Defending champion Utah Talons clinch top seed, earn spot in AUSL Championship Series
Jul 21, 2026, 4:32 PM | Updated: Jul 22, 2026, 9:38 am
The Utah Talons wait at home plate to celebrate with 3B Jordan Woolery during a July 12 game against the Oklahoma City Shock. (Photo courtesy of AUSL)
(Photo courtesy of AUSL)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Talons are heading back to College Station, Texas, with a chance to become the first back-to-back champion in Athletes Unlimited Softball League history.
The inaugural champions finished the regular season 16-9 to edge out the Chicago Bandits for the No. 1 seed. Utah heads to the best-of-three AUSL Championship Series at Davis Diamond. Game 1 is Saturday at 11 a.m. MT on ABC.
Utah will face the winner of Thursday’s play-in game between the No. 2 Bandits and No. 3 Portland Cascade. First pitch is at 7 p.m. MT on ESPN.
back where we belong, the AUSL Championship 🦅 pic.twitter.com/PEO2FhwNX0
— Utah Talons | AUSL (@AUSL_Talons) July 20, 2026
The Talons authored one of the most dominant regular seasons in the AUSL’s two-year history, leading the six-team league in ERA (2.67), strikeouts (143) and complete games (16) while allowing the fewest home runs (17) and earned runs (66).
Buoyed by a deep pitching staff and a balanced lineup, Utah now has a chance to cement itself as the AUSL’s first dynasty after sweeping the Bandits in two games to capture the league’s inaugural title in 2025.
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Dominant pitching carries Utah Talons to top seed
Much like their 2025 championship run, the Talons rode a deep and dominant pitching staff through the regular season.
Montana Fouts was the unquestioned ace, going 7-4 with a 2.36 ERA while leading the AUSL with 62.1 innings pitched. The former Alabama standout authored 7 complete games and struck out a league-high 63 batters.
When the fiercely competitive Fouts wasn’t available, former UCLA pitcher Megan Faraimo and 2025 AUSL Pitcher of the Year Georgina Corrick kept opponent bats quiet.
Corrick returned from international play to post a 1.12 ERA in six appearances (four starts) and 37.2 innings. She was at her best when it mattered most, tossing a two-hit complete game that carried the Talons past Chicago and clinched the top seed on the season’s final weekend.
we love queen George 🫶 pic.twitter.com/MWgJgv19i7
— Utah Talons | AUSL (@AUSL_Talons) July 20, 2026
Faraimo only got better in her second AUSL season, going 4-2 with a 3.83 ERA.
Utah’s staff dominance extended across the board. The Talons’ 2.67 team ERA was more than a full run better than second-place Chicago and was the only franchise with double-digit complete games. Talon pitchers combined to hold opponents to a .240 batting average and 66 earned runs, 17 fewer than the Bandits.
Balanced lineup, steady defense fuel postseason push
The pitching carried the Talons, but Utah’s lineup was no afterthought.
Former Washington and UCLA outfielder Jadelyn Allchin emerged as the team’s most dangerous bat, slashing .333/.376/.615 while driving in 17 runs. She heads into the championship series with 4 home runs, 6 doubles and 2 triples — and was spotless in the field, committing zero errors in 54 chances.
Power-hitting first baseman Bri Ellis rebounded from a difficult rookie campaign to lead the team with 5 home runs and a .353 batting average.
BRI ELLIS WALKS IT OFF IN THE 7TH
TALONS WIN pic.twitter.com/bncmiuPLQm
— AUSL (@theAUSLofficial) July 5, 2026
Sahvanna Jaquish provided steady defense across the diamond, committing just 2 errors in 25 games while hitting .254 with 3 home runs and 9 walks.
Former Utah All-American Hannah Flippen, the defending AUSL Defensive Player of the Year, hit .245 in 19 games.
Rookie third baseman Jordan Wollery, a former UCLA standout, added 11 RBI and a .270 batting average in 21 games.
With a chance to repeat, the Talons will look to prove that last year’s title was no fluke — and that the AUSL’s best team resides in Utah.
Follow the AUSL & Talons with KSL Sports
The 2026 AUSL Championship begins on Saturday, July 25, in College Station, Texas. First pitch will be broadcast nationally on ABC at 11 a.m. MT.
Find the Talons’ 2026 season schedule here.
Take us with you wherever you go.
Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
