Already months into its Girls with Game 50 (#GWG50) Celebration, honoring 50 years of girls and women in the program as well as the establishment of the Little League Softball® program in 1974, Little League® is gearing up for its most memorable “Summer of Softball” to date in 2024.
“As we continue to see a rise in popularity around women’s sports, including an increased interest in our own Little League Softball program, we are thrilled to bring another eventful Summer of Softball to life in 2024,” said Ashlea Miller, Little League Director of Softball Development. “Since 2018, we have seen about an 8% increase in participation within our softball program, and as we continue to grow the experiences, opportunities, and increased visibility that these events provide, we are beyond excited for what is in store for 2024 and beyond.”
In addition to the excitement already surrounding the year-long #GWG50 Celebration, fans from all around the world will be turning their attention to the softball diamond this summer for a number of exciting opportunities, milestones, and marquee events including:
Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball’s AUX and Championship Seasons
Officially kicking off on June 10 at Wilkins Stadium, the home of Wichita State Softball, the 2024 AUX Season will feature 42 athletes playing in 18 games. Later in the summer, Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball will return to its home in Rosemont, Illinois, for its Championship Season slate running begins on July 26. For more information, including how to get tickets to both AUX and AU Championship Season, can be found at auprosports.com/softball.
Alumnae Competing at the Women’s College World Series
From May 30 through June 6/7, the top collegiate softball players will head to Oklahoma City for the 2024 Women’s College World Series to compete for the championship title, including many players and coaches who got their start on the Little League fields. In addition to this year’s alumnae, Little League has seen a number of incredible Girls with Game make their way from the Little League Softball World Series to the Women’s College World Series.
Little League Softball® on ESPN Platforms
With the first Region Tournament matchups slated to begin on Saturday, July 20, Little Leaguers® from across the United States will begin their “Road to Greenville” on the biggest stage with games from all seven Little League Softball U.S. Regions being broadcast on ESPN Platforms leading up to the World Series. For the full schedule of games, including information on how to watch each of the Region Tournaments, visit LittleLeague.org/WorldSeries.
Junior and Senior League Softball World Series Tournaments
As Little League Softball celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year, fans are also encouraged to celebrate the teenage division World Series events with the Junior League Softball World Series set to take place from July 28 through August 3 in Kirkland, Washington, while the Senior League Softball World Series will take place from July 29 through August 4 in Lower Sussex, Delaware. All of these games are scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN+.
Little League Softball World Series, Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods (50th Anniversary)
The biggest spotlight is set to shine from August 4-11 as the Little League Softball World Series celebrates its 50th Anniversary, welcoming 12 teams from around the world to its home in Greenville, North Carolina, for a chance to compete for the championship banner. This year’s event is presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods for the first time in the event’s history and will feature special guests and celebrations throughout in honor of the anniversary year. For the second year in a row, the championship game will also be featured on ABC with all other games scheduled to be broadcasted across ESPN Platforms.
AU Pro Games at the Little League Softball World Series, Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods
After a successful first year that brought a historic event to the home of the Little League Softball® World Series, Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball is set to return to Greenville, North Carolina, on August 6-7 for a second year of fun and excitement with the 2024 AU Pro Games. In addition to serving as the presenting sponsor of the 50th Anniversary of the Little League Softball World Series, DICK’S Sporting Goods has also been named as the presenting sponsor of the 2024 AU Pro Games at the LLSWS, furthering their commitment to creating opportunities for girls and women in sports across the board.
Girls with Game Experience at the Home of the Little League Baseball® World Series
For the third-straight year, NCAA Division I college softball programs and aspiring Little Leaguers will be welcomed to the home of the Little League Baseball World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, for the Girls with Game Experience on October 11-12. This year’s event will once again feature a coach’s clinic on Friday, October 11, as well as a player’s clinic on Saturday, October 12, before an exhibition doubleheader between a pair of college softball programs. More information about the event, including participating teams and clinic information, will be made available later this summer.
While the Girls with Game 50 Celebration will officially be concluding in December, the core learnings and strategy behind the initiative have set the foundation for Little League’s strategic initiatives around female inclusion moving forward, including a goal of providing equal participation opportunities for girls in the Little League program, as well as a 30% increase in female coaches, by 2032.
To learn more about all divisions of the Little League Softball program, including how to get involved and to find a program near you, visit LittleLeague.org/Softball. The 2024 Little League Softball World Series, AU Pro Games at the LLSWS, and the #GWG50 Celebration are all proudly supported by DICK’S Sporting Goods, a long-time Little League partner that is committed to creating opportunities for girls and women in sports and will be activating around key events and milestones this year.