For decades, Major League Baseball stood in the dugout while others took swings at building women’s pro sports. Now, in a move that feels less like innovation and more like finally reading the room, MLB has stepped up to the plate. The league, long known for tradition over transformation, has made a bold play that could reshape the landscape—and this time, it’s not just about the boys of summer.

The USA has 4 of the biggest and richest sports in the world. But only one of them was ALSO promoting women in their sport, and that was NBA. But with the recent MLB update on their X handle, things have taken a turn, and NBA is not alone anymore.

The MLB announced that they have invested in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League. They wrote, “Major League Baseball today announced a strategic investment in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL), marking a first-of-its-kind, comprehensive partnership with a women’s professional sports league.”

NBA didn’t just launch the WNBA in 1996—it built a blueprint for belief. By owning 60% of the league and backing it with broadcast muscle, the National Basketball Association turned potential into product. Viewership for the 2023 WNBA Finals hit 728,000—a 36% jump from the year before. That playbook didn’t just shape a league; it shifted a cultural tide. Women’s NBA grew from side-stage curiosity to a central act with stars and staying power.

Now, MLB is swinging for more than just fences with its over 20% stake in the AUSL. The AUSL’s 2025 season will feature 72 games, 33 of which will air on ESPN. Games will also stream on MLB.tv and be broadcast on MLB Network, starting June 7. Players will appear at the MLB All-Star Game and postseason to cross-pollinate audiences.

MLB commissioner, Rob Manfred, said, “I think it’s a moment in time for us. We’ve been very engaged in the softball space as part of our youth participation programs, and the growing popularity of women’s sports motivated us to look around.” For once, MLB isn’t just preserving history—it’s helping make it, one inning at a time.

If that sounds familiar, it’s because MLB finally realized copy-paste isn’t just for spreadsheets. This move isn’t charity—it’s strategy, and long overdue. With the AUSL, MLB isn’t just catching up to NBA; it’s signaling it can play modern ball. Women’s sports are no longer a warmup act—they’re main event material.

How Kim Ng is revolutionizing the AUSL with her MLB expertise

Baseball’s boardrooms weren’t built for outsiders, especially not women who rewrite the playbook. But Kim Ng didn’t knock politely—she brought a battering ram and a résumé full of wins. Now she’s steering the AUSL, not with noise, but with needle-sharp precision and veteran swagger. This isn’t just softball’s glow-up—it’s a full-blown power shift dressed in cleats and stats.

This is not Kim Ng’s first rodeo in the ball game. She has worked with some winning teams like the Yankees and the Dodgers. She also broke through the roof when she became the first GM for the Miami Marlins. She had a very sharp eye for talent and did some smart operations that helped the Marlins do better during her tenure.

During her MLB reign, Kim championed smarter strategies and rebuilt teams with precision, not just passion. She brought data to the dugout, turning scouting into science and instincts into informed decisions. Her rosters weren’t stacked—they were engineered, balanced like chessboards ready for a postseason checkmate.

These behind-the-scenes power plays earned her a quiet reputation as MLB’s most quietly disruptive force.

As she takes up the mantel of the AUSL commissioner, Kim has channeled her MLB prowess and made AUSL into one of the fastest-growing leagues. Going into the new season, the viewer’s interest has increased by around 74%, showing the significance of the sport. Kim Ng isn’t just leading; she’s rewriting the playbook for women’s professional sports.

Kim Ng’s impact on the AUSL proves that real game changers don’t just follow the rules—they reinvent them. With her MLB-honed expertise, she’s turning softball into a league that demands respect and attention. If anyone thought women’s pro sports were stuck in the slow lane, Kim’s here to show otherwise. The only question left: Who’s ready to keep up?