Jan. 28 2026 | Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor
On Jan. 13, it was announced that Portland will be home to one of the six teams from the Athletes Unlimited Softball League, or AUSL.
Portland is already a prolific city when it comes to women’s professional sports. The Portland Thorns, which play in the National Women’s Soccer League, have been a big name in the state since 2012, with notable players from Team USA rounding out their roster. In September 2025, Portland Thorns owner RAJ Sports, led by the brother-sister duo of Alex Bhathal and Lisa Bhathal Merage, also bought the rights to a WNBA expansion team, the Portland Fire, which will begin its inaugural season in May this year. Portland even has The Sports Bra, a sports bar dedicated to showcasing women’s collegiate and professional sports. The AUSL Portland Cascade is the newest team to join this lineup.
In 2024, the AUSL began its first season with four teams playing round robin-style games on its touring season. Each team was named for its captain, typically the pitcher or catcher, and was packed with the best names of collegiate softball. During the season, the AUSL picked up traction, and it was soon announced that the league would have its inaugural season in 2025, with the four teams being renamed to the Volts, the Bandits, the Blaze and the Talons. This inaugural season also meant a partnership with the MLB, with the league investing in the AUSL to help establish it as a sustainable organization.
Late 2025 meant that two expansion teams were announced, along with the league moving to become city-based rather than touring-based. The Oklahoma City Spark was the first team to establish its headquarters in the aforementioned city, known as the home of the College Softball World Series. The other five teams had to wait until 2026 to announce their home cities.
The Portland Cascade will play at Hillsboro Ballpark, which is the home of the Minor League Baseball Hillsboro Hops. Hillsboro Ballpark is currently under construction, which came after the MLB changed ballpark standards for minor league teams in 2021, forcing the team to build a new venue altogether. However, the ballpark will be completed in time for the Hops and the Cascade to begin their 2026 seasons in April and June, respectively. The stadium is 229,000 square feet and can hold up to 6,000 fans for games and 7,000 for concerts, costing Hops ownership, the state of Oregon and the city of Hillsboro a combined $150 million.
The Cascade boasts a strong lineup, including standouts Sam Landry, fresh from the University of Oklahoma, and Sis Bates, a former University of Washington player. Both received multiple All-American awards during their collegiate careers, while Landry boasts an NCAA National Championship with Oklahoma, and Bates brings multiple defensive player of the year titles, including the AUSL’s defensive MVP award in her rookie season. Both Landry and Bates played for the Volts in the 2025 season.
The storied Tairia Flowers was announced as the Cascade’s head coach. During her time with Team USA softball, Flowers won gold at the Athens Olympics, silver at the Beijing Olympics and gold in the 2002 and 2006 Softball World Championships. In her coaching career for Team USA, Flowers has played multiple roles, including head coach, assistant coach and selection committee member.
The Cascade will play the season opener in Durham, North Carolina June 9 against the Carolina Blaze, and their home opener June 18 against the Oklahoma City Spark.
Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu
