FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Former Arkansas Razorback softball players Bri Ellis and Kailey Wyckoff helped lead the Utah Talons to their second consecutive championship title in the American United Softball League (AUSL) on Sunday. The Talons defeated the Chicago Bandits 6-1 in game two of the championship series at Davis Diamond in College Station, Texas, completing a clean sweep in the best-of-three series.
Utah opened the series with a 2-1 victory on Saturday. This year’s championship marks the Talons’ second triumph over Chicago, following their inaugural title win in 2025. Utah wrapped up the 2026 season with an 18-9 record.
In Sunday’s game, Ellis delivered a standout moment, hitting a 254-foot home run over the scoreboard in the fifth inning to extend Utah's lead to five runs. The home run was Ellis’ seventh as a professional, tying her for the second-most career home runs by an Arkansas alum in professional play, following Danielle Gibson's 12 career home runs.
Ellis was named AUSL Comeback Player of the Year for the 2026 season. The 2025 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year finished the season with a.353 batting average, recording 18 hits, four doubles, a triple, five home runs, and 13 RBIs. She also ranked in the league’s top ten in several categories, including batting average (7th,.353), on-base percentage (6th,.450), and slugging percentage (6th,.765). Defensively, Ellis posted a.975 fielding percentage across 80 chances.
Kailey Wyckoff also had a significant contribution to Utah’s success. Joining the Talons mid-season after starting with the Florida Breeze, Wyckoff appeared in 20 games and made 18 starts. She posted a.328 on-base percentage with 12 hits, three doubles, and eight RBIs. Beyond hitting, Wyckoff’s flexibility proved invaluable, as she played at catcher, first base, center field, and designated player.
The Razorbacks alumni join the Talons' championship journey during a significant period for Arkansas softball. Earlier this year, the Razorbacks reached the Women’s College World Series for the first time in program history with a 47-13 season. The team set a record for 26 run-rule victories and had a dominant 29-3 home record at Bogle Park.
The Utah Talons’ victory signals a strong presence of former Arkansas athletes succeeding at the professional level and reflects the growing impact of the Razorbacks’ softball program.