In collegiate athletics, few sports capture the sheer athleticism quite like softball. Yet, despite its thrilling gameplay and undeniable talent pool, NCAA softball flies under the radar, overshadowed by more mainstream sports. For the LSU Tigers fans, the game under the leadership of head coach Beth Torina is climbing collegiate ranks.
The inaugural Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) Draft has come and gone, and the LSU Tigers' legacy is alive and well. Four former Tigers outfielders—Aliyah Andrew and Ciara Briggs, pitcher Carley Hoover, and utility player Sahvanna Jaquish were selected in the historic draft, marking a new chapter for LSU softball and the sport as a whole.
Pro Tigers!
— LSU Softball (@LSUsoftball) January 30, 2025
Congratulations to Aliyah Andrews, Ciara Briggs, Carley Hoover and Sahvanna Jaquish for being selected for AUSL's inaugural draft!
📄 https://t.co/8NqXumsk9d | #ForeverLSU pic.twitter.com/gA1gOnwKSO
For those unfamiliar, the AUSL is a groundbreaking venture in professional softball. Launching in 2025, the league will feature four teams—Bandits, Blaze, Talons, and Volts, playing a 24-game season across six to eight cities before transitioning to a city-based format in 2026. With ESPN as its founding broadcast partner. the AUSL is poised to bring softball to the forefront of professional sports.
Let's start with Carley Hoover, the flamethrower who was the No. 2 overall pick by the Blaze. Hoover's journey to LSU was anything but conventional. After an injury at Stanford, she transferred to Baton Rogue in 2015 and became a cornerstone of the Tigers' pitching staff. With 71 career wins, a 1.73 ERA, and two NFCA All-American selections, Hoover's dominance in the circle was undeniable. Now, she'll bring the same fire to the Blaze, making their rotation as one of the league's premier pitch.
Aliyah Andrew was selected 15th overall by the Blaze, her speed and defensive potential make her a fan favorite at LSU. Her diving catches in center field were the stuff of legend, her .353 career batting average and 145 stolen bases speak to her impact at the plate and on the basepaths. As former Texas A&M player Amanda Scarbrough aptly put it, "Aliyah Andrew in that highlight reel out in the outfield, and we've seen it year in and out, even when she was at LSU."
Then there's Sahvanna Jaquish, the sixth-round pick (22nd overall) by the Talons. As the program's first four-time NFCA All-American, she rewrote the record books, finishing her career as LSU's all-time leader in RBI (262) and ranking in the top five in nearly every major offensive category. Jaquish's ability to catch, and play the corners makes her a versatile player.
Rounding out the quartet is Ciara Briggs, the Blaze's 10th-round pick (37th overall). Briggs made history at LSU as the first collegiate softball player to win back-to-back Gold Gloves, a feat she achieved in 2022 and 2023. With a .350 career batting average, 53 stolen bases, and a .987 fielding percentage, Briggs is the epitome of a five-tool player.

Together, these four Tigers represent seven NFCA All-American selections and two Gold Gloves. The AUSL's arrival is a watershed moment for softball. For too long, the sport has been overshadowed, its stars underappreciated. But with leagues like AUSL providing a platform future looks bright.