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Tom Brady's Niece Makes Decision On Professional Softball Career

Originally posted on The Spun | By Daniel Bates | Last updated Jan 28, 2025 2:15 PM ET

Tom Brady's niece, Maya Brady, is reportedly set to make the next leap in her softball career.

According to MLB insider Jeff Passan , the former UCLA star has joined the Athletes Unlimited Softball League, run by former Marlins general manager Kim Ng, ahead of its inaugural draft on Wednesday night.

The 23-year-old Bruins shortstop, who also plays outfield, is a two-time first-team All-American and Pac-12 Player of the Year who ranks second all-time in home runs at UCLA and is one of the best softball players in recent memory.

News: Shortstop Maya Brady has joined the Athletes Unlimited Softball League, run by former Marlins GM Kim Ng, before its inaugural draft Wednesday night, sources tell ESPN. Story on the two-time first-team All-American signing on to the burgeoning league: https://t.co/RRN1BFNCAx pic.twitter.com/VccBOdqrWH
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 28, 2025

The AUSL will reportedly have four teams playing a 30-game schedule in six to eight cities this summer before a planned transition to a fixed-city format next year.

The Bandits, Blaze, Talons and Volts will fill out 16-woman rosters with a draft that will be broadcast live on the ESPN app starting tomorrow at 8 PM ET.

"Softball is poised for tremendous growth at the professional level, and the AUSL is meeting the moment by creating the action-packed, world-class softball league that this sport has deserved for so long," Ng said in a statement.

"The caliber of players vying to be drafted tomorrow — Olympians, Team USA veterans, All-Americans and NCAA champions — further exemplifies that the world's best players are here together as a unit of founding members who will make the AUSL the next big thing in women's sports."

Brady finished her career at UCLA slashing .384/.464/.757 with 71 home runs and 246 RBIs in 249 games.

It sounds like a great opportunity for her to continue showcasing her talent in a league with pretty significant backing from both an organizational and media rights standpoint.

Maya is also the niece of two-time World Series champ and ex-Red Sox All-Star Kevin Youkilis.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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