Why Athletes Unlimited made WSU’s Sydney McKinney the No. 1 pick for pro softball league

Sydney McKinney has carved out a reputation for one of the best college softball players in her career at Wichita State.

On Monday evening, a panel of professional softball players tabbed the Wichita State shortstop as the best college softball senior in the country. McKinney was selected as the No. 1 overall draft pick by Athletes Unlimited, a burgeoning professional softball league.

Due to the league’s unique structure, McKinney was not drafted to a team on Monday, rather the two-time All American was extended an invitation — as the top incoming prospect — to play in the pro league this upcoming summer.

“Our player executive committee made that selection and I can tell you that they believe wholeheartedly that Sydney deserved that pick,” Athletes Unlimited softball director Cheri Kempf told The Eagle. “Those players know how hard it is to make that transition into professional softball, so I think they are looking for certain qualities in players that they believe will translate to this level. And clearly by picking Sydney at the top of the draft shows you the confidence they have in her and her abilities.”

The Athletes Unlimited softball player executive committee includes former collegiate stars and current pro players in Amanda Lorenz (Florida), Sis Bates (Washington), Tori Vidales (Texas A&M), Andrea Filler (Northwestern) and Sam Fischer (Loyola Marymount).

Fischer hosted the live-streamed event on YouTube and gave her thoughts on the Wichita State star going No. 1 in the draft.

“Seeing a mid-major kid take over the country and become a household name, it shows the growth of the sport and it shows what Sydney McKinney is capable of as a player,” Fischer said. “She’s a pesky hitter. You can’t get her out, you really can’t. And she’s an incredible defender. She plays great on both sides of the ball and I think that’s something that makes her so special and something that has grabbed the attention of everyone in the softball world.”

McKinney has made a compelling case as the best pure hitter in the country for the past two seasons with a combined batting average of .524. She currently leads nationally in batting average (.527) and hits (96) and could become the first player in NCAA Div. I history to lead the nation in both categories in consecutive seasons.

She is WSU’s all-time leader in batting average, hits, runs scored, on base percentage and total bases and recently moved up to No. 5 on the NCAA’s all-time hits list with 372 career hits. Her 34-game hitting streak from earlier this season is the sixth-longest in NCAA history.

“I’m excited to see how she’s going to transform her game and what she’s going to bring to AU and how she will implement her style to this new game,” Vidales said.

“She is such an incredible defender,” said Bates, who was the NCAA Defensive Player of the Year during her career. “She has quick hands, quick feet and I’m really excited to grow and learn from her this season.”

Before she turns her attention to her pro career, McKinney will look to lead the Wichita State softball team to its first Super Regional. The Shockers (43-9) are the No. 1 seed in this weekend’s American Athletic Conference tournament in Tampa, Fla. and are in the mix to potentially host an NCAA Regional for the first time in program history.

After McKinney’s collegiate career concludes, she will compete in the AUX Softball league in Rosemont, Ill., a suburb of Chicago, from June 12-27. The league features 42 players who will be drafted each week to three different teams that play each other.

A championship season, which consists of 60 players on four different teams, will follow in Rosemont at Parkway Bank Sports Complex about a month later, spanning from July 28-Aug. 27. According to a press release by Athletes Unlimited, all games will be available to watch or stream on ESPN platforms this summer.

McKinney was the first of 14 players drafted by Athletes Unlimited on Monday. Other selections included UCLA pitcher Megan Faraimo, Kentucky catcher Kayla Kowalik, Alabama pitcher Montana Fouts, Florida State pitcher Kathryn Sandercock, Washington infielder Baylee Klingler, Arkansas pitcher Chenise Delce, Oklahoma State infielder Kiley Naomi, Oklahoma pitcher Alex Storako, Arizona State outfielder Yannira Acuna, Florida infielder Charia Echols, Oklahoma infielder Haley Lee, Northwestern catcher Jordyn Rudd and Oklahoma State infielder Rachel Becker.