More prestige is added to the legend of the Clemson Softball program’s early history, this time in the form of two former players being drafted into a brand new professional softball league. Outfielders Caroline Jacobsen (Tigers class of 2023) and McKenzie Clark (class of 2024) were drafted to represent the Clemson Tigers in the AUSL, the newest version of American professional softball.
The Athletes Unlimited Softball League, a professional women’s softball league, will kick off this summer with four teams competing in a conventional setup. Initially, the AUSL will operate as a traveling league during its inaugural season, featuring the Bandits, Blaze, Talons, and Volts, who will play across six to eight different cities. By 2026, the league plans to transition to a city-based format, with each team permanently located in a specific city.
Set to debut in 2025, the new AUSL will enhance the current AU Pro Softball Championship Season, which is set to be rebranded as the AUSL All-Star Cup. This cup will take place after the AUSL season and will continue to feature AU’s unique scoring system to determine an individual winner.
Jacobsen was drafted as pick #38 in the tenth round by the Talons, by softball legends Lisa Fernandez (General Manager) and Howard Dobson (Head Coach). After transferring from Duke to Clemson as a graduate, Jacobsen became a powerhouse in the lineup for John Rittman’s squad, racking up 12 home runs and 50 RBIs in 2023 and play as a 1-2 punch alongside Valerie Cagle for the Tigers. She helped lead Clemson to the 2023 Super Regionals against Oklahoma.
Picked #42 overall in the 11th round by the Volts, Cat Osterman (GM) and Kelly Kretschman (HC), Clark was a part of the heart and soul of Clemson Softball for her entire tenure as a Tiger. Outside of her consistent appearances on Sportscenter’s Top 10 Plays for her incredible defensive prowess in center field, “Pie” hit 44 home runs and 142 RBIs in her four-year collegiate career.
The AUSL season is scheduled to kick off in June, with ESPN set to exclusively broadcast a minimum of 18 games in 2025 across its channels. You can catch your former Clemson Tigers on a screen near you, including ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU.
