Sydney Sherrill / Oklahoma City Spark
Professional softball player Sydney Sherrill has spoken openly about her journey with faith, noting that it became a foundational part of her life during her second year playing in the professional leagues.
While she was a highly decorated student-athlete at Florida State University, she admitted that she "didn't really have it at all in college".
Separating Identity From Sport
On an episode of the podcast Dropping Diamonds with AJ Andrews, Sherrill shared how discovering her faith completely changed how she viewed herself both on and off the field:
- The Ultimate Source of Value: Sherrill explained that finding her faith helped her understand that her value as a human being comes from God, rather than her performance in softball.
- Breaking the Cycle of Highs and Lows: Before leaning into her faith, she felt that every at-bat and play dictated her self-worth. While the highs of being a great player were rewarding, the slumps made her feel incredibly "unworthy".
- A New Perspective: Embracing her spiritual life provided an emotional baseline, ensuring her identity remained stable regardless of how she performed on the diamond.
Faith in Her Coaching & Career
Sherrill's commitment to faith is also evident in her broader career choices. She currently serves as an assistant softball coach for Oklahoma Christian University Athletics, a private Christian university in Oklahoma City. Alongside coaching, she continues to play professionally for the hometown Oklahoma City Spark in the AUSL.