Tairia Flowers Has Cascade Contending in AUSL's Inaugural Season

LOS ANGELES, CA - LMU head softball coach Tairia Flowers is making an immediate impact in the professional ranks, leading the Portland Cascade to one of the strongest starts in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) during the franchise's inaugural season.

Serving as the Cascade's first-ever head coach, Flowers has guided Portland to an 8-4 record, good for second place in the six-team league. The Cascade enters this week's action riding a league-best three-game winning streak and trailing only the first-place Talons (10-4) in the AUSL standings.

The fast start comes as little surprise for those familiar with Flowers' coaching career. Fresh off leading LMU to a 33-19 record this past spring, Flowers reached two significant milestones by earning her 400th career coaching victory and 150th win as the Lions' head coach this past collegiate season. She has carried that same championship mindset to the professional game, helping establish the identity and culture of Portland's newest franchise.

Through the season's opening month, the Cascade have emerged as one of the AUSL's most consistent teams, combining timely offense with strong pitching to remain firmly in the championship race. Their current three-game winning streak is the league's longest active streak as Portland continues to build momentum.

Following an off day today, Monday, the Cascade return to action Tuesday, June 30, when they travel to face the fourth-place Bandits in a nationally televised, sold-out matchup at The Stadium at Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, Illinois. First pitch is scheduled for 4 PM (PT) on ESPN2.

Flowers, an Olympic gold and silver medalist and longtime USA Softball leader, was named the Cascade's inaugural head coach last December. While preparing for her seventh season at the helm of the Lions, she continues to showcase her leadership on the professional stage, bringing invaluable experience from softball's highest levels back to LMU.

The AUSL regular season concludes in mid July before the league's postseason heads to Texas July 23-27, where teams will compete for the 2026 AUSL Championship. With the postseason quickly approaching, Flowers has the Cascade well-positioned to make a deep run while continuing to build a winning foundation during the franchise's inaugural campaign.

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