Unlike her uncle, who heard 198 names called before his in 2000, Maya Brady‘s name was announced immediately on Monday as the top choice!
The Athletes Unlimited Softball League conducted its expansion draft to increase to six teams for the upcoming season, with the Oklahoma City Spark having the first pick among several unprotected players from the original four teams.
Brady previously played for the Talons after being picked 19th overall in the draft earlier this year and went on to achieve a .647 batting average with a home run and five RBIs in six games, assisting her team in winning a championship.
That performance was enough for the Spark to make her their first selection in the draft.
While her uncle experienced a fall to the sixth round of the 2000 draft, ultimately becoming the greatest quarterback in NFL history, Maya was destined for greatness herself, being a relative of former Red Sox star and two-time World Series champion Kevin Youkilis.
However, Maya deserves recognition for her own achievements; she excelled at UCLA, earning accolades such as two-time Pac-12 Player of the Year and three-time First team All-American.
She has also represented the United States, securing a gold medal at the 2025 World Games.
