Former Marlins GM Kim Ng continues to build an impressive resume.
Less than a year after joining the Athletes Unlimited Softball League as a senior advisor, Ng on Wednesday was named commissioner for the new pro league, which begins its inaugural season June 7.
As senior advisor, Ng was responsible for developing the league and building support among softball players, managers and other stakeholders. In that role, she brought in prominent figures in the softball world to serve as general managers, head coaches and ambassadors, and led the creation of the first four team brands as well as the league's first Draft. She also helped create a player benefits package and secured playing locations at 12 venues.
Before joining the AUSL, Ng served as an MLB representative on the board for USA Softball to help grow the sport. Her softball experience extends to her time playing the sport at the University of Chicago.
¡°Softball was my first love growing up, so it¡¯s both gratifying and humbling to be given this responsibility at such a pivotal moment for the sport,¡± Ng said in a news release. ¡°I¡¯m grateful to everyone at Athletes Unlimited and across the softball community for welcoming me with open arms, and look forward to rewarding the faith they¡¯ve placed in me by doing everything I can to ensure the AUSL lives up to its promise to grow this sport at the professional level in the U.S. to new heights.¡±
The AUSL will begin play with four teams -- the Bandits, Blaze, Talons and Volts -- competing in a 24-game season that will culminate in a best-of-three championship series July 26-28. After the championship, 60 players will compete for an individual championship in the AUSL All-Star Cup, a 24-game competition in August featuring the Athletes Unlimited scoring system. Starting in 2026, the league's teams will be city-based.
As commissioner, Ng will be charged with helping the league grow and develop, as well as driving its long-term success.
¡°Kim¡¯s intellect, experience, and connection to players and business leaders alike clearly make her uniquely qualified for this role, and the way she has galvanized and inspired the entire softball community behind the AUSL over the past year has been remarkable,¡± Athletes Unlimited CEO and co-founder Jon Patricof said in a news release. ¡°The AUSL marks a bold new step forward for softball, and under Kim¡¯s leadership, we are confident it will soon join the ranks of the leading pro sports leagues.¡±
Ng's promotion to AUSL commissioner continues her vast experience as a sports executive. Before joining the Marlins, she also served as an executive for the Dodgers and Yankees, as well as an MLB senior vice president. Her first MLB job was an internship with the White Sox in 1990.
She made history in 2020 as the first woman to be a general manager of a major American men's pro sports team.
For more information on the AUSL, visit theUASL.com.