Sports

For Texas Volts fans in Round Rock and across Central Texas, the first major roster move of the offseason involves a player who became one of the team's most dependable arms and an unusual two-way contributor during the 2026 season.

The Texas Volts traded Aliyah Binford to the Chicago Bandits on Sept. 22 in exchange for a player to be named later, completing the first trade of the 2026 Athletes Unlimited Softball League offseason.

The one-for-one deal sends Binford, a New Braunfels native who pitched and hit for Texas, to another of the AUSL's original franchises. What the Volts ultimately receive in return remains unresolved, giving Texas fans another offseason roster decision to watch.

Binford gave the Texas Volts production in the circle and at the plate

Binford's versatility made her a distinctive part of the 2026 Texas roster.

At the plate, she hit .268 in 56 at-bats while recording three doubles, one triple and five home runs. In the circle, Binford finished with a team-best 2.89 ERA and was used primarily in relief.

Her pitching workload was substantial. Binford appeared in 17 games in the circle, tying for the league lead in appearances, according to her AUSL player profile. She made 16 relief appearances, finished eight games and recorded a 3-3 record with one save and 21 strikeouts over 36.1 innings.

That production became especially important during a season in which Texas dealt with injuries, roster changes and pitching challenges. At the midpoint of the season, AUSL identified Binford as one of the team's bright spots, noting that she was the only Volts pitcher at that stage with an ERA below 3.00 while also contributing offensively.

Binford was later one of five Texas Volts selected to participate in the 2026 AUSL All-Star Cup.

Binford's path to Texas started through the AUSL player pool

Binford's time with the organization developed quickly.

She entered the league through the Reserve Athlete Pool during the 2025 season and appeared in six games for the Carolina Blaze. The Volts then selected her in the fourth round of the AUSL Allocation Draft on Dec. 2, 2025, bringing her onto the Texas roster for 2026.

Before turning professional, Binford played collegiately at Baylor and Ole Miss. Her college honors included NFCA All-Region recognition and two All-Big 12 Conference Second Team selections during her Baylor career. She was also named the 2024 D1Softball Comeback Player of the Year and earned a place on the 2025 Women's College World Series All-Tournament Team.

Her move to Chicago now adds another chapter to a professional career that has already taken her through multiple AUSL organizations.

Texas Volts building a professional softball home in Round Rock

The trade comes after an important season in the evolution of the Texas Volts themselves.

Established in 2025 as one of the four original Athletes Unlimited Softball League teams, the Volts initially competed during the league's touring inaugural season. The franchise finished third in 2025 before the AUSL expanded to six permanent markets and shifted toward a city-based model for 2026.

Round Rock became the permanent home of the Texas Volts for the 2026 season, with home games played at Dell Diamond. AUSL officials said the decision followed strong attendance when the league brought games to the ballpark during its inaugural season, helping demonstrate Central Texas' potential as a long-term professional softball market.

The franchise is led by general manager Cat Osterman, one of the most recognizable figures in Texas softball history. The three-time Olympian and former University of Texas pitching star has helped shape the Volts since the franchise's beginning. Ricci Woodard, whose lengthy Texas State coaching career included more than 900 victories, served as the team's head coach in 2026.

That Texas identity has become part of the organization's foundation, from its Round Rock home to a roster that has included players with deep connections to college and high school softball across the state.

A move that could shape the Volts' 2027 roster

Exactly what the Binford trade means for the Texas Volts will not be clear until the player to be named later is identified.

For now, the transaction removes a pitcher who carried a significant relief workload and also supplied power at the plate. That gives the Volts another role to account for as the club assembles its roster for the next AUSL season.

The deal also signals that roster-building has already begun across a professional softball league that is still establishing its permanent franchises and local fan bases.

For Central Texas softball fans who watched the Volts settle into Dell Diamond in 2026, the offseason now brings a different kind of competition. The next phase will take place through trades, roster decisions and player acquisitions that will determine what the Texas Volts look like when professional softball returns to Round Rock.

My Neighborhood News will continue following Texas Volts roster moves and other developments affecting professional softball in Texas as the AUSL offseason continues.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.

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