In a release issued on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 and on the organization’s website, USSSAPride.com, the USSSA Pride organization announced that its pro team will not play this summer.
*** Click HERE to see the roster for the Pride team last year.
The release included the following information:
USSSA has experienced many changes this year. At times, the results of these changes have required us to pivot operations. Along these lines, we are saddened to share the news that, despite great effort and substantial conversation, the USSSA Pride will not operate in 2024.
This decision was incredibly difficult. We wish there was a way that we could move forward with the 2024 season as planned, and we acknowledge that this is a disappointing outcome for all.
We are thankful for your support, and we look forward to what the future may hold for the USSSA Pride.
USSSA Board of Directors
The General Manager of the Pride has been Donny DeDonatis III and former Univ. of Oregon great Courtney Ceo, who also played for the USSSA Pride squad previously, was the Assistant General Manager.
Kelley Kretschman, the former standout for the Alabama Crimson Tide and nine-time All-Star at the pro level, was expected to be the head coach for the team with her assistants lined up to be Stephanie Ceo and Courtney Gettins.
The World Fastpitch League (WPL) season—of which the Pride is part of and would have competed in the league’s fourth season—was set to begin June 15th and the team was set to compete in 36 games with the playoffs and championship game to be held mid-August in Oxford, Ala.
All that looks to be up in the air int terms of scheduling, player rosters and the direction of the league.
The WPL, which started in 2021, has three other teams in addition to the Pride: Smash It Sports Vipers (Oxford, Alabama), Oklahoma City Spark (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) and Texas Smoke (Austin, Texas).
In 2023, the Texas Smoke won the WPL championships with the Pride finishing as runners-up.
The Pride organization will still hold clinics in June as part of the USSSA Pride Instructional Clinics series.
Learn from the best ➡️ 𝙋𝙇𝘼𝙔 𝙇𝙄𝙆𝙀 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝘽𝙀𝙎𝙏 💪
Sign up for one of our USSSA Pride Instructional Clinics happening at the Space Coast Complex this Summer ⬇️https://t.co/xshDF1uHhx#PlayUSSSA pic.twitter.com/nYY74kJysT
Another major property, the youth player-focused Select 30, looks like it will also continue.
The two events this year, the Space Coast Select 30 National Training Camp (Fla.) and the West Coast Select 30 National Training Camp, were held in mid-January and mid-February respectively.
— Brentt Eads/Line Drive Softball
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