Grace Jenkins, a notable player from the University of Arizona’s softball team, has signed with the Oklahoma City Spark, part of the American Ultimate Softball League (AUSL). Jenkins was selected from the reserve pool, a group of players ready to step in when regular team members are unavailable due to commitments like playing professionally overseas or with national teams.

Jenkins transferred to Arizona after an impressive three-year stint at the University of Connecticut, where she was named the BIG EAST Player of the Year in 2025. During her time with the Wildcats, she earned several accolades, including All-Big 12 First Team, CSC Academic All-District, and NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete honors.

On the field, Jenkins showcased her versatility by playing 55 games, starting 54 of them. She achieved a batting average of .336, with seven doubles, two triples, and 14 home runs, resulting in a .706 slugging percentage and a 1.153 OPS. Although she was initially recognized as an All-American catcher, Jenkins adapted to play right field due to the presence of another All-American catcher, Sydney Stewart, on the team.

Jenkins will join her former teammate Sydney Stewart as a rookie in the AUSL’s second season. Her addition to the league highlights the strong pipeline of talent from Arizona, with eight former Wildcats now playing professionally. This group includes notable names like Taylor McQuillin, Alyssa Denham, and Dejah Mulipola, all of whom spent significant time contributing to Arizona’s softball legacy.

Original reporting: Arizona Desert Swarm (Tucson Sports) — read the source article.