Neshoba County native, and former Mississippi State softball player, Aspen Wesley will be inducted into the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame this summer.
That ceremony is planned for Saturday, June 7 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
A graduate of Neshoba Central High School, Wesley was the first member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians to pitch in the SEC. During her tenure at Mississippi State (2020 – 2024), she earned Second Team All-SEC honors after being named the National Pitcher of the Week twice and setting MSU records for the most wins and shutouts in SEC play in a single year. Along the way, she threw State’s first no-hitter in conference play since 2013 and became the first Bulldog to hold opponents to a batting average below .200 in league games.
She closed her career among the top 10 in school history in career strikeouts, wins, shutouts and appearances.
At Neshoba Central, Wesley helped lead the Rocket to six straight MHSAA State Championships and was named the Mississippi Softball Gatorade Player of the Year four times.
Wesley recently played for the Texas Monarchs of the Women’s Professional Fastpitch (WPF) and is currently playing professionally in New Zealand.
The North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame (NAIAHF) honors and recognizes the indigenous sport cultures of 27 countries of North America by recognizing outstanding leadership and achievement in individual and team athletics. By honoring and celebrating the empowered journey of the annually inducted individuals and teams, the hope is their stories may inspire future generations to follow their dreams in athletics and life.