Playing for More: Autumn Owen

For Kansas City Diamonds catcher Autumn Owen, softball has always been rooted in something deeper than the scoreboard. Her “why” for softball starts with her grandmother.

“My grandma was always the voice of reason,” Owen said. “She was the person I would go to when things weren’t going right.”

Owen lost her grandmother while finishing her career at Marshall University, a moment that forever changed how she viewed the game and life itself.

“She was one of the toughest, strongest-minded women I ever knew,” Owen said. “She found ways to connect people and help everybody else.”

Now, every time Owen steps onto the field, she carries that same mindset with her.

Growing up in North Carolina, Owen learned early what hard work looked like. In her small hometown, opportunities to play Division I athletics were rare.

“When I graduated in 2018, I was one of the only players to sign Division I out of high school since the late ’90s,” Owen said.

But Owen never built her career around rankings or hype. She had to earn her spot no matter how high or low she stood.

“I wasn’t the star athlete that was a high recruit,” she said. “I got where I am because of my hustle and work ethic.”

That mentality shaped her into the player she is today. Owen began playing softball at four years old after her father continuously signed her up to play, even during moments when she thought basketball might become her main sport.

“There was a point where I told my dad, ‘Why do you keep signing me up for softball?’” Owen said with a laugh. “And then I realized I really did love playing.”

That love only grew stronger as she developed into one of the game’s toughest competitors behind the plate.

As a catcher, Owen embraces leadership and responsibility.

“I like having the ball all the time,” Owen said. “I like commanding the game with the pitcher and taking ownership.”

Owen’s grit and leadership have carried her through some of the most difficult moments of her career.

While at Marshall, Owen suffered a devastating ankle injury that required surgery just days later. Doctors initially projected a five-month recovery timeline, telling her she likely would not return until several weeks into the season. However, Owen had other plans.

“I told them, ‘I’ll be back before that,’” she said.

With an unwavering confidence, she returned in time to start opening day. She went on to have the best season of her career, earning All-American honors.

After transferring to University of North Carolina to continue playing under coach Megan Smith Lyons, Owen tore her ACL. Again, she refused to let the injury define her.

Two weeks after the injury, Owen returned to the lineup wearing a brace and opened the season by hitting four home runs against Pittsburgh.

“No one’s ever going to tell me what I can and can’t do,” Owen said. “I know what I can do.”

That resilience has become one of the defining traits of her journey.

From Gardner-Webb to Marshall to North Carolina, Owen consistently found herself helping build winning cultures while pursuing multiple graduate degrees and continuing to chase her dream of professional softball.

Last summer, she competed internationally with the Virgin Islands National Team, playing in Colombia and Puerto Rico while continuing to prepare for the next chapter of her career, the Kansas City Diamonds.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to play professionally,” Owen said. “Kansas City has really taken care of us and given us opportunities that a lot of pro athletes don’t always get.”

Now preparing for the inaugural season, Owen is excited not only to compete, but also to help inspire younger athletes.

“The older I’ve gotten, the more I realize how important this is for young girls to see,” Owen said. “This can be done. This game can progress.”

That realization first hit her during her time at Marshall, when young fans waited after games for autographs and pictures.

“One kid asked me to sign her sock,” Owen said. “Those kids made me realize this game is so much bigger than us.”

For Owen, softball has become a platform for impact, leadership and connection.

She hopes younger players see more than stats when they watch her play.

“I want them to see hustle,” Owen said. “Nothing was ever handed to me. Everything was earned.”

Off the field, Owen brings the same energy and authenticity that have made her beloved by teammates throughout her career. Whether she’s line dancing on Thursday nights, camping outdoors or mentoring younger athletes, relationships remain at the center of who she is.

“My family and the people close to me mean everything,” Owen said.

As she begins her professional career in Kansas City, Owen wants her legacy to remind others that success does not follow one perfect path.

“Everyone’s journey is different,” Owen said. “Whatever you set your mind to and work for, you can do it.”

Owen is ready to shine like a true diamond, turning dreams into reality.