Knoxville’s New Pro Softball Team Has a Name — the Knoxville Miracle |
The Professional Softball League franchise is set to begin play in 2027, adding another women’s sports storyline to a city already known for strong softball support. |
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Professional softball is coming to East Tennessee, and Knoxville’s new team now has a name: the Knoxville Miracle.
The Professional Softball League franchise is set to begin play in 2027, according to WVLT. The team was announced Wednesday by 108 Performance founder Eugene Bleecker as the PSL’s newest franchise.
The coaching staff will include two familiar names for Tennessee softball fans. Former University of Tennessee softball assistants Craig Snider and Stephanie Sanders are part of the Miracle staff, along with former Tennessee baseball assistant Nate Headley.
The announcement gives Knoxville another professional sports team to follow, joining a growing local lineup that already includes the Knoxville Smokies, One Knoxville SC, and the Ice Bears. It also arrives at a moment when interest in women’s sports is rising nationally and when Knoxville already has a built-in softball audience through the Lady Vols.
That local connection matters. Tennessee softball has long been one of the region’s stronger college sports programs, and UT star pitcher Karlyn Pickens was recently drafted first overall in the 2026 Athletes Unlimited Softball League Draft.
For Knoxville, the Miracle could become more than a new team name. It is a chance to build on East Tennessee’s existing softball culture, give young athletes another local pro-sports example, and add another women’s sports attraction to the city’s calendar.
Several details are still developing, including where the team will play, ticketing plans, roster construction, and the full season schedule. But the name announcement makes the project feel more real — and gives Knoxville sports fans a new team to watch ahead of 2027. |