Women’s College World Series showcases Black softball talent

The Women’s College World Series attracts more viewers every year. As the hype of college softball increases, so does the presence of up-and-coming Black superstars.

This year, as eight teams headed to Oklahoma City, there were many storylines: Oklahoma looking for its fourth consecutive national championship; Texas leading the pack as the No. 1 seed; and the underdog ACC champion Duke, which made history in its first WCWS appearance.

With so many storylines, it’s a moment to acknowledge the standout Black talent in Oklahoma City.

Duke coach Marissa Young became the first Black coach to compete at the WCWS. The tournament became an official NCAA championship during the 1981-82 season in 1981, the same year Young was born. She has accomplished arguably one of the largest milestones in her career as the first Black coach on softball’s biggest stage.

“I didn’t have that as something to see growing up, and obviously taking the job here I understood that I had an opportunity to do something that has never been done,” Young said. “I love just looking at our team and all the diversity, and everything that we stand for is really special, and I hope that it continues to open up doors for others both in the professional setting but also for players that want to play at this level.”

The 2024 ACC Pitcher of the Year, Jala Wright, a senior, led the Blue Devils and Young to historic feats with her career ending in Oklahoma City. With her signature pitching stance, her long blond braids and her overall dominance, Wright has left her mark on college softball.

“You see me with the braids, the lashes, the swag, the unapologeticness of myself and like women of color, we can do it too,” Wright said. “This is a game all about just if you have talent, it shouldn’t matter the color of your skin, so if you’re a Black girl and you feel like you can dominate, play the damn game.”

Although the Blue Devils’ season ended May 31 against reigning national champion Oklahoma, Wright’s legacy continues.

Another standout pitcher this season was USA Collegiate Softball Player of the Year, NiJaree Canady. For the second consecutive year, Canady led the Stanford Cardinal deep into the postseason, and the team went to the semifinals of the WCWS. Canaday is known for her lethal rise ball and post-strikeout celebration stomp.

Canady ended her sophomore year with a ERA of 0.73 and an overall career ERA of 0.67, meaning that each game, there was an average of less than one earned run scored.

“Her competitiveness is the piece that continues to awe me every single day. Her skill set is unique, but really just the way she competes sets her apart. I’ve never seen a situation that she backs down from,” Stanford coach Jessica Allister said after their season-ending loss against Texas.

Canady and the Cardinal ended the season of a familiar Pac-12 foe, UCLA, in Oklahoma City. A mainstay in UCLA’s line up has been senior infielder Maya Brady, whose explosive bat and versatility earned her Pac-12 Player of the Year honors twice. Outstanding athletic achievement runs in the family: her uncle is seven-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Tom Brady and her mother, Maureen, was an All-American at Fresno State.

“She is a fierce ball player but she is such a respected and loved leader on this team and she left her mark on the game,” UCLA coach Kelly Inouye-Perez said. “Everybody loved to watch her play because she is just one swing away from just adding to the numbers, but if you knew her, it’s so much more than that.”

In the championship series at the WCWS, Oklahoma’s now four-time national champion Jayda Coleman and Texas’ Mia Scott, one of the vital components in the Longhorns’ runner up finish in 2022, went head-to-head for the championship.

In the championship series, Scott led her team in all hitting categories and was named to the 2024 All-Tournament team. With some amazing plays in OKC, including a show-stopping catch in the semifinals against Florida, Scott is just a junior and will have one more year on her quest to win a national championship.

On the other hand, Coleman will leave college only knowing what it’s like to win a national championship. She has been the starting outfielder behind every national championship win of her career, with some brief appearances playing first base her freshman year. Joined by other standout athletes like outfielder Riley Boone and first basemen Cydnee Sanders, the Sooners were unbeatable in the championship series.

Whether it’s a SportsCenter Top 10 catch from Scott or a walk-off home run from Coleman, these athletes have the ability to change a game with one play, and watching them face off in the championship series was a culmination of all the Black talent that was represented in Oklahoma City this year.

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By: Cayla Sweazie
Title: Women’s College World Series showcases Black softball talent
Sourced From: andscape.com/features/womens-college-world-series-showcases-black-softball-talent/
Published Date: Fri, 07 Jun 2024 15:21:59 +0000