junior Women’s World Championship. Bates has also participated in the World Cup of Softball XII, helped Team USA win a Gold medal at the 2022 Pan American Championship in Guatemala City, Guatemala, and guided Team USA to the silver medal at the 2024 WBSC World Cup Finals. In addition to her playing career, Bates is a member of Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball's Player Executive Committee while also currently working as the Director of Player Development for the University of Washington softball team.
What’s next?
With the Seattle leg of the “This is Legendary Pre-Season Tour” wrapping up Sunday, April 27th, there are a few key dates to look forward to regarding the league itself, Bates, and Klingler. The next event to look forward to pertaining to the league is the AUSL College Draft Show, which airs on ESPNU on Saturday, May 3rd at 6PM PDT. Savanna Collins will host the draft with analysis from veteran ESPN softball commentator Amanda Scarborough and long-time pro and Olympian Haylie McCleney. The show will feature special guests, AUSL coaches and general managers, NCAA coaches, and more. The Volts will make the first draft selection. The first pick of each round will rotate among the four teams over the course of three rounds, as twelve athletes will be selected at the draft in three rounds to complete AUSL team rosters of 16 players. There may be some new announcements regarding the league between that draft and the very first game of the leagues inaugural season, which comes on June 7th with a first pitch time of 12PM PDT between the Talons and Bandits at The Stadium at Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, Illinois.
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