AUSTIN, Texas — Joley Mitchell is one of the best softball players to ever come from the state of Arkansas. In high school, she won two state titles and set multiple individual records. It was the payoff for all the hard work she and her father had put forth in practicing over the years.
“My dad had told my mom and me that if we’re going to do this, we’re going to go 110%,” says Joley Mitchell. “Here I am 23 years-old going 110%.”
“When she first started, god love her, she was not very good and that killed her dad’s soul,” says Alexis Mitchell, Joley’s mother. “They went all in and practiced and she turned out to be pretty good.”
Her success in high school led to plenty of opportunities to play in college and Mitchell chose Notre Dame. She was at Notre Dame in 2021 when she started to feel off and decided to go see the doctor. That visit turned out to be much more serious than expected and included a startling phone call to Joley’s mother from Notre Dame’s coach.
“She called me and said you need to come. I said why,” Alexis recalls. “She told me that Joley’s blood count was zero.”
Joley had developed an autoimmune disease after a bout with COVID and her blood was not clotting correctly.
“I was very ill, and I was in CCU for a few weeks,” says Joley. “I had to deal with a lot, I had to do lots of chemo rounds and take a chemo pill for about 16 months.”
“The doctor told her, Joley, you should be dead,” says Alexis. “The only reason you’re still alive is because probably you’re an athlete and in good shape.”
Doctors tried several different types of treatments for Joley before finding this chemo pill that would help. Alexis said that medicine cost $16,000 per month, and it wasn’t covered by their insurance. They were able to speak with the pharmaceutical company and that company decided to donate her medicine. Joley’s family encouraged her to come back to Arkansas while she was battling this illness, but she wanted to stay at Notre Dame and continue with her classes and continue playing softball.
“Let me tell you something, she is a tough cookie,” says Alexis. “Most kids would’ve cracked and crumbled and it really did make her tougher.”
After missing the 2021 season, Joley was back on the field in 2022. That year she hit .340 and had 5 home runs. She was even better in 2023 hitting .382 with 10 home runs and was named 1st team all-ACC. After last season, Joley had graduated and decided to enter the transfer portal with two more years of eligibility left. She had her eye on one school.
“I think for a couple of years I’ve wanted to come to Texas because I know they’re a competitive team,” says Joley.
While she wanted to come to Texas, Texas also wanted her to join the team. Joley signed with the Longhorns in the off-season and has had a huge impact this season.
“She’s been through some adversity with her health, that makes you a bit of a fighter and she is a fighter,” says Mike White, UT’s softball coach. “We know that she’s going to compete every time we put her out there and she’s going to be there for the team.”
“I think the most surprising thing is that it feels a little more at home for me than I thought it would,” says Joleyl. “In Arkansas everyone kind of feels like Texas is the enemy but I’m OK with being the enemy and if I’m winning, then I don’t really care.”
Texas has done a lot of winning with Joley and the whole team this year. They went 45-6 during the regular season and entered the postseason as the number 1 ranked team in the country. Joley has contributed with a .395 batting average and 7 home runs. Her perspective on life, with what she’s been through, allows her to truly enjoy the success they are having.
“I have an opportunity to play and I’ve been playing my whole life, and I was taking it for granted,” says Joley. “Now I play with a chip on my shoulder and give it a 110%.”
“When you should have been dead, and the doctor tells you that, it really does give you a different perspective on what’s important,” says Alexis.