Much to the delight of my softball-loving heart, Athletes Unlimited softball returned to Rosemont for the last five weekends. It was another season of fun and elite play.

AU is a unique concept in women’s sports. Fielding leagues of lacrosse, volleyball, softball and basketball, AU utilizes a fantasy-like scoring system, rewarding points for individual and team performance. Each league features four teams playing five weeks, with teams redrafted every week. The end result is a lot of player combinations, tremendous play and one lone champion at the end of each season.

Run by players, AU also features a charitable aspect, as a portion of each player’s salary goes to a charity of her choosing. Also, in softball, 10 trees are planted for every run scored. Last season that meant AU was responsible for 2,000 new trees. AU is also about inclusion on every level.

Since its debut, AU softball has called Parkway Bank Sports Complex its home. Opened in 2011, it is the first stadium built for women’s pro softball. With a seating capacity of 2,000, it is the former home of the now defunct Chicago Bandits of National Pro Fastpitch.

Among the 56 total players are many former Olympians. There are also about 10 former Bandits; they always get the loudest cheers. About 12 players have suited up all seasons, while 15 are playing their first. A few veterans announced this will be their last season, allowing fans to see them one last time.

© Sam Fischer photo courtesy of Jade Hewitt Media and Athletes Unlimited.

Outfielder Amanda Lorenz won the 2024 championship with 1,800 points. A product of the University of Florida, Lorenz finished in 14th place last season.

© Jade Hewitt Media and Athletes Unlimited.

To new fans, it is a bit difficult learning the rules of AU sports, but the sports themselves are the heart of it. Once the game starts, I just enjoy the elite level of play without focusing on points for each play.

— John Wroblewski, online writer