USA Softball Unveils 2026 Women’s National Team Athlete Pool

The road to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics is getting real.

USA Softball announced on Thursday the list of athletes identified by the Women’s National Team Selection Committee (WNTSC) for the U.S. Women’s National Team (WNT) Athlete Pool.

𝑱𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒅 🔥

🇺🇸 𝟯𝟲 𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝘀 have been named to the 2026 𝗪𝗡𝗧 𝗔𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗼𝗹 ahead of the WBSC World Cup & International Cup!

𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 ➝ https://t.co/95L5FZk6GY #USWNT | #USASoftball pic.twitter.com/pckOSDeebs
— USA Softball (@USASoftball) April 2, 2026

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

Representing the Red, White and Blue this summer! pic.twitter.com/3d8pHg967P
— Texas Tech Softball (@TexasTechSB) April 2, 2026

“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.