NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University softball All-American Maya Johnson was selected No. 3 overall by the Oklahoma City Spark in the 2026 Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) College Draft Monday night.
 
Johnson, who received an AUSL Golden Ticket from softball legend and ESPN broadcaster Jessica Mendoza April 17, will enter professional softball as one of the most decorated college pitchers in recent memory.
 
A native of Columbia Station, Ohio, Johnson ranks among national leaders in virtually every statistical category, including strikeouts, strikeout-to-walk ratio, earned run average, WHIP, and complete games.
 
The pitcher led Belmont to transformational victories over Mississippi State and Georgia this season as the Bruins won the Missouri Valley Conference regular season title.
 
Belmont has also earned National Top 25 poll votes and has been ranked No. 1 nationally in mid-major polls from Softball America and D1Softball the majority of the season.

Johnson was named 2025 All-American by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) and D1 Softball after leading Belmont to the MVC championship and victory in the NCAA Tournament.
 
Her 1,133 career strikeouts lead all active players in NCAA softball.
 
Johnson, who earned her bachelor's degree with honors in nursing this past May, is an inspiration, having risen to the top of college softball battling through an autoimmune condition called lupus.
 
She has become an advocate and national spokesperson for the Lupus Foundation of America, serving as a keynote speaker at the End Lupus Now walk in Nashville this past fall.
 
Johnson is a two-time Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year and Academic All-America candidate.
 
Johnson becomes the latest Belmont athlete to be drafted professionally, joining the likes of Indiana Pacers guard Ben Sheppard and World Champion baseball player Matt Beaty.
 
She is the highest overall professional draft selection in Belmont University history, in any sport.
 
Johnson will be joined on the Oklahoma City Spark by Mississippi State pitcher Peja Goold and Oregon utility player Amari Harper, who were selected in round two and round three, respectively.
 
Johnson becomes the latest Bruin student-athlete in Oklahoma City, joining former Belmont women's basketball player Paris Lawson who serves as studio host and reporter for the NBA Champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
 
For a complete listing of the 2026 AUSL College Draft, log onto www.theausl.com.