OKLAHOMA CITY – USA Softball has revealed the 16-player roster that will represent the United States at the first-ever World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-15 Women’s Softball World Cup, scheduled to take place from October 21 to 29 in Tokyo, Japan. This talented roster, which earned qualification by winning the 2023 U-15 Women’s Pan American Championship and the Utsugi Cup, aims to secure its third gold medal finish of the year. The USA Softball Junior Women’s National Team Selection Committee (JWNTSC) selected the athletes following their exceptional performances in both tournaments.
Leading the U-15 Women’s Softball World Cup roster is head coach Kyla Holas, accompanied by assistant coach Iyhