The Oklahoma City Spark are officially going big league, joining the Athletes Unlimited Softball League as one of six city-based teams and opening their home slate against the Texas Volts on June 9, 2026. The move pulls the Spark out of their independent lane and drops them into AUSL’s national spotlight, setting up a busier, higher-profile summer for metro fans.
League Expansion And Summer Slate
AUSL is bumping its footprint to six host cities in 2026, adding Oklahoma City and the Portland Cascade to the existing Carolina Blaze, Chicago Bandits, Texas Volts and Utah Talons. The 2026 regular season is scheduled to begin June 9 and run into late July, followed by a play-in game and a best-of-three championship series, according to Athletes Unlimited.
TV Deal Shoves AUSL Into Prime Time
A multi-year distribution deal with ESPN is set to put roughly 50 AUSL games per season on ESPN platforms, capped by a marquee championship broadcast on ABC…..