Locals in the Pros

Update of Arizona standouts in AUSL (7/1)

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JALEN ADAMS – UTAH TALONS (ON RESERVE)

Jalen Adams was a second-Team NFCA All-West Region and All-Big 12 Conference selection this season with Arizona after transferring from Iowa. She posted a 17-8 record with a 3.58 ERA and 52 strikeouts for the Wildcats.

TAYLER BIEHL – UTAH TALONS (ON RESERVE)

— Tayler Biehl belted her first professional home run on June 19. She had six with the Wildcats this spring.

— Biehl was placed back in the Talons’ reserve pool on June 29.

ALYSSA DENHAM — TEXAS VOLT (ON INJURED LIST)

Alyssa Denham had back surgery two years ago to correct a ruptured disk. The injury was serious enough to force her to announce her retirement. In November 2024, Denham had surgery and the procedure included the placement of a spinal fusion cage, a prosthetic device inserted between vertebrae. During her rehabilitation, she felt strong enough to try pitching again, and she felt like she was able to make a return. Her childhood friend Cat Osterman is the general manager of the Texas Volts. On Dec. 1, Osterman selected selected four athletes to add to her team in the expansion draft, and with her second pick, Osterman picked Denham. “It’s an extreme blessing to get to play,” Denham told MLB.com. “So it’s going to give me the opportunity, I think, to play the freest that I’ve ever played.” She was forced to go on the injured list (undisclosed reason) a day after her first appearance on June 10, when she pitched six solid innings in an 8-5 win over Oklahoma City. Denham secured the victory after allowing three runs on four hits with three strikeouts over six innings. It marked her first appearance in the circle since Aug. 25, 2024, when she threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings against Team Corrick in the AU Pro Softball Championship Season finale.

GRACE JENKINS — OKLAHOMA CITY SPARK

The Oklahoma City Spark signed utility player Grace Jenkins, formerly of Arizona, on June 24 after she previously joined the franchise on a reserve assignment. Jenkins was selected by the Chicago Bandits in the provisional phase of the 2026 Athletes Unlimited Softball League College Draft. She joined the Reserve Athlete Pool on May 22. The Spark reserved Jenkins on June 5 and have now elevated her to the active roster with a contract. The Folsom, Calif., native joined the professional ranks following a standout collegiate career at UConn and Arizona. She was a three-time All-Big East selection with the Huskies, and was named Big East Player of the Year in 2025 before transferring to Arizona for her senior season. In 2026, Jenkins earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors after hitting .336 with 14 home runs and 65 RBIs. Across 207 collegiate games, she posted a .367 batting average with 47 home runs and 217 RBIs.

TAYLOR MCQUILLIN — CHICAGO BANDITS

Former Arizona ace Taylor McQuillin recorded her first save of the season and 10th in her six-year pro career in Chicago’s 4-3 win over Carolina on June 18. She struck out two in her 1 2/3 hitless innings of relief. This happened a day after Utah announced the hiring of McQuillin as its pitching coach. A native of Mission Viejo, Calif., McQuillin was an All-American during her career at Arizona and has an extensive professional softball resume that includes time with National Pro Fastpitch, the Japan Diamond League and the Athletes Unlimited Softball League. McQuillin has also been a member of the softball staff at Southern Utah since 2024 and was promoted to associate head coach in 2025. In the international circuit, McQuillin has spent time with the Mexican Women’s National Softball Team and helped the squad qualify for and also competed at the 2020 Olympics. During her time with the Wildcats, she piled up 80 victories and earned four straight all-conference selections, becoming the first Arizona pitcher to accomplish that feat in more than a decade. During her senior season in 2019, she racked up 24 wins, pitched to a 1.52 ERA, was named an NFCA First-Team All-American and helped lead her squad to the Women’s College World Series. She left Arizona owning spots in the program’s top 10 in wins, strikeouts and innings pitched.

DEJAH MULIPOLA — TEXAS VOLT

— Former Arizona All-American catcher Dejah Mulipola was activated from the temporary inactive list on June 23. She was reinstated after playing in the Japan Diamond League. She has competed for Hitachi Sundiva of the Japan Diamond League since 2024. Mulipola reached base twice on June 24 and has now reached base three times in four AUSL plate appearances. 

— USA Softball announced July 1 that Mulipolia was selected to represent the U.S. Women’s National Team (WNT) Program at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) World Cup Group C Stage Event. Arizona coach Caitlin Lowe was announced as a member of the coaching staff for this team with Oklahoma’s Patty Gasso the head coach. The 2026 WBSC World Cup Group C roster features Mulipola and 15 other athletes who will represent Team USA Sept. 12-16 in Oklahoma City, and the USA Softball International Cup. Additionally, 18 athletes have been named to the U.S. Women’s Elite Team roster for the 2026 International Cup. Slated for July 30-Aug. 3 at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, the event will feature both squads, along with two additional athletes competing with the WNT.

DEVYN NETZ — CAROLINA BLAZE

— Devyn Netz belted her second home run of her rookie season in Carolina’s 6-1 victory on June 27 over Utah and former Wildcat teammate Tayler Biehl.

— Netz will forever be the one who homered first in the 2026 AUSL season.

SYDNEY STEWART — PORTLAND CASCADE

Sydney Stewart was selected by the Portland Cascade with the No. 9 overall choice in the 2026 AUSL College Draft. She compiled a .346 career batting average with 47 home runs and 172 RBIs over 206 games with Washington and Arizona. This last season at Arizona, she ranked No. 3 on the team with a .390 average, 20 home runs and 76 RBIs. She was the Big 12 Player of the Year.

Transactions

Updated on July 1

June 29

Utah Talons reassigned Tayler Biehl to the Reserve Pool

June 24

Oklahoma City Spark signed Grace Jenkins

June 23

Texas Volts reinstated Dejah Mulipola from the Temporary Inactive List

June 14

Utah Talons selected Tayler Biehl from the Reserve Athlete Pool

June 13

Utah Talons reassigned Jalen Adams to the Reserve Athlete Pool

June 11

Texas Volts placed Alyssa Denham on the Injured list

FORMER CDO & ARIZONA STANDOUT PITCHER KENZIE FOWLER-QUINN BEHIND THE MIC FOR AUSL GAMES

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