The Athletes Unlimited Softball League may be in its infancy as a professional sports league, but for Holy Family alumna Ava Kuszak, it just provides another opportunity for her to pursue a professional career.

Earlier this year, Kuszak transferred to Nebraska from Wisconsin and transformed herself into an All-American in the process. As a junior, she boasted an .871 slugging percentage with 21 home runs, 64 RBIs and 70 hits through 56 starts.

She helped lead the Tigers to three state championships during her time in Colorado.

This year, she and the Huskers fell just one game short of making the Women’s College World Series. She said she joined the team because Nebraska “felt like home,” and has been spending this summer playing on various teams to prepare herself for the future.

Just last week, Kuszak represented TC Colorado in an international softball championship, the Canada Cup, that welcomed teams from all over the world. Earlier, she played a few games with the KC Diamonds, a college exhibition team that’s looking to join another pro softball league, the Association of Fastpitch Professionals.

The KC Diamonds played against AFP teams Florida Vibe, OKC Spark and New York Rise, opponents of which included familiar faces from her collegiate playing days. The Talons’ pitcher, Raelin Chaffin, used to play for Mississippi State.

“It’s just been very cool to be a part of,” said Kuszak. “I’ve seen a bunch of girls that I actually grew up watching, too; that I watched and tried to learn from. It was cool playing against them, and it was a great feeling to be on that field, especially just to kind of continue to grow the game of softball.”

Kuszak said that her transition to Nebraska, as well as her summer activities, have only strengthened her softball IQ and skills ahead of her final season with the Huskers. Her assistant coach, Diane Miller, said that while her numbers speak for themselves, Kuszak has been an asset both on and off the field.

“Obviously, athletically, Ava does some really amazing things, but I think the thing about Ava that is even better is the kind of person she is,” Miller said. “She is the kind of person that you want to be around as a competitor, as a human. She’s got such great joy in everything she does. I think, for me, I had an idea of what she could do athletically, but the part that I have just enjoyed so much is just who she is. I get the biggest kick out of her. She makes me laugh. We can banter.”

Kuszak said she looks forward to what her senior season will bring, and after that, she hopes that she too can add her name to the growing list of softball professionals in the U.S. Miller certainly thinks she has the drive and the talent to achieve that goal.

For now, she’s enjoying watching the AUSL in its first few weeks of existence.

“Those games have been so fun to watch and tune in to, seeing a bunch of the girls that I played against, that would play this year and are playing now,” Kuszak said.

“That’s been cool just to kind of see it kind of all fold out, and I’m really excited to see it continue to grow, too. I think it’s going to continue to get very big, and I’m liking where softball is heading right now.”