CLEMSON, S.C. – Valerie Cagle, current pitcher/utility player for Clemson Softball, emerged as the top pick in the Athletes Unlimited Softball College Draft held on Tuesday. Among the 15 athletes drafted, Cagle earned the coveted spot and is set to join contracted returnees and free agents in the upcoming 2024 AUX Pro Softball Season in Wichita, Kansas, followed by the 2024 AU Pro Softball Championship Season in Rosemont, Illinois.
About Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball AUX
Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball AUX (pronounced A-U-X) will showcase 18 games over two weeks, employing AU’s distinct scoring system to determine an individual champion. The 2024 event is scheduled from June 10-25 at Wichita State’s Wilkins Stadium, with all games broadcasted live on the ESPN family of networks.
Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball Championship Season
The Championship Season comprises 15 games spanning five weeks, using AU’s innovative scoring system to crown an individual champion. Taking place from July 26 to August 25 at The Stadium at Parkway Bank Sports Complex, this season marks the inaugural sports venue exclusively dedicated to women’s professional sports in the United States. Fifteen AU Pro Softball championship games will be exclusively available live on ESPN platforms.
Valerie Cagle: A Stellar Career
Valerie Cagle, the reigning 2023 USA Softball Player of the Year and two-time ACC Player of the Year, hails from Yorktown, Va. She joined the Clemson Tigers in 2020 for their inaugural season and has since amassed an impressive track record. Over her five years with the team, Cagle maintains a .385 batting average with 288 hits, including 66 home runs, 49 doubles, and six triples. She boasts a .731 slugging percentage and ranks second on the ACC’s all-time list for home runs.
A Dual Threat on the Field
Cagle excels both at the plate and on the mound, boasting a remarkable 1.70 ERA across 753.2 innings of play. With 86 career victories and 816 strikeouts to her name, she limits opponents to a .203 batting average and has secured 28 solo shutouts, including two no-hitters and one perfect game. Her accolades include the 2023 Rawlings Gold Glove (Pitcher), 2021 ACC Freshman of the Year, three NFCA All-America honors, among others. This summer, she will also compete with the USA Softball WNT in the Japan All-Star Series.
Joining Elite Company
Valerie Cagle marks the third Tiger to transition to professional play, following in the footsteps of former teammates Caroline Jacobsen (2023) and Ansley Gilstrap (2021), who were drafted by teams in the Women’s Professional Fastpitch (WPF) league. Notably, Cagle is the second Clemson athlete to join Athletes Unlimited, following Jacobsen’s participation in the 2023 championship season with the league.
