Tennessee softball pitcher Karlyn Pickens selected No. 1 by Carolina

Tennessee softball pitcher Karlyn Pickens selected No. 1 by Carolina

Tennessee senior pitcher Karlyn Pickens was selected No. 1 overall by Carolina in the AUSL college draft on Monday. The Blaze are located in Durham, North Carolina and were established in 2025 as one of the four original teams in the AUSL.

Pickens joins former teammate Payton Gottshall and director of player development Aubrey Leach as former Lady Vols in the AUSL. Gottshall plays for Portland and Leach is with Carolina.

Utah won the AUSL in 2025.

The 2026 AUSL season will feature six teams: Chicago Bandits, Carolina Blaze, Portland Cascade, Oklahoma City Spark, Utah Talons and Texas Volts.

In February, Pickens became the first current college player to sign a NIL deal with the AUSL.

“When I was growing up, I didn’t really see (pro) softball," Pickens said. "I watched the Olympics, but outside of college, I didn’t really think there was an option to go pro. It’s been just a few years, and now everyone’s dream is to go to AUSL and continue their softball career."

More: Karlyn Pickens named 2025 Vols Wire Female Athlete of the Year

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