LOS ANGELES – Seniors Megan Grant, Taylor Tinsley and Jordan Woolery were awarded Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) Golden Tickets following the No. 9 UCLA softball team's double-header sweep over Cal at Easton Stadium on Saturday.
The Golden Ticket program launched last season with the beginning of a new pro softball league and symbolizes a player being guaranteed a draft selection into the league. Last season, eight different student-athletes were given the prestigious honor with more to be given out this year with such a talented senior class.
UCLA's three Golden Ticket recipients are the most the league has ever awarded at one time. Grant, Tinsley and Woolery are the first Bruins to receive a Golden Ticket.
Grant received her ticket from Netflix sports anchor Elle Duncan. After her moment, UCLA Softball legend and AUSL advisor Natasha Watley emerged through the center-field gate next to her outfield wall signage and presented the second ticket to Woolery. Lastly, UCLA softball alumna and entrepreneur Jen Schroeder came through the left-field gate to award a ticket to Tinsley.
There have been nine other AUSL Golden Ticket recipients this year: NiJaree Canady (Texas Tech), Reese Atwood (Texas), Leighann Goode (Texas), Sydney Stewart (Arizona), Karlyn Pickens (Tennessee), Dakota Kennedy (Arkansas), Kenzie Brown (Arizona State), Taryn Kern (Stanford) and Maya Johnson (Belmont).
There will be 17 collegiate players selected to participate in the 2026 AUSL College Draft.
AUSL's College Draft Show is scheduled for Monday, May 4 and will be televised on ESPN2. Grant, Tinsley and Woolery and the 14 other golden ticket draftees will be assigned to the AUSL teams during the draft show to complete the rosters.
UCLA's senior trio will join nine other Bruins are already assigned to league rosters, which is the most in the AUSL. That group includes Megan Faraimo (Talons), Sharlize Palacios (Talons), Jadelyn Allchin (Talons), Jessica Clements (Bandits), Maya Brady (Spark), Bubba Nickles-Camarena (Spark), Delanie Wisz (Spark), Rachel Garcia (Volt) and Ally Carda (Volt).
Longtime assistant coaches Lisa Fernandez (Talons) and Kirk Walker (Spark) also serve leadership roles in the league as general managers. Fernandez, with the help of players Allchin, Faraimo, Palacios and Brady, guided the Talons to the inaugural AUSL title last summer.
The Golden Ticket program launched last season with the beginning of a new pro softball league and symbolizes a player being guaranteed a draft selection into the league. Last season, eight different student-athletes were given the prestigious honor with more to be given out this year with such a talented senior class.
UCLA's three Golden Ticket recipients are the most the league has ever awarded at one time. Grant, Tinsley and Woolery are the first Bruins to receive a Golden Ticket.
Grant received her ticket from Netflix sports anchor Elle Duncan. After her moment, UCLA Softball legend and AUSL advisor Natasha Watley emerged through the center-field gate next to her outfield wall signage and presented the second ticket to Woolery. Lastly, UCLA softball alumna and entrepreneur Jen Schroeder came through the left-field gate to award a ticket to Tinsley.
"WE'RE GOING TO THE LEAGUE!" ?????????#GoBruins x @theAUSLofficial pic.twitter.com/a8nIUEIgww
— UCLA Softball (@UCLASoftball) April 19, 2026
There have been nine other AUSL Golden Ticket recipients this year: NiJaree Canady (Texas Tech), Reese Atwood (Texas), Leighann Goode (Texas), Sydney Stewart (Arizona), Karlyn Pickens (Tennessee), Dakota Kennedy (Arkansas), Kenzie Brown (Arizona State), Taryn Kern (Stanford) and Maya Johnson (Belmont).
There will be 17 collegiate players selected to participate in the 2026 AUSL College Draft.
AUSL's College Draft Show is scheduled for Monday, May 4 and will be televised on ESPN2. Grant, Tinsley and Woolery and the 14 other golden ticket draftees will be assigned to the AUSL teams during the draft show to complete the rosters.
UCLA's senior trio will join nine other Bruins are already assigned to league rosters, which is the most in the AUSL. That group includes Megan Faraimo (Talons), Sharlize Palacios (Talons), Jadelyn Allchin (Talons), Jessica Clements (Bandits), Maya Brady (Spark), Bubba Nickles-Camarena (Spark), Delanie Wisz (Spark), Rachel Garcia (Volt) and Ally Carda (Volt).
Longtime assistant coaches Lisa Fernandez (Talons) and Kirk Walker (Spark) also serve leadership roles in the league as general managers. Fernandez, with the help of players Allchin, Faraimo, Palacios and Brady, guided the Talons to the inaugural AUSL title last summer.