ESPN and Athletes Unlimited announced a three-year rights extension Wednesday that makes ESPN the official broadcast partner for the women's professional sports company's softball, basketball and volleyball leagues.
ESPN platforms will broadcast more than 50 exclusive Athletes Unlimited Softball League games each year during the deal. ABC will broadcast at least one AUSL championship series game in 2026. It will be the first time women's pro softball will be shown on network television in the United States.
ESPN also will show all 24 games of Athletes Unlimited's basketball and volleyball leagues on ESPNU and ESPN+.
Rosalyn Durant, ESPN's executive vice president for programming and acquisitions, said increased interest in women's sports led to the deal.
"The growth we've seen across Athletes Unlimited's leagues speaks to the power and appeal of women's sports," Durant said in a statement. "We're excited to deepen our partnership and bring even more of these moments and athletes to fans everywhere."
The investment in pro softball follows record numbers for the college game. The 2025 Women's College World Series finals between Texas and Texas Tech averaged 2.2 million viewers across ESPN's networks -- the most-watched finals of all time. ESPN averaged 1.3 million viewers across 15 World Series games, also the most watched.
"This renewed and expanded partnership affirms the strength of our properties and reflects the growing enthusiasm for women's professional sports," Cheri Kempf, chief broadcast officer for Athletes Unlimited, said in a statement. "We are excited to continue collaborating with ESPN's outstanding team to elevate the AUSL, AU Pro Basketball and the AU Pro Volleyball Championship even further and deliver exceptional experiences for fans and brands alike."
