Kim Ng Hired as Senior Advisor of Athletes Unlimited Softball League

Kim Ng, the first woman to serve as general manager of a major American men’s professional sports team, has joined Athletes Unlimited as a senior advisor, focusing on the new AU Softball League.

Ng will oversee the development of the AUSL as it prepares for its launch in the spring of 2025, working with Chief Executive Officer Jon Patricof and Senior Vice President and Director of Softball Cheri Kempf. At AUSL, Ng will consult with league advisors Jessica Mendoza, Cat Osterman and Natasha Watley on the strategic direction of the new league.

“Kim’s groundbreaking accolades are truly unparalleled and we are thrilled to welcome her back to the softball world and have her lead our team as we launch the AUSL,” Patricof said. “Her experience at the highest levels of professional sports will be critical as we develop every aspect of this new league. Cheri and I have been seeking a leader to launch the AUSL and Kim has been at the top of the list of candidates since day one.”

Ng, who played college softball for the University of Chicago, spent more three decades in professional baseball, most recently as general manager at the Miami Marlins. Under her leadership, the 2023 Marlins posted the fourth-best winning percentage in franchise history and earned the Marlins’ first full-season postseason berth in 20 years.

“I’m excited about this opportunity to be involved with Athletes Unlimited and the sport that I grew up playing, while helping to lead the AUSL as it prepares to launch,” Ng said. “Given its growth at the grassroots and collegiate levels in recent years, softball is poised for tremendous growth at the professional level, and I believe the AUSL is well positioned for success.”

As a baseball executive with the Marlins, Los Angeles Dodgers, and New York Yankees, Ng was a contributor to nine postseason appearances, including three World Championships. During her time at MLB’s league office, Ng worked to grow the game in countries around the world, served as MLB’s representative on the board of USA Softball, and worked with key former and current Team USA softball players to grow the sport at the grassroots level.

The AUSL is set to begin with four teams playing a 30-game season in a traditional format, complementing the existing AU Pro Softball Championship Season. ESPN has signed on as a founding broadcast partner of the AUSL and will carry at least 18 games on its linear platforms in 2025.