Alabama softball star Jenna Johnson releases statement on 50th anniversary of Title IX

July 23rd, 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of Title IX and on Thursday afternoon, Alabama Crimson Tide softball star Jenna Johnson released a statement about it on the Alabama Athletics Twitter account. Created in the early 1970s, Title IX laid down the basis for gender equality and fair treatment in education, leading to more opportunities for women in both the classroom and athletics. Check out Johnson’s statement below.

She wrote, “The female athletes who came before us paved the way for new opportunities in the college softball world. My hope is to inspire the next generation to continue to grow the game and achieve new heights thought to be impossible,” Johnson said via a statement on Twitter.

This year, Johnson guided the Crimson Tide to a 43-12 overall record. She batted .290 at the plate, hitting five home runs, five doubles, and 24 RBIs. Johnson was also one of the best base runners on the Tide this season, stealing 11 bases on 15 attempts, good enough for second most on the roster. In this year’s Regional Round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament, she was third on the Crimson Tide in hits with four. Alabama’s season ended in the Tuscaloosa Regional Final this year, when they lost 6-0 to the Stanford Cardinal in Game 7.

Jenna Johnson helped the Crimson Tide stave off elimination against the Chattanooga Mocs

The Franklin, Tennessee native saved the Tide’s season in their elimination game against the Chattanooga Mocs. Johnson went 2-for-3 at the plate, including one home run and two RBIs, helping lift the Crimson Tide to a 6-2 victory on May 22nd.

In 2021, Johnson had one of her best performances of the year in the series against the Ole Miss Rebels–tallying three hits, two doubles, along with three RBIs during that series.

While suiting up for Page High School, she peppered her name all over the record books, breaking multiple single-season records, including: .686 on base percentage (2018), 11 home runs and 1.114 slugging percentage (2017), and 24 stolen bases and a .591 batting average (2016).