Arizona softball: Catcher Sydney Stewart drafted by AUSL’s Portland Cascade

Arizona's Sydney Stewart reacts to hitting a home run against Texas Tech during a Big 12 Conference softball game, Saturday, March 14, 2026, at Rocky Johnson Field. | Nathan Giese/Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

When college softball players receive their “golden tickets” on their home fields, they know they will be drafted into the AUSL. They just don’t know where.

Arizona All-American catcher Sydney Stewart found out where on Monday evening during the 2026 AUSL College Draft. She was taken midway through the second round by the expansion Portland Cascade as the ninth overall pick.

The AUSL played its first season last year as a four-team league that traveled to different cities around the country. This year, they will go to a more traditional format with six teams anchored to their own home cities. The Carolina Blaze, Texas Volts, Chicago Bandits, and Utah Talons were joined by the Cascade and the Oklahoma City Spark. The Spark have operated as part of previous leagues and as an independent organization, but they joined the AUSL for the 2026 season.

The draft had three total rounds, but the Cascade were the only franchise to select a player in all four. Stewart will join a group of players who once faced off as members of the Pac-12. Portland took UCLA’s Megan Grant at No. 4 overall in the first round. Stewart followed, then Arizona State pitcher Kenzie Brown had her name called by the Cascade at No. 15 in the third round. Florida’s Kenleigh Cahalan was the sole pick in the fourth round. The Cascade took her at No. 17.

Stewart and Florida’s Jocelyn Erickson were the only catchers taken in the draft. Erickson went to the Chicago Bandits at No. 5.

The top overall pick was a pitcher, but she didn’t come from the Big 12. Tennessee’s went first to the Carolina Blaze where she will join former Arizona pitcher/infielder .