“Puka” Latest In Professional Pipeline
June 05, 2023 | Softball
STARKVILLE – Following the NCAA Selection Show, Chloe Malau'ulu sat in the hallway and cried. Mississippi State had not been chosen, and the Long Beach, California, native's time in Starkville was officially over. It didn't end on a field where she had planned, but in a theater where she'd waited. So Chloe Malau'ulu sat and wept as she talked to her family nearly 2,000 miles away.
Less than three weeks later, it turns out her career is not over. No, she won't be returning to Starkville. Instead, Malau'ulu is the latest Bulldog to realize her dreams of a career playing professionally, signing a free agent contract with the Oklahoma City Spark in the WPF.
"I feel like I have a lot of unfinished business from this year, so to have this opportunity to keep playing is really special," she said. "I want to use it to my advantage."
When the season ended, Malau'ulu didn't immediately pack her bags. She stayed in Starkville, kept training and working out, all in the hopes that she might have another opportunity to step on the field. That opportunity came when she picked up a call from her head coach.
Samantha Ricketts knew Malau'ulu could play at the next level. The two-time MSU graduate's career was decorated with two all-region honors, an All-SEC selection and an SEC All-Defense Team recognition. Her name appears throughout the Bulldogs' career record book as well.
Playing for the Spark was born out of a connection between former teammates. Ricketts played with Amber Flores, the Spark's head coach, while the two of them were in college at Oklahoma. She'd pitched Malau'ulu to Flores before and pulled together a highlight reel of what the Bulldog outfielder could bring to a team.
"I'm so thrilled for Chloe to have the opportunity to continue playing in the WPF with the OKC Spark," Ricketts said. "This opportunity is thanks to years of hard work by Chloe. She is an exceptional teammate, leader and softball player, and I know she will represent Mississippi State well at the professional level."
That's not Malau'ulu's only tie to the organization. Throughout the negotiation and contract process, she was in communication with Ricketts' sister Keilani, a pitcher with Team USA who signed with the expansion team this spring. Making the Oklahoma City roster also reunites her with Fa Leilua, who she played alongside for three years while at MSU.
Malau'ulu was a part of Leilua's recruitment when the elder Bulldog arrived as a transfer from Arizona State. The two had known each other for years as distant cousins and continued the line of players with a Samoan heritage calling Starkville home.
"I've always been used to the Starkville Samoans, so to move that to Oklahoma is really cool," Malau'ulu said. "It's people I know and am comfortable with already, so it's like leaving home to go home."
With the addition of Malau'ulu, State's 2020 and 2021 rosters included four players who have now gone on to play professionally. Malau'ulu (2019-23) and Leilua (2019-21) are joined in the WPF by Annie Willis (2020-22), who was drafted by the Smash It Sports Vipers last year. Willis and Leilua played the 2022 season together with the Vipers before Leilua was taken by the Spark in the expansion draft. Mia Davidson (2018-22) signed with the WPF's rival league, Athletes Unlimited.
"I didn't really think about it until this week," Malau'ulu said. "Now I'll be hitting the field with them again, so it's going to be really, really cool."
That Ricketts has already sent four players to the pros in just four years as State's head coach is a testament to the Bulldogs' development efforts. But Ricketts has been sending players to the next level for longer than that. MSU has now sent 23 former players on to professional leagues since the program was reborn in 1997. Ricketts has coached 11 of those since arriving as an assistant in 2015.
"It is special to look back at those Mississippi State teams and know that four of those players are now professional athletes," Ricketts said. "Each one of them worked exceptionally hard for their opportunities and bought into the process of becoming the best version of themselves, both on the field and off."
For Malau'ulu, her next steps are the culmination of years of hard work and dreams. Growing up, her father nicknamed her "Puka," and this season, her glove read "For Puka" to remind her to play with the carefree attitude she had as a kid, to embrace the enjoyment of the game.
