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What dreams are made of: Kenzie Brown earns Golden Ticket to AUSL as women’s sports surge

Brown is the seventh recipient to receive a “Golden Ticket,” which represents a softball student-athlete's opportunity to play professionally after completing their collegiate eligibility.

What dreams are made of: Kenzie Brown earns Golden Ticket to AUSL as women’s sports surgeWhat dreams are made of: Kenzie Brown earns Golden Ticket to AUSL as women’s sports surge
Sun Devil Athletics

Kenzie Brown receives a Golden Ticket to the AUSL draft following Sun Devil Softball’s mercy rule 13-0 win over UTEP on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Farrington Stadium.

by Meredith Cunningham

Not long ago, the path for young girls in softball ended at college.

Or, for the very few, the Olympics.

But today, that path now includes a professional future.

And for Kenzie Brown, that future just became reality.

Women’s sports have been building toward this moment for years.

In just the first three months of 2026, the WNBA saw historic gains in player salaries, while the PWHL set an attendance record with a sellout at Madison Square Garden over the weekend.

Now, Athletes Unlimited Softball League, also known as the AUSL, is riding that momentum.

Following an extremely successful inaugural season in 2025, the league is now drafting a class of college phenoms to take the league to even bigger heights. And none other than Sun Devil Softball’s own ace, Kenzie Brown, will be one of the women leading the charge. 

The Golden girl
Following Arizona State’s 13-0 win over UTEP on Tuesday, April 7, ESPN reporter and women’s sports champion in her own right, Holly Rowe, took Brown completely by surprise, presenting her with one of the AUSL’s “Golden Tickets," signaling her selection in the league’s 2026 college draft.

Despite having her dad in the stands, who typically only attends Big 12 games, the moment caught Brown completely off guard. 

Still, in a twist she couldn’t quite explain, part of her felt it coming. 

“It’s crazy. I had a dream last night that Meika Lauppe took my golden ticket and said that I didn’t deserve it," Kenzie said after the short ceremony. "So it’s kind of crazy that this happened today. I literally looked at Meika, and I was like, ‘There’s no way.’” 

It’s a milestone moment.

Not just for Kenzie, though, but for Arizona State and for a sport that is part of a revolution in women’s sports.

Behind all these big moments, however, are little girls who refuse to give up on their big dreams. 

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A girl with a dream and a dad
Long before the "Golden Ticket," Kenzie was just a nine-year-old girl tagging along to her older sister’s pitching lessons and asking for one of her own. 

What followed, according to her father Andy Brown, was just a little bit chaotic.

“I mean, she hit everything inside the building except for my glove,” Andy laughed. “She hit our camper. She hit the ceiling. She had hit everything, and she’s only nine years old.”

After the lesson, Andy asked the instructor for her thoughts. The response was simple, yet life-altering. 

“Well, she throws hard,” the coach told him. “I think it’s worth sticking with it.”

The rest is history. 

With her dad as her coach all the way through high school, that early spark turned into something more. Kenzie began to dream. And dream big. 

“It was always my dream to be an Olympian. My entire room was Jennie Finch," said Kenzie. "I read all of her books. I have a signed jersey, ball, everything. I was obsessed. As much as I hate it now, that she went to the school down south, being like Jennie Finch was my dream.”

Playing collegiate softball became part of that dream.

Then Kenzie began going to University of Illinois games, so the dream further developed materialized as she climbed the ranks. 

“There was a point where I realized, ‘Okay, I can actually do this,’” she said. “Then I made it to ASU and I just kept pushing.”

Kenzie Brown, kids runs the bases, Farrington Funday, vs PacificKenzie Brown high-fives a young fan after he runs the bases on a Farrington Funday following Sun Devil Softball’s game vs. Pacific.

Becoming a role model at ASU
At Arizona State, Brown has grown to become more than just a standout pitcher. She’s a leader.

Her Head Coach, Megan Bartlett, sees it in everything she does.

“The kid doesn’t know how to fail,” Bartlett said. “We all know we can trust her, and everybody loves her. Certainly, everybody respects her.”

“We talk about all the time that culture is built in the little moments. It’s walking into the clubhouse and having a kind word for someone, or giving somebody a hard truth. Kenzie is that kid day in and day out.”

It’s that attitude that is exactly what makes her a great role model for the next generation. On top of that, after home games at Farrington Stadium, Brown can often be found running the bases with young fans and signing autographs.

“I’ve always wanted to give back to softball,” Brown said. “I was one of those little girls going to college games. So to now be that person for someone else, it’s just really cool. It’s a full circle moment,” said Kenzie. 

Kenzie Brown vs. Kansas

'You are one of those girls'
For her father, Andy, the moment is a reflection of years of work and time spent together.

“She’s worked hard. This isn’t something that’s been handed to her. My coaching her didn’t get her to a higher level. I was just along for the ride,” he said. “I don’t feel like it was a sacrifice I had to make. I got to spend a lot of time with my girls and it was something that we enjoyed doing together.”

But the best part, by far, is seeing everything come full circle. 

“You know, she’s always looked up to Jennie Finch and those players when she was little, and today I’m like, 'Kid, you are one of those girls.'” 

Kenzie, meanwhile, was just happy to share the moment with her dad. 

“My dad and I have been through it all together,” she said. “To have him here today, it’s just amazing. He was the best coach. He never got on me for playing badly, just for effort and attitude. He put his whole heart into it.”

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Future of women’s sports
What is happening to Kenzie is coming at a turning point for women’s sports, and it’s not lost on those pivotal figures in Kenzie’s journey. 

“It’s awesome that it’s finally coming around because in high school, we didn’t even have a softball field for the girls to play on,” said Andy.

Now, the landscape looks entirely different, and for women like Coach Bartlett and Holly Rowe, this moment represents something long overdue, and something they’ve worked hard to lay the foundation for their whole careers. 

“We’ve all been building toward this moment for decades,” Rowe said. “And it feels like it’s just finally coming true.”

With record-breaking viewership and sold-out venues, Rowe believes the demand has always been there.

“The desire is there,” she said. “I think they’re going to be blown away by the business this creates and the excitement around it.”

“It’s only going to make our Olympic program better,” Coach Bartlett added. “It’s just a really special day, and I am over the moon for Kenzie.”

A young fan in attendance for Softball and Kenzie Brown's Golden Ticket Game vs. UTEP on Tuesday, April 7A young fan in attendance cheers on Kenzie Brown and Sun Devil Softball during their game vs. UTEP on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

The golden era is now
This moment isn’t just about one "Golden Ticket." It’s about a sport no longer asking for attention, but commanding it.

Opportunities that didn’t exist a generation ago are now drawing record crowds and national attention.

For young athletes watching Kenzie Brown, the dream is no longer abstract. It’s real, and it’s within reach.

Learn more about Kenzie Brown and her career at ASU