Tennessee Softball Star Karlyn Pickens Signs Groundbreaking NIL Deal

Tennessee Lady Volunteers pitcher Karlyn Pickens has become the first college softball player to sign a name, image and likeness (NIL) deal with a professional softball league, the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL).

What’s Going On

Historic NIL partnership: The Athletes Unlimited Softball League announced that it has signed Pickens, making her the first collegiate softball player to land an NIL deal directly with a pro league.
Role in the deal: Pickens will help raise awareness of the AUSL through marketing, social media posts, and promotional activities as part of the partnership.
Softball league context: The AUSL launched recently and features multiple teams and a professional format aimed at top softball talent.

This deal marks a new NIL pathway for college softball players, linking collegiate stars with professional league branding before they ever enter the pro draft. Pickens has a strong social media presence (nearly 250,000+ followers) and also holds current NIL deals with major brands like New Balance and Rawlings, making her one of the sport’s top commercial faces.

While Pickens is currently a senior at Tennessee, this agreement gives her off-field exposure and aligns her with the fastest-growing pro softball brand ahead of her anticipated AUSL draft spot.

Pickens is one of the nation’s elite pitchers, a two-time SEC Pitcher of the Year and the fastest pitcher in NCAA softball history (79.4 mph). She helped Tennessee reach deep into the Women’s College World Series and has been a consensus All-American.

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