Homegrown: Knoxville Miracle Sign Local Standout Jazmine Whitney

For Jazmine Whitney, signing a professional softball contract means more than reaching the next level.

It means getting to do it at home.

The Knoxville Miracle have signed Whitney to their inaugural professional roster, bringing the East Tennessee product back home to continue her softball career in front of the community that helped shape it.

A native of Maryville, Tennessee, Whitney grew up just minutes from where the Miracle are building the future of professional softball in East Tennessee. Now, after years of work, sacrifice and competition, she has an opportunity few athletes ever receive: to become a professional athlete in her own backyard.

“This one is special. When we started building the Miracle, this is exactly what we talked about. We wanted young girls in East Tennessee to grow up knowing they don’t have to leave home for their biggest softball dreams. Jazmine is living proof of that. She grew up here, developed here, and now she gets to call herself a professional softball player right here at home.”

Whitney brings athleticism and versatility to the Miracle roster, with the ability to contribute in multiple areas of the game. But for the organization, her signing represents something even bigger.

It represents what professional softball in Knoxville can become.

For generations of softball players throughout East Tennessee, the path traditionally ended when their college careers ended. The Miracle are working to change that by creating a professional destination in a region where the sport is already deeply rooted.

Whitney now becomes part of that story.

“Think about the young girl playing travel ball in Maryville, Knoxville, Alcoa or anywhere in East Tennessee who gets to come watch Jazmine play. She can look onto that field and see someone who grew up where she grew up. That’s powerful. Jazmine isn’t just joining our roster — she’s helping show the next generation what’s possible.”

Whitney’s journey also embodies the mentality the Miracle want their inaugural roster to represent: toughness, perseverance, competitiveness and an appreciation for the opportunity to continue playing the game.

She will now have the chance to chase that dream with family, friends, former teammates, coaches and members of her hometown community close enough to be part of it.

For Whitney, there may be no better place to begin her professional career.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to play professionally and to be able to do it here at home makes it even more special. East Tennessee has been such a big part of who I am and my softball journey. To represent this community as a professional player is something I don’t take lightly. I’m excited to compete, help build the Miracle and hopefully inspire younger players from this area to believe they can do the same thing.”

Whitney joins a growing group of athletes who will make up the foundation of the Knoxville Miracle’s inaugural roster.

But this signing hits differently.

One of East Tennessee’s own is staying home.

And this time, she’s staying home to play professional softball.

The Knoxville Miracle will begin their inaugural season in summer 2027.

About the Knoxville Miracle

The Knoxville Miracle are a professional softball organization based in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Miracle are building a player-first professional model centered around elite competition, athlete development, community engagement and creating opportunities for the next generation of softball players to dream bigger, including the opportunity to play professionally right here in East Tennessee.