Hillsboro tabbed as home to new women’s professional softball franchise
Published 9:20 am Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Thorns, Fire… Cascade?
That’s right, it was announced Jan. 13 that the Portland Cascade will be joining the local NWSL and WNBA women’s professional franchises as one of five new franchises that will be playing as part of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League in 2026, joining the Carolina Blaze, Chicago Bandits, Texas Volts and Utah Talons.
The Oklahoma City Spark had been previously announced.
The season will start June 9, and the Cascade will play their games at Hillsboro Stadium.
“The Pacific Northwest has consistently shown up for women’s sports, and the Portland area is no exception,” said Kim Ng, commissioner of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League. “Hillsboro offers the Cascade a community that embraces innovation, inclusion and high-level competition, making it a natural fit for our league and our athletes.”
The Cascade will be led by General Manager Jami Lobpries, who previously served as the CEO of Alliance Fastpitch, along with head coach Tairia Flowers, who is presently the head coach at Loyola Marymount and who spent 10 seasons coaching at Cal State University, Northridge prior.
Flowers was a standout player at UCLA and also an Olympic medalist, having won gold with the USA national team at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
The team will consist of former local college standouts, Paige Sinicki of the University of Oregon and the University of Washington’s Sis Bates, along with former University of Oklahoma star Sam Landry, and U.S. national team member Kelly Maxwell among others.
The league’s expansion comes on the heels of a breakout inaugural season for the AUSL fueled by sellout crowds across the country; record viewership and social engagement; a strategic investment by Major League Baseball; as well as a multiyear renewal of its media rights agreement with ESPN.
This past year, the AUSL featured a touring model that brought games to 12 locations across the country. This announcement marks a major milestone as AUSL transitions to a city-based professional softball league.
“Portland has established itself as one of the most dynamic sports markets in the country and a true epicenter for women’s sports,” Sports Oregon CEO Jim Etzel said. “Bringing the Portland Cascade to Hillsboro strengthens that momentum while delivering meaningful economic impact to Washington County and the Portland metro region. We’re grateful to the city of Hillsboro for their partnership and leadership in making this possible, and we’re excited to welcome the Portland Cascade as Oregon’s newest professional franchise.”
After evaluating numerous potential markets against a comprehensive set of criteria, each AUSL host city was ultimately selected for its authentic connection to softball, demonstrated support for women’s sports, access to professional-caliber facilities and ability to serve as a long-term home for professional teams.
“This is a home run for Hillsboro and women’s sports in the Portland metro area,” Hillsboro Mayor Beach Pace said. “We are very excited for the Hillsboro Ballpark to be the home of the Portland Cascade. Welcome to Hillsboro!”
Season and group tickets for the Portland Cascade are now on sale.
For more information on the league, team and upcoming season, visit theausl.com.
