ATX Today – New Women’s Professional Fastpitch Team the Texas Smoke is Headed to Austin

The team lineup is already filled with local and national stars.

Austinites will soon be able to cheer for a new pro sports team. 🥎

Yesterday, it was announced that the Texas Smoke, a Women’s Professional Fastpitch team, is currently being formed.

Here’s everything we know:

The crew

The team is founded by former Cincinnati Reds player and MLB Hall of Famer Brandon Phillips and entrepreneur Jade Cargill.

• Head coach: Tori Tyson, currently head coach of Howard University Softball

• Players include:

  • UT softball star Janae Jefferson

  • ASU player Morgan Howe

  • Puerto Rico National Team medalist Alyssa Rivera

  • See the full roster.

• General manager: Eric Mays

The season

The Texas Smoke is the fourth franchise in Women’s Professional Fastpitch. The teams’ values are oriented around supporting women’s sports and building community. (Fun fact: the name “Texas Smoke” comes from a legendary defense of Austin in the 1840s.)

The season opens on Thursday, June 15.

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