Karlyn Pickens given 5th 2026 AUSL Golden Ticket
AUSL hitters, be wary, Karlyn Pickens is on her way. The two-time SEC Pitcher of the Year is the fifth member of the soon-to-be AUSL 2026 draft class to receive a Golden Ticket following Tennessee’s contest against South Carolina.
Pickens is well-known for her velocity and for throwing the fastest pitch in recorded history. However, she’s shown tremendous growth under the tutelage of pitching coach Megan Rhodes Smith, able to go up and down while changing speeds at a dramatic pace. Pickens holds a career ERA under 1.50, which is remarkable given today’s game, which favors offense.
Pickens joins Texas Tech’s NiJaree Canady, Arizona’s Sydney Stewart, and Texas stars Reese Atwood and Leighann Goode as Golden Ticket recipients thus far. Find out where they go during the AUSL College Draft, which will be on May 4 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
