As the AUSL Allocation Draft is on the horizon, the league announced the coaches and general managers for the sophomore season. The general managers from the Blaze, Bandits, Talons, and Volts will return in 2026 in Dana Sorensen, Jenny Dalton-Hill, Lisa Fernandez, and Cat Osterman, respectively.
As for the two newest teams, Jami Lobpries will be the general manager of the Cascade and Kirk Walter for the Oklahoma City Spark. Looking at the coaches, only the Howard Dobson is back for the defending champion Talons in the dugout. Additionally, Indiana Hoosiers head softball coach Shonda Stanton will lead the Bandits this season. Next, Kara Dill takes the reins of the Blaze. She is currently the head softball coach at UT Arlington.
Pleeeease welcome the first General Manager of the Cascade, Jami Lobpries!@JamiLo2 serves as the CEO of @thealliancefp and played professionally in the NPF from 2009-12. Prior to her pro career, Lobpries was a member of the @AggieSoftball team
— Cascade | AUSL (@AUSL_Cascade) November 24, 2025
đź”— https://t.co/h5v0skfBiO pic.twitter.com/OtmH962Jty
Ricci Woodard was named the head coach of the Volts. Also, Woodard is Texas State’s all-time winningest softball coach. Looking at the Cascade, no head coach has been announced as of now while the Spark named Seminole State College head softball coach Amber Flores. Flores is a six-time Region 2 Softball Coach of the Year with an .829 winning percentage at Seminole State.
The AUSL Allocation and Expansion Draft
Here, the Cascade and Spark will have the opportunity to construct much of their roster with players left unprotected by the Blaze, Bandits, Talons, and Volts. Each of these teams protected five of their players ahead of the draft. This is the Allocation half of the draft.
The other half (Expansion) is where the Cascade and Spark will choose from a pool of players of unprotected players Here, teams can draft players like Maya Brady, Aleshia Ocasio, Sam Landry, and Bubba Nickles-Camerena.
Via a coin toss, the Spark will have first pick in the Expansion draft. The Cascade will have top pick in the Allocation draft.
Moreover, fans can watch it all unfold on ESPNU on Dec. 1 as ESPN softball commentators Amanda Scarborough and Danielle Lawrie will provide analysis of the draft. AUSL play-by-play announcer Chuckie Kempf will host as Savanna Collins will be reporting.
AUSL Reporter @savannaecollins profiles her thoughts on the best available athletes for expansion during the AUSL Draft on Dec. 1.
— AUSL (@theAUSLofficial) November 25, 2025
From the utility of Maya Brady to the consistency of Syd McKinney, there are many talented pieces that any franchise could build around.
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