Utah Talons Celebrate Back-to-Back Softball Titles at World Series

As fans poured through the gates behind home plate prior to Game 4 of the World Series on Tuesday evening at Tropicana Field, aware a championship trophy might soon be awarded, a distinct group of spectators had already claimed titles of their own: women strolling along the concourse in green satin Utah Talons jackets, as reported by MLB.com.

Celebrating Back-to-Back Titles at Tropicana Field

The winners of back-to-back Athletes Unlimited Softball League titles, the Talons were recognized on the field during the matchup between the Brewers and Rays, celebrating both their on-field achievements and the continued growth of women’s professional softball.

“It’s such an honor,” said Montana Fouts, the Talons’ ace and the AUSL Pitcher of the Year. “I’ve never been to the World Series; never been to a postseason baseball game. To be able to be here and celebrate our team and our season, I feel like it just says a lot about the growth of softball.”

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Fouts posted a 7-4 record and a 2.36 ERA in 11 games this past year, striking out 63 batters in 62 1/3 innings. The Grayson, Kentucky, product said she was thrilled to have the opportunity to play professionally after her collegiate career at the University of Alabama, something she wouldn’t have envisioned just a few years ago.

“We’re on TV every day in the summer, and you see little girls with your jersey on, saying they want to be professional softball players,” Fouts said, pointing to the expanding reach of the sport. “That was never the case. I just feel like we’ve grown a lot, and it’s just going to continue to grow. Being on TV, the ESPN deals and having the backing from MLB has just been huge.”

The Launch and Growth of the AUSL

Featuring a traditional format across a 25-game schedule, the AUSL made its debut in June 2025 with six competing squads: the Chicago Bandits, Carolina Blaze, Oklahoma City Spark, Portland Cascade, Texas Volts, and the Talons. This past July, Utah captured the championship by sweeping the Bandits in a two-game series, with Jadelyn Allchin earning Finals MVP accolades.

“It’s great softball, and it’s great people,” Fouts said of the league’s operational approach. “I really feel like they care not only about the production on the field, but making sure that we’re having a great time. They care about fan interaction. It’s a great production.”

Fouts noted that the team learned of its World Series invitation about a month ago, giving her a concrete reason to track the Major League postseason closely from afar.

“We don’t get to see each other in the offseason, so it’s been really cool to see everybody and catch up,” she said. “I see a lot of people have the rings on from the championship. It’s just really awesome to be recognized on this kind of stage for winning, and I feel like the best is yet to come, for sure.”