USA Softball Unveils 2026 Women’s National Team Athlete Pool

This star-studded list of 36 athletes has been selected for consideration for the 2026 USA Softball WNT, and are eligible to play at the 2026 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) World Cup Group Stage event and the 2026 USA Softball International Cup. 

This pool of athletes, which features seven current and 29 former NCAA Division I student-athletes, will also serve as the foundation for the Olympic quadrennial cycle. 

2026 Women’s National Team Athlete Pool 

• Reese Atwood, C, Texas 
• Maya Brady, OF, UCLA
• Alyssa Brito, UTL, Oklahoma
• NiJaree Canady, P, Texas Tech 
• Ally Carda, P, UCLA
• Erin Coffel, INF, Kentucky 
• Jayda Coleman, OF, Oklahoma
• Jocelyn Erickson, C, Florida
• Megan Faraimo, P, UCLA
• Hannah Flippen, INF, Utah 
• Montana Fouts, P,  Alabama 
• Jordy Frahm, P, Nebraska 
• Aleena Garcia, INF, UCLA
• Rachel Garcia, P, UCLA
• Gabbie Garcia, INF, Oklahoma 
• Ana Gold, INF, Duke 
• Kinzie Hansen-McKenzie, C, Oklahoma 
• Sahvanna Jaquish, C/INF, LSU 
• Janae Jefferson, UTL, Texas
• Tiare Jennings, INF, Oklahoma 
• Teagan Kavan, P, Texas
• Lexi Kilfoyl, P, Oklahoma State 
• Baylee Klingler, INF, Washington 
• Kayla Kowalik, C/OF, Kentucky 
• Aubrey Leach, UTL, Tennessee 
• Amanda Lorenz, UTL, Florida 
• Kelly Maxwell, P, Oklahoma 
• Sydney McKinney, INF, Wichita State 
• Dejah Mulipola, C, Arizona 
• Bubba Nickles-Camarena, OF, UCLA
• Sharlize Palacios, C, UCLA 
• Karlyn Pickens, P, Tennessee 
• Keilani Ricketts, P, Oklahoma 
• Sierra Sacco-Ferrie, OF, Mississippi State 
• Skylar Wallace, INF, Florida 
• Morgan Zerkle, OF, Marshall 

“This is an incredibly elite group, and we’re ready to get to work,” WNT head coach Patty Gasso said in a press release. “With so much talent across the game, I recognize the selection committee’s dedication to making challenging decisions to bring together the best of the best. Selecting athletes is never easy, but we’re fortunate to have a strong blend of veteran leadership and new talent in the pool,” she added. “All 36 athletes bring something different, and I’m excited to keep pushing forward together as we uphold the USA Softball gold standard.”

Three group stages will be held throughout 2026 to determine which countries will play for the  WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup final in Redcliffe, Australia, in April 2027. Though a host and gaining an automatic bid, the U.S. will play in Group C this September at Devon Park in Oklahoma City. 

The highest placed team at the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Finals will clinch a spot to LA28. 

As for the International Cup, also held in Oklahoma City from July 30 to August 3, the five-day tournament will feature six of the top teams from around the world: No. 1 Japan, No. 2 United States, No. 4 Canada, No. 8 China, No. 11 Australia, and No. 42 American Samoa.

Gasso and the Eagles have already established themselves as tough competitor to watch out for as the days inch closer to LA28. In July, they defeated Chinese Taipei, 5-0, behind a shutout performance from Megan Faraimo to clinch their fourth consecutive gold medal at The 2025 World Games.