Just over a month ago, the Texas Longhorns defeated the Texas Tech Red Raiders for a second straight season to defend their Women's College World Series National Championship.
Led by stars like Teagan Kavan and Katie Stewart, as well as seniors like Reese Atwood and Leighann Goode, the Horns defied the odds to secure their back-to-back titles. Since then, many former Longhorns have flocked to the AUSL to play professional softball.
Over the last week, Goode was one of those former Texas softball stars to take the league by storm, knocking in her first home run at the next level.
Longhorn Legend Leighann Goode reaches new heights
Goode was drafted by the Texas Volts in the second round of the 2026 AUSL Draft, keeping her talents in the Lone Star State. In a loss for the Volts but a statement game for Goode, she smacked a two-run homer well beyond the wall.
NO-DOUBTER FROM GOODE!!!@leighannn_11 with her first pro home run@TexasSoftball x @theAUSLofficial pic.twitter.com/TtRU9BGerf
— TEXAS VOLTS | AUSL (@AUSL_Volts) July 7, 2026
Even former Texas Tech pitcher NiJaree Canady, who also plays for the Volts, has had to express her excitement about no longer facing Goode from the circle.
"It's been fun, honestly, especially because people like Leighann [Goode]; we literally just played a series against each other," Canady said. "Just not having to pitch against some of these girls anymore, we're on the same team now, so that should be fun."
So far this season, Goode has produced eight hits for three RBIs. On the defensive side of the ball, she has earned 15 putouts and committed just three errors while rotating between second base, third base, and shortstop.
Reese Atwood continues to dominate the AUSL
Unsurprisingly, Goode isn't the only AUSL rookie out of the Texas softball program to knock a hit out of the park so far this season. Atwood, who was taken just one spot ahead of Goode in the draft by the Carolina Blaze, has already racked up six home runs, accumulating 16 RBIs in her first 15 games.
Playing both catcher and center fielder, Atwood has racked up a jaw-dropping 64 put-outs, fielding the ball at an impressive 95.9 percent and committing just three errors so far.
Also read: Texas softball is getting the worldwide recognition it deserves for WCWS performance
Ashton Maloney was also on the National Championship-winning Longhorn team this year and now plays for the Portland Cascade, making just one in-game appearance so far.
Fellow rookie Kaiah Altmeyer has appeared in just one game for the Chicago Bandits, earning one run in her professional career. Also on the Bandits is Mary Iakopo, who ended her Texas career in 2022. She has produced 11 hits for eight RBIs this season, including two home runs.
Bella Dayton, who played for the Horns in 2024, has had 13 hits and nine runs so far this season, earning a 100 percent on her fielding attempts.
Unfortunately, Longhorn Legend Mia Scott suffered a knee injury in 2025 and wasn't cleared to play in the 2026 AUSL season. However, she is on the Volts' roster right alongside Goode and Canady.
Add us as a preferred source on Google