Former Olympian Mendoza Signs With USSSA Florida Pride
Mendoza joins a host of Olympic teammates fielded by Pride in 2010
USSSA Florida Pride General Manager, Don DeDonatis, announced today that former Olympic Gold (2004) and Silver (2008) Medalist, Jessica Mendoza has signed a contract to play for the USSSA Florida Pride.
“We are thrilled to sign another amazing athlete of world-class caliber to the USSSA Florida Pride,” commented DeDonatis. “We are committed to putting a top quality team on the field for NPF competition and we are also committed to exposing young softball players across the nation to these extraordinary athletes and people.”
Mendoza joins a Pride program that is moving into their second season of National Pro Fastpitch competition. In 2009, their inaugural season, the Pride went all the way to the Championship game of the NPF’s much heralded, Championship Series, before falling to the Series Champion, Rockford Thunder.
“I am excited to be a part of the NPF family and help the future of girls and women in sports through the success of professional fast pitch softball,” said Mendoza. “I can’t wait to reach and educate thousands more girls and their families about the NPF and the future it holds for them to continue their dreams in the sport of softball.”
Mendoza is one of the most recognized players in fastpitch softball. She is a graduate of Stanford University where she was a 4 time NFCA First Team All American, 4 time All Pac 10 First Team member, 2000 Pac 10 Player of the Year, and 3 time Stanford Athlete of the Year.
Mendoza became a member of Team USA in 2001. As a Team USA member, she was a large contributor to the Athens “Dream Team” that captured the Gold Medal in 2004, and a member of the Silver Medalist Team of 2008 in Beijing, China. Overall for Team USA, Mendoza has earned two Pan-Am Gold Medals, 2 World Cup Championships, and 2 World Championships along with the Olympic medals. In 2006, Mendoza was named USA Softball Female Athlete of the Year.
Mendoza joins a star-studded roster in Florida along with recent signee and fellow Stanford and Olympic teammate, Lauren Lappin. Other former Olympians include outfielders Kelly Kretschman and Caitlin Lowe, shortstop Natasha Watley, and pitching phenom, Monica Abbott. Additionally, Florida has recently signed NCAA standout, Katie Burkhart, formerly of Arizona State and the NPF’s Philadelphia Force.
In addition to Mendoza’s softball resume, she is also a color analyst for ESPN and is currently the President of the Women’s Sports Foundation.
The USSSA Florida Pride will open NPF action on June 9th, in Lubbock Texas at the stadium of the Texas Tech Red Raiders. To find complete information about the USSSA Florida Pride and other NPF action, visit www.usssapride.com.
National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Nashville, TN. The League, created to give elite female fastpitch players the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport, has operated since 1997 under the names of Women’s Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women’s Pro Softball League (WPSL).
For more on this story, please visit ProFastPitch.com