Knoxville Miracle Sign San Diego State Standout Makena Brocki

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Knoxville Miracle have added another versatile and proven competitor to their roster with the signing of former San Diego State standout Makena Brocki.

A native of Chino Hills, California, Brocki built an impressive career with the Aztecs, establishing herself as a player capable of impacting the game from multiple positions while competing for a program accustomed to winning championships and playing postseason softball.

Now, she’s bringing that versatility to Knoxville.

“Makena is one of those players who makes your roster better in a lot of different ways,” Knoxville Miracle Head Coach Craig Snider said. “She understands the game, she’s incredibly versatile defensively and she’s a tough out at the plate. But what really stood out to us was how she competes. She has a maturity and confidence about the way she plays that fits what we’re trying to build.”

Brocki spent four seasons at San Diego State, seeing time at second base, third base and throughout the outfield.

Her breakout season came in 2023.

Brocki earned First-Team All-Mountain West honors after hitting .371 during conference play with 23 hits, 19 RBI, eight doubles and four triples. She slugged .629 and reached base at a .423 clip against Mountain West opponents.

Overall, Brocki finished the 2023 season hitting .297 with 44 hits, 33 RBI, 13 doubles and five triples.

Then she elevated her game when the postseason arrived.

During San Diego State’s six NCAA Tournament games, Brocki hit an impressive .474, collecting nine hits in 19 at-bats while adding a home run, triple, three RBI and four runs scored.

“That’s something we pay attention to,” Snider said. “What happens when the games get bigger? Makena has shown that she doesn’t shy away from those moments. She embraces them. When you’re building a professional roster, you want players who want to compete when something is actually on the line.”

Brocki continued to be a fixture in the Aztecs’ lineup during her senior season, starting 49 games in 2024 while splitting time between second base and the outfield. She recorded 35 hits, nine doubles and 17 RBI.

But Brocki’s impact at San Diego State extended beyond the field.

She was a three-time Mountain West Scholar-Athlete, a three-time Academic All-Mountain West selection and earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors.

That combination of talent, intelligence and versatility made Brocki an attractive fit for the Miracle.

“Makena understands that being a professional is bigger than what happens between the lines,” Snider added. “How you prepare matters. How you treat people matters. How you represent your teammates and your organization matters. She checks a lot of boxes for us.”

Brocki also comes from a family deeply rooted in high-level athletics. Her father, Mike, played professional baseball in the Seattle Mariners organization, her mother, Rhonda Wheatley, was an All-American softball player at Cal Poly Pomona, and her sister, Courtney Gano, was an All-Pac-12 performer at Washington who went on to represent Team USA.

Now Brocki gets an opportunity to write the next chapter of her own story.

Professional softball.

“She’s earned this opportunity,” Snider said. “And I think there’s still another level in her game. That’s what excites us. We’re not just interested in what Makena has already accomplished. We’re excited about what she can become.”

From Chino Hills to San Diego State, and now across the country to East Tennessee, Brocki’s softball journey continues.

Only this time, she’s doing it as a professional.

Versatile. Proven. Postseason tested.

Makena Brocki is a Knoxville Miracle.

About the Knoxville Miracle

The Knoxville Miracle are a professional softball organization based in Knoxville, Tennessee, committed to building a championship-level, player-first organization centered around elite competition, athlete development, community engagement and growing professional softball throughout East Tennessee.