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Wright Selected in AUSL Expansion Draft
12/1/2025 10:33:00 PM | Softball
DURHAM, N.C. – Former standout pitcher and current Blue Devil assistant coach Jala Wright was selected by the Blaze as the 17th overall pick in the 2025 Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) Expansion Draft Monday night.
After the inaugural season, the AUSL announced it will be expanding to six teams in 2026, adding the Oklahoma City Spark and Cascade to the original four franchises – the Bandits, Blaze, Talons and Volts.
Wright is in her first season as an assistant coach, returning home to Durham after a one-year stint as a graduate assistant at Tennessee. She was part of the staff that helped guide the Lady Vols to a 47-17 overall record and make their ninth Women's College World Series appearance, advancing to the semifinal game against No. 6 Texas.
In her final season with the Blue Devils, Wright held a 19-3 record after 34 appearances in the circle. She was instrumental in Duke's success during the 2024 campaign, helping the team capture its second ACC Championship and make its third straight NCAA Super Regional appearance, ultimately advancing to the Women's College World Series for the first time in program history.
The Charlotte, N.C., native owns the program's single-game record with 17 strikeouts against Boston College in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament. A Second Team NFCA All-America selection, Wright closed her collegiate career with 449 strikeouts to her name in 420.0 career innings of work.
Wright began her professional career in the Women's Professional Fastpitch (WPF) league, claiming back-to-back WPF Championships with the Atlanta Smoke.
She joins former teammates Ana Gold and Caroline Jacobsen in the AUSL for the 2026 season as Gold and Jacobsen were selected as protected roster players by the Blaze and Talons, respectively, prior to the draft.
In her first season with the Blaze, Gold led all rookies and finished fifth overall with a .373 batting average. She was one of just two players to record multiple triples on the year. Gold tallied at least one hit in seven of her last nine games, including a pair of home runs in the 12-6 victory over the Bandits, to close out the 26-game season. She was named the AUSL Rookie of the Year and earned a spot on the All-Defensive Team as a corner infielder. Gold went on to compete in the 2025 All-Star Cup, starting all 10 games and collecting 926 points for 15th on the leaderboard.
Jacobsen will remain on the Talons' roster after a stellar 2025 season, guiding her team to the AUSL's first championship title in July. She was one of just three players in the league to start all 26 games and was a key component to the Talons' outfield. The Tallahassee, Fla., native hit .367 at the plate while tallying 29 hits, 13 runs, six doubles and 18 RBI. Her 29 hits led the team and ranked fourth in the AUSL. Jacobsen also competed in the 2025 All-Star Cup, finishing with 550 total points.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils softball, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeSOFTBALL"
#GoDuke
After the inaugural season, the AUSL announced it will be expanding to six teams in 2026, adding the Oklahoma City Spark and Cascade to the original four franchises – the Bandits, Blaze, Talons and Volts.
Wright is in her first season as an assistant coach, returning home to Durham after a one-year stint as a graduate assistant at Tennessee. She was part of the staff that helped guide the Lady Vols to a 47-17 overall record and make their ninth Women's College World Series appearance, advancing to the semifinal game against No. 6 Texas.
In her final season with the Blue Devils, Wright held a 19-3 record after 34 appearances in the circle. She was instrumental in Duke's success during the 2024 campaign, helping the team capture its second ACC Championship and make its third straight NCAA Super Regional appearance, ultimately advancing to the Women's College World Series for the first time in program history.
The Charlotte, N.C., native owns the program's single-game record with 17 strikeouts against Boston College in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament. A Second Team NFCA All-America selection, Wright closed her collegiate career with 449 strikeouts to her name in 420.0 career innings of work.
Wright began her professional career in the Women's Professional Fastpitch (WPF) league, claiming back-to-back WPF Championships with the Atlanta Smoke.
She joins former teammates Ana Gold and Caroline Jacobsen in the AUSL for the 2026 season as Gold and Jacobsen were selected as protected roster players by the Blaze and Talons, respectively, prior to the draft.
In her first season with the Blaze, Gold led all rookies and finished fifth overall with a .373 batting average. She was one of just two players to record multiple triples on the year. Gold tallied at least one hit in seven of her last nine games, including a pair of home runs in the 12-6 victory over the Bandits, to close out the 26-game season. She was named the AUSL Rookie of the Year and earned a spot on the All-Defensive Team as a corner infielder. Gold went on to compete in the 2025 All-Star Cup, starting all 10 games and collecting 926 points for 15th on the leaderboard.
Jacobsen will remain on the Talons' roster after a stellar 2025 season, guiding her team to the AUSL's first championship title in July. She was one of just three players in the league to start all 26 games and was a key component to the Talons' outfield. The Tallahassee, Fla., native hit .367 at the plate while tallying 29 hits, 13 runs, six doubles and 18 RBI. Her 29 hits led the team and ranked fourth in the AUSL. Jacobsen also competed in the 2025 All-Star Cup, finishing with 550 total points.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils softball, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeSOFTBALL"
#GoDuke
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