Haylie McCleney is the BamaCentral Crimson Tide Pro Athlete of the Week

The former Alabama softball player is showing why she belongs in the conversation as the world's best player at the Tokyo Olympics.

Team USA softball lost to Japan in the gold-medal game this morning, depending on where you are in the world, but its top performer was undoubtedly Haylie McCleney, the former Alabama player. 

She was the team's go-to option in the lineup in seemingly every game of the Olympics. And returning home with a silver medal is nothing to frown on, but when you produced the way she did, it has to be tough to reconcile. 

McCleney, who played for the Crimson Tide from 2013-16, has her image firmly printed on the outfield wall at Alabama's Rhoads Stadium for a remarkable collegiate career.

But even the average Alabama fan knows that upon one glance at a telecast from Tuscaloosa, and that proved to be just the beginning of what developed into a lasting memory for all American softball supporters.

The Morris, Alabama native batted .643 and reached base in 14 of 19 plate appearances in Team USA's five games prior to the gold-medal final to Japan.

That's good enough for our pro athlete of the week, eh?

For some due perspective, the next closest American batter averaged .250 in those same five contests at the plate.

Team USA wasn't quite strong enough to take home the ultimate honor of the golden necklace, but that's no indictment on McCleney.

Honorable mention

• Steven Setterstrom: The former Alabama golfer (2014-18) won the Alabama Open at -20, marking his second first place finish in as many weeks.

Previous winners in 2021:

Dec. 29 - Jan. 5 Derrick Henry

Jan. 6 - 12 Daron Payne

Jan. 13 - 19 Levi Wallace

Jan. 20 - 26 Collin Sexton

Jan. 27 - Feb. 2. JaMychal Green

Feb. 3 - 9 Collin Sexton

Feb. 9 - 16 Kira Lewis Jr.

Feb. 17 - 23 Levi Randolph

Feb. 24 - March 2 Collin Sexton

March 3 - 9 Collin Sexton

March 10 - 16 Justin Thomas

March 17 - 23 Collin Sexton

March 24 - 30 JaMychal Green

March 31 - April 6 Collin Sexton

April 7 - April 13 Collin Sexton

April 14 - April 20 Levi Randolph

April 21 - April 27 Collin Sexton

April 28 - May 4 Davis Riley

May 5 - May 11 Collin Sexton

May 12 - May 18 Dicky Pride

May 19 - May 25 Spencer Turnbull

May 26 - June 1 Alexa Guarachi

June 2 - June 8 Kenzie Wright

June 9 - June 15 Eryk Anders

June 16 - June 22 Daniel Haugh

June 23 - June 29 Daniel Haugh

June 30 - July 7 Emma Talley

July 7 - July 13 Blake Sims

July 14 - July 20 Brett Auerbach