ATLANTA, GA. - Bryant softball coaches Bianka Bell and Kathryn Rodriguez will represent the Bulldogs with the Atlanta Smoke Professional Fast Pitch softball team this summer.

Coach Rodriguez, a former standout at both North Carolina and Pitt will be playing on the team. The former Tar Heel earned First Team All-America, All-East, and All-ACC honors as a senior in 2025. She set the single-season RBI record (83) and had the second most runs in UNC history with 57.

Bell, who just completed her third season as the head coach of the Bulldogs, will be serving as an assistant coach for the Smoke. A two-time America East Coach of the Year, Bell has accumulated a 76-62 record, 22 all-conference selections and led the Bulldogs to their first America East Regular Season title in DI program history this past spring.

Bell and Rodriguez will be reuniting as coach and player after Bell was an assistant coach while Rodriguez played at the University of Pittsburgh.

The Smoke will begin the regular season this weekend with a three-game series against the Chattanooga Chill (Jun.18-20)