Hey, softball fans, are you READY for a weekend that’s gonna hit you right in the feels?
We’re talking about a homecoming that’s pure magic in Seattle!
Former Washington Husky superstar Baylee Klingler is coming back to Husky Softball Stadium.
She’s suiting up as a pro with the Blaze for a three-game series against the Volts.
Mark your calendars—July 11 through 13, it’s going down!
Picture this: Baylee stepping onto that field, the same one where she became a legend.
She’s already bracing for the waterworks.
“I feel like I’m for sure going to cry,” Klingler says.
“The emotions will hit whenever I step on the field and see all the fans.”
Can you blame her? This is the place that shaped her.
“I’m super excited just to be back on the field that has given so much to me,” she adds.
“I didn’t think when I was graduating that I’d ever be back to play here.”
“It wasn’t on my bingo card to get this opportunity, so I’m super grateful.”
Let’s rewind and talk about Baylee’s journey.
She’s not a Seattle native—she hails from Houston, Texas.
Her family? They’re straight-up athletic royalty.
Her dad, Jimmy, was a quarterback at the University of Houston in the ‘90s.
Her uncle David? Another Cougars QB who played six years in the NFL.
Her sister Courtney played softball at Houston.
Her brother Cory played football at Rice.
Yeah, sports run DEEP in the Klingler blood!
Baylee started her college career at Texas A&M.
But after her freshman year, she made the move to Washington.
That’s where she found her home under Head Coach Heather Tarr.
“Coach Tarr does a great job of just being such a great leader,” Klingler says.
“She’s such a fierce leader and she creates an environment where you can really thrive.”
“I’m just forever indebted to this program.”
And thrive she did!
Let’s talk numbers, because Baylee’s stats are straight fire.
In 2022, she was named Pac-12 Player of the Year.
She’s a three-time NFCA All-American.
And in 2023, as a fifth-year senior, she powered the Huskies to the Women’s College World Series.
That’s the kind of legacy that echoes in Husky Softball Stadium.
Now, Baylee’s a pro, and she’s been lighting it up.
Drafted second overall by the Texas Smoke in the 2023 Women’s Pro Fastpitch League.
She hit .303 as a rookie—not too shabby!
Last year, she joined Athletes Unlimited, tying for seventh in the All-Star Cup.
This summer, with the Blaze, she was UNSTOPPABLE.
A .500 batting average, 11 RBIs, and a 1.310 OPS.
That is, until a head injury sidelined her on June 21.
But guess what? She’s BACK, folks, just in time for Seattle.
She returned to the lineup on July 9, ready to make some noise.
Her coach, Alisa Goler, knows how much this series means.
“That’s pretty much all she’s talked about since it got announced that we were going there,” Goler says.
“She’s incredibly proud to be a Washington Husky alum.”
“I just hope she’s able to really soak in what that moment is when she’s there, to be where her feet are.”
How cool is it to play pro ball at your alma mater?
Not many get that chance, and Baylee’s ready to savor it.
But she’s not the only Husky coming home.
Five former Washington stars are on active AUSL rosters.
One of them? Volts’ infielder Sis Bates, who played with Klingler in 2020 and 2021.
Talk about a reunion!
Former teammates, fans, and even Baylee’s family from Houston are making the trip.
It’s gonna be a party in the stands all weekend long.
Let’s paint the scene at Husky Softball Stadium.
This place is a GEM, folks.
Nestled between Washington’s football stadium and Union Bay on Lake Washington.
It’s one of the most beautiful venues in the country.
And in Seattle’s summer? Oh, it’s perfection.
No springtime rain or chilly winds here.
Coach Tarr calls it a “utopia” for softball.
“To have softball be played in the summer on our stadium is like a utopia,” she says.
“A 75-degree weather day and the perfect setting, that’s just epic.”
“Softball in our stadium, it’s probably the best setting you can have.”
No thunderstorms, no lightning delays—just pure softball bliss.
This series isn’t just about nostalgia—it’s about showcasing the AUSL.
The league is on the rise, and Seattle’s the perfect stage.
“The AUSL is on the cutting edge of something special,” Tarr says.
“And for Baylee and Sis specifically to be showcased in Seattle right now,”
“They’re the perfect people to show what this league is and can be.”
Pro softball is here to stay, and these Huskies are leading the charge.
So, what’s the vibe for July 11 to 13?
It’s gonna be electric.
Fans are packing the stands, cheering for their Huskies, old and new.
Baylee Klingler, Sis Bates, and the Blaze versus the Volts.
A celebration of softball, legacy, and community.
Don’t sleep on this, folks—Seattle’s the place to be for pro softball. Grab your tickets, soak in the sun, tune in this weekend and let’s make some new memories at Husky Softball Stadium!
Now hit me up on X and let’s keep the conversation going. This is WSPN, and I’m Andre Van Zark, signing off. Keep swinging for the fences!
