I have a really hard time understanding how playing ping pong made you a better free throw shooter, but I'll have to take your word for it. Maybe I'll teach her ping pong to see if that helps her 200 time or her batting average or her pop time.
You not wrong that life sometimes sucks - my daughter missed her track season after working hard and having some expectations for success. We didn't shy away from that, accepted it and moved on.
If they said no season, she would have accepted it. I haven't been out advocating for a season. But if she has the opportunity to play, she definitely will. That is part of the choice we have, if you are ok with the current circumstances, join in and move on. If not, feel free to continue to SIP. My family has discussed it and are OK with it. AND, knowing that she will probably be more 'exposed' than anyone else on the team.