Since she was four years old, Jada Cooper has shown an extraordinary talent for softball. Known for her dedication and humility, Cooper has consistently produced outstanding results on the field. As she approaches the end of her travel softball career with Diamond Legacy CTX-Warnecke, she is set to embark on a new journey at Grand Canyon University (GCU).
“I love the game. Softball has always been a part of my life; it brings me joy and fulfillment and playing summer ball keeps my passion for the game alive,” said Cooper. “After committing to play softball at GCU I decided to continue and play summer ball because I wanted to maintain and improve my skills. Softball is a sport that requires constant practice and dedication and playing in the summer allows me to stay sharp and ready for the upcoming season.”
Cooper believes in teamwork and feels that playing with her teammates over the summer helps build strong bonds and communication on the field.
“It’s the team chemistry overall. Summer ball has more competitive players that challenge me to push my limits and grow as an athlete. Facing different teams and players helps me adapt to different playing styles and strategies that I will face playing at the collegiate level and is very important to my development,” said Cooper.
This past spring, GCU achieved a record-breaking season with over 50 single wins and secured the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) championship for the third consecutive year. This winning culture was one of the draws for Cooper to select Grand Canyon as her next home.
“I believe in coach Shanon Hays and her coaching staff and their goals for me in the program. I really liked the school and the environment around it, and I enjoyed meeting the team; they were nice and very welcoming,” said Cooper.
Cooper’s junior season at Westside High School was extraordinary. Over 96 at-bats, she achieved a batting average of .448 and an on-base percentage of .518. Her slugging percentage reached an impressive 1.031. She tallied 42 hits, including 16 home runs, and drove in 61 runs. Her performance with runners in scoring position was equally remarkable, boasting a batting average of .439. Cooper’s dominance continued into her senior season, where she led her team in home runs, slugging percentage, and runs batted in.
“Being depended upon to continuously produce dominant numbers while batting can sometimes feel overwhelming, but being the person my team can trust to make something happen gives me more confidence when I’m up to bat,” said Cooper.
Along with the Astros Senior Softball team in the Astros Youth Academy, Cooper’s summer season with Diamond Legacy CTX-Warnecke showed her performance remained stellar. In her first 2023-24 season showcase, she had nine at-bats with a .667 batting average, an on-base percentage of .636, and a slugging percentage of 2.111. Her on-base plus slugging percentage was an astonishing 2.747. She tallied one single, one double, four home runs, and eight runs batted in, with a .600 batting average with runners in scoring position.
Cooper’s consistent and impressive offensive numbers garnered significant attention. Jennie Finch, a world-class softball pitcher who helped Team USA win an Olympic gold medal in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens and won a College World Series at the University of Arizona in 2001, recognized Cooper’s talent. In 2023, Finch awarded Cooper, along with Ana Gonzalez from Midlothian, TX, Karley Clark from Fairfield, Ohio, and Kristin White from Gambrills, Maryland, the prestigious Arm & Hammer Jennie Finch Empowerment Award. This award is given annually to four young female athletes to honor their exceptional achievements in leadership, motivation, commitment, dedication, humility, and integrity.
“I was incredibly grateful and honored to receive the award and grateful to know that this would help me achieve my academic and athletic goals at the next level,” said Cooper.
As Jada Cooper prepares to join Grand Canyon University, her journey of relentless effort and remarkable talent continues to inspire. Her story is a testament to the power of dedication and the impact of humility in achieving greatness.
About Jada Cooper
Class: 2024
IG: @jjadacooper
Twitter: @jada_cooper
Position: 1st base, 3rd base, catcher
Favorite artist: PartyNextDoor
Status: Committed to Grand Canyon University
Favorite subject: Math
Shout-outs: My travel ball team/Astros team, Mom, Dad, Coach Brittany, Coach Kiani, Coach Hays and Coach Megan
