USA Softball Unveils Japan All-Star Series Roster
Top StoriesUSA Softball on Thursday announced the 16 players selected to represent Team USA in the 2023 Japan All-Star Series. The three-game series against No. 2 Japan is scheduled to take place August 4-7 across three cities in Japan.
The 16-player squad includes seven veterans from former Team USA rosters and nine rookies who will be making their national team debuts. The players represent 12 NCAA Division I universities and five conferences.
The roster consists of:
- Valerie Cagle, RHP, Clemson
- NiJaree Canady, RHP, Stanford
- Jada Cody, INF, UCF
- Erin Coffel, INF, Kentucky
- Hannah Gammill, INF, Arkansas
- Megan Grant, INF, UCLA
- Kinzie Hansen, C, Oklahoma
- Avery Hodge, UTL, Oklahoma
- Alex Honnold, OF, Missouri
- Jayda Kearney, OF, Georgia
- Viviana Martinez, INF, Texas
- Ruby Meylan, RHP, Washington
- Taylor Pleasants, INF, LSU
- Cydney Sanders, INF, Oklahoma
- Alana Vawter, RHP, Stanford (transfer portal)
- Jordan Woolery, INF, UCLA
At the helm of the Japan All-Star Series roster will be Clemson head coach John Rittman, who enters his first season as head coach for the WNT after previously serving as an assistant coach for various seasons. Joining Rittman on the coaching staff are Mike Roberts (Virginia associate head coach), Brian Kolze (Pacific head coach) and Chris Malveaux (Tennessee assistant coach).
The team was named following the conclusion of the U.S. Women’s Fast Pitch Camp earlier this month. The players were selected by the Women’s National Team Selection Committee (WNTSC) based on previous and ongoing evaluations at the collegiate levels as well as USA Softball National Team events, trials and camps.
Team USA will be play the three games against Japan in Fukushima (Azuma Stadium), Iwakuni (Kizuma Stadium) and Yokohama (Yokohama Stadium).