And what would Puka think now?
"She would be starstruck," Malau'ulu said. "She would be like, 'No way.' I remember looking up to all the big-time players and I was just completely in awe, so I know that little Chloe would not be able to believe this happening."
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Less than three weeks later, it turns out her career is not over. No, she won't be returning to Starkville. Instead, Malau'ulu is the latest Bulldog to realize her dreams of a career playing professionally, signing a free agent contract with the Oklahoma City Spark in the WPF.
"I feel like I have a lot of unfinished business from this year, so to have this opportunity to keep playing is really special," she said. "I want to use it to my advantage."
When the season ended, Malau'ulu didn't immediately pack her bags. She stayed in Starkville, kept training and working out, all in the hopes that she might have another opportunity to step on the field. That opportunity came when she picked up a call from her head coach.
Samantha Ricketts knew Malau'ulu could play at the next level. The two-time MSU graduate's career was decorated with two all-region honors, an All-SEC selection and an SEC All-Defense Team recognition. Her name appears throughout the Bulldogs' career record book as well.
Playing for the Spark was born out of a connection between former teammates. Ricketts played with Amber Flores, the Spark's head coach, while the two of them were in college at Oklahoma. She'd pitched Malau'ulu to Flores before and pulled together a highlight reel of what the Bulldog outfielder could bring to a team.
"I'm so thrilled for Chloe to have the opportunity to continue playing in the WPF with the OKC Spark," Ricketts said. "This opportunity is thanks to years of hard work by Chloe. She is an exceptional teammate, leader and softball player, and I know she will represent Mississippi State well at the professional level."
That's not Malau'ulu's only tie to the organization. Throughout the negotiation and contract process, she was in communication with Ricketts' sister Keilani, a pitcher with Team USA who signed with the expansion team this spring. Making the Oklahoma City roster also reunites her with Fa Leilua, who she played alongside for three years while at MSU.
Malau'ulu was a part of Leilua's recruitment when the elder Bulldog arrived as a transfer from Arizona State. The two had known each other for years as distant cousins and continued the line of players with a Samoan heritage calling Starkville home.
"I've always been used to the Starkville Samoans, so to move that to Oklahoma is really cool," Malau'ulu said. "It's people I know and am comfortable with already, so it's like leaving home to go home."
With the addition of Malau'ulu, State's 2020 and 2021 rosters included four players who have now gone on to play professionally. Malau'ulu (2019-23) and Leilua (2019-21) are joined in the WPF by Annie Willis (2020-22), who was drafted by the Smash It Sports Vipers last year. Willis and Leilua played the 2022 season together with the Vipers before Leilua was taken by the Spark in the expansion draft. Mia Davidson (2018-22) signed with the WPF's rival league, Athletes Unlimited.
"I didn't really think about it until this week," Malau'ulu said. "Now I'll be hitting the field with them again, so it's going to be really, really cool."
That Ricketts has already sent four players to the pros in just four years as State's head coach is a testament to the Bulldogs' development efforts. But Ricketts has been sending players to the next level for longer than that. MSU has now sent 23 former players on to professional leagues since the program was reborn in 1997. Ricketts has coached 11 of those since arriving as an assistant in 2015.
"It is special to look back at those Mississippi State teams and know that four of those players are now professional athletes," Ricketts said. "Each one of them worked exceptionally hard for their opportunities and bought into the process of becoming the best version of themselves, both on the field and off."
For Malau'ulu, her next steps are the culmination of years of hard work and dreams. Growing up, her father nicknamed her "Puka," and this season, her glove read "For Puka" to remind her to play with the carefree attitude she had as a kid, to embrace the enjoyment of the game.
And what would Puka think now?
"She would be starstruck," Malau'ulu said. "She would be like, 'No way.' I remember looking up to all the big-time players and I was just completely in awe, so I know that little Chloe would not be able to believe this happening."
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Players Mentioned
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