Peja Goold Earns Final AUSL Golden Ticket to Professional Softball
STARKVILLE, Miss. — Peja Goold will become the 19th Mississippi State softball player to join a professional league after receiving a Golden Ticket from the American United Softball League, or AUSL, following the Bulldogs’ win over LSU on Saturday.
The AUSL, now in its second season, has expanded to six teams in 2026. The draft has been completed, but selections remain confidential until the College Draft Show on Monday, May 4, at 6 p.m. Eastern Time on ESPN2. Goold will learn which team has selected her at that time, marking the start of her professional career, according to league officials.
Only 17 college athletes nationwide are expected to be drafted into the league this year. Mississippi State head coach Samantha Ricketts expressed pride in Goold’s achievement. “We are incredibly excited that Peja has received a Golden Ticket to be drafted into the AUSL,” Ricketts said. “She is truly deserving of this opportunity and has put in the work to reach this moment. The way she prepares and approaches her craft already reflects a professional mindset, and we’re looking forward to watching her continue to grow and compete at the next level.”
Goold has established herself as a top-10 pitcher nationally during her time at Starkville. She entered the weekend third in the country with eight shutouts and ranked among the top 15 in hits allowed per seven innings (4.29, 12th) and WHIP (0.11, 13th). The California native has thrown a no-hitter and five one-hitters this season, leading MSU with 14 wins. Her .170 batting average against is just one point shy of the program’s single-season record, according to team officials.
Pitching coach Taryne Mowatt-McKinney praised Goold’s performance. “This is an incredible opportunity that Peja has earned, and I couldn’t be happier for her to have this moment,” she said. “She has elevated this program, and I know she’ll continue that success at the professional level. The AUSL is lucky to be getting a player of her caliber.”
Goold will be the 29th Mississippi State player to pursue a professional career, with 17 of those under Ricketts’ coaching. Since Ricketts became head coach seven years ago, at least one Bulldog has signed a professional contract each season. Last summer, Raelin Chaffin helped the league’s inaugural champion, the Talons, win the AUSL title. Goold joins teammates Sierra Sacco and Mia Davidson in the league, both of whom were selected in December by Portland’s Cascade during the expansion draft.
The AUSL is set to begin play June 9, featuring teams competing in their home cities for the first time. Fans can follow Mississippi State softball updates on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram by searching for “HailStateSB.”
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