Bradenton’s IMG Academy debuts softball program led by Olympian coach. Meet the recruits
IMG Academy’s latest sports program is getting closer to launch with brand new fields and its very first recruits.
On Friday, the private sports academy in Bradenton held an inaugural prospect day to usher in its new girls softball program, which is led by former Olympian Joey Lye.
Under overcast skies, 10 prospective players participated in warm ups, fielding practice and other drills on one of four new fields.
The fledgling program is winding up for an official launch in fall 2025 ahead of its first competitive season in spring 2026. Camps are planned ahead of the first season.
The softball program will mimic IMG football with a national team and a high school varsity team.
Former Olympian says IMG is ‘perfect fit’
Lye, who was a bronze medalist for Canada at the 2020 Tokyo Games, said she heard of IMG Academy before but had not been on campus until she had the opportunity to interview for the softball director position.
“It just seemed like a perfect fit for me,” Lye, who is from Toronto, said. “It’s a place that breeds and supports high performance. And that’s always been the mentality that I have.”
Lye said the support of the softball program, emphasis on the female student-athlete journey, the building blocks and holistic approach all led up to the program’s first prospect day.
IMG softball program selects first recruits
So far, there are two players enrolled in the program: junior catcher/utility Bree McHughes and sophomore pitcher McKenna Cassidy.
McHughes is a native of Washington, Oklahoma, which is roughly 15 miles south of the University of Oklahoma. Cassidy is from Lakewood Ranch.
“Whenever I came on my tour here, (Lye) let me use her bat that she used in the Olympics,” McHughes said. “It was crazy, it was just like an energetic experience.”
“It’s amazing, it’s the best experience you can get,” Cassidy said about learning from Lye. “She’s the best.”
New IMG softball program aims for ‘high-performing athletes’
In roughly a week, the two will get a mix of turf and grass fields to practice on. And that’s by design.
“We were very intentional about having both turf and natural because there are so many places throughout the country that are adding turf to their facilities,” Lye said. “So to be able to have the opportunity to train on both is a plus for high-performing athletes.”
Batting cages, locker rooms and office space are slated to be built over the next year.
This story was originally published January 14, 2025 at 5:50 AM.
