​Former Tennessee softball star shortstop Madison Shipman is making history on July 10 as she steps into a new role on a major television broadcast. Shipman, who also serves as a softball analyst for ESPN, will make her television broadcast debut for Sportsnet in a Toronto Blue Jays game against the San Diego Padres. Her historic moment marks the first time a woman has called a regular-season Blue Jays game. She will be in the broadcast booth for the entire three-game series, which kicks off on July 10 at 9:40 p.m. ET on Sportsnet. Prior to this, Shipman had two spring training Blue Jays broadcasts in February. Her broadcasting career includes work as a softball analyst for ESPN and the SEC Network since 2018, and she has been part of ESPN’s coverage of the Women’s College World Series for several years. Shipman joined Sportsnet in June 2023 and contributes as an analyst on Blue Jays radio broadcasts.
In a separate note from Knoxville, Tennessee, longtime softball coach Karen Weekly celebrated a landmark moment as her team earned a spot in the Women’s College World Series following a thrilling NCAA Super Regional win over Georgia at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville on May 22, 2026. The victory sent the Lady Volunteers to Oklahoma City, continuing Tennessee’s strong postseason tradition. The celebration, captured by photographer Angelina Alcantar of the News Sentinel, highlighted Weekly’s influence and the program’s ongoing success.
Shipman’s collegiate legacy remains a central part of Tennessee softball lore. A two-time first-team NFCA All-American, she was named the 2014 SEC Player of the Year and captured the 2014 Honda Sports Award for softball as a senior. She earned SEC All-First Team honors in three consecutive seasons after making the SEC All-Freshman Team in 2011. Drafted No. 2 overall by the National Pro Fastpitch in 2014, Shipman joined a league that has since folded, but she helped Tennessee reach back-to-back Women’s College World Series appearances in 2012 and 2013, with 2013 standing out as one of the program’s best seasons. Tennessee finished as the WCWS runner-up in 2013, marking the program’s sixth trip to Oklahoma City.
Shipman’s impact on Tennessee softball is still evident in the program’s record books. She ranks among the all-time leaders in multiple categories, including fifth in career home runs (44), fifth in doubles (55), fifth in RBIs (207), and fifth in total bases (444). She also sits fourth in career assists (397), eighth in career walks (105), and is second in career grand slams with four. Her achievements reflect a blend of power, consistency, and leadership that helped shape one of the nation’s premier collegiate programs.
For those following Tennessee sports coverage, Cora Hall serves as the University of Tennessee women’s athletics reporter for Knox News. She can be reached at cora.hall@knoxnews.com and follows @corahalll on X, with Bluesky at @corahall.bsky.social. Readers are encouraged to support local journalism to unlock premium perks at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
This recap draws from coverage originally published by the Knoxville News Sentinel and highlights Shipman’s historic broadcast debut, Weekly’s WCWS run, and Shipman’s illustrious Tennessee career, underscoring the enduring influence of Tennessee softball alumni in both collegiate and professional sports media.