Chicago Bandits Softball Team Permanently Returns to Rosemont

The rebranded team will play its first home game in Rosemont on June 13 as part of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 7:47pm

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The rebranded Chicago Bandits softball team is permanently returning to Rosemont, Illinois as part of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League's switch to a city-based team model. The Bandits, who previously played in Rosemont, will host their first home game of the 2026 season on June 13 after playing under a touring model in recent years.

Why it matters

The Bandits' return to Rosemont marks a homecoming for the storied franchise, which debuted in 2005 and featured softball legend Jennie Finch as a player. The move to a city-based model for the Athletes Unlimited Softball League is also significant, as it aims to build stronger local fan bases for the teams.

The details

The Athletes Unlimited Softball League is transitioning from a touring model to a format with six city-based teams. As part of this change, the rebranded Chicago Bandits will be permanently based in Rosemont and host their first home series starting on June 13.

  • The Bandits' 2026 season will begin in June.
  • The team's first home game in Rosemont is scheduled for June 13, 2026.

The players

Jennie Finch

A softball legend who pitched five seasons for the original Bandits starting in 2005, and is now an advisor and ambassador for the team.

Erin Coffel

A Bandits infielder and the 2025 Athletes Unlimited Softball League MVP.

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What they’re saying

“Forever indebted, so thankful to have been a Bandit over 20 years ago, which is crazy, I wasn't going to say that, but for two decades, just wild, and Bandit Nation is still going strong in their orange and black gear. Chicago knows how to support a team.”

— Jennie Finch (cbsnews.com)

“My freshman year of college, I never expected to play in a professional softball setting like this one, so it means everything to me, and I can't wait to see where it continues to go.”

— Erin Coffel, Bandits Infielder and 2025 AUSL MVP (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

The Bandits will host their first home game in Rosemont on June 13, 2026 to kick off the 2026 Athletes Unlimited Softball League season.

The takeaway

The Bandits' return to Rosemont represents a homecoming for the storied franchise and the Athletes Unlimited Softball League's shift to a city-based team model, which aims to build stronger local fan bases for the teams.