AUSTIN, Texas — Janae Jefferson is a familiar name to softball fans across Texas, and now the Longhorn legend is the face of a new softball team in the Women’s Professional League.

What You Need To Know

  • University of Texas at Austin softball legend Janae Jefferson is now the face of the Texas Smoke of the Women's Professional League

  • Jefferson ended her UT career as the school's all-time leader in hit and batting average, propelling them to the Women's College World Series finals in 2022

  • Jefferson was the first player signed by co-owner and former Major League Baseball player Brandon Phillips 

  • Jefferson is an inspiration for aspiring softball stars 

 

“It was a no-brainer for me to be that person to start things,” Jefferson said. “I think just being in Austin really excites me. This is like my second home. Just knowing the legacy that I left at UT just really inspires me to know who I am and know why I’m here.”

Jefferson is one of the best softball players to wear the burnt orange. She ended her career as Texas’ all-time leader in both hits and batting average, helping the Longhorns to the Women’s College World Series finals in 2022. 

“I just haven’t lost that hunger yet,” Jefferson said. “I still want to be out there diving for balls, getting dirty, things like that.”

She got the chance to satisfy that hunger with the Texas Smoke. She was actually the first player signed by co-owner and former Major League Baseball player Brandon Phillips. 

“How can you not have Janae come here and be the face of this organization?” Phillips said. “She’s a great player, a great human being, and I love her presence. I love her passion for the game.”

Making Jefferson the face of the franchise is a move that’s part performance-based, part marketing for the startup venture. 

“These girls come up with their Janae things and they’re so excited to meet her,” said Smoke head coach Tori Tyson. “That’s what we want, and that was a big reason why she was signed here.”

Jefferson is an inspiration for young, aspiring softball stars. 

“Going out there playing hard, making cool plays, so girls see me in the stands and they’re like, ‘wow, like that was amazing. I could do that too,’” said Jefferson, who went to high school in Humble, Texas. “Even off the field, signing autographs, taking pictures...just being a good person to look up to.”

And a great ambassador to help grow the game of softball.

“Not to knock baseball, but once you watch a baseball game and transfer to softball, you’re like, ‘wow, this is fun to watch, more fast-paced,’” Jefferson said. “With the help and marketing and sponsors, things like that, our game could really take off at the professional level.”