Jala Wright on Duke softball's No. 10 seed in 2024 NCAA Tournament: 'It was tough, very tough to watch'

The Duke Blue Devils were one of the more dominant teams in college softball this season, rolling through their competition en route to an ACC Regular Season and ACC Tournament Championship. But when the bracket was released on Sunday night’s Bracket Selection Show on ESPN2, the Blue Devils were one of the biggest surprises, as they were given a No. 10 seed in the 2024 NCAA Softball Tournament. Many were disappointed with that seeding and thought Duke should have been higher.

Shortly after the bracket reveal, Blue Devils’ star pitcher Jala Wright spoke with Holly Rowe on a number of topics, including her reaction to how they were seeded in the field. She was candid in her response.

“It was tough. Very tough to watch. But, we were definitely hoping to be a higher seed, especially with the season that we’ve had. We won regular season. We just won ACC yesterday. You would think we would be a little higher but it’s okay. We’ve faced a lot of adversity this year. We’ve been successful. And this is just another test. We’re always gonna compete with whoever steps on the field with us,” Wright explained on Sunday evening.

Wright explained the little details have helped her team

Wright earned ACC Pitcher of the Year honors this season, showing her stuff as one of the most dominant pitchers in the country. She even set a new school record with 17 strikeouts in one game. Her overall record was nearly flawless, posting a 17-1 overall mark with a 1.20 ERA.

How has she been able to come into her own and own the mound this year? “It’s just a testament to God first and foremost. I’ve cultivated a better relationship with him and I’m just honestly grateful for all those blessings. And further, me and Coach Young have had a lot of tough conversations. And he’s just told me, ‘J, trust yourself. Take the pressure off. Just have fun. Ball out.’ And that’s exactly what I’ve been doing,” Wright continued.

What have been the details that have made Duke such a dominant team this season? “The little things. It starts right here in our team room. Cleaning up behind ourselves. Leaving everything on the field. Making sure that no one leaves the field unless everything is picked up. It’s just those little things we do each and every day consistently that helps us be the best that we are,” the Duke star pitcher noted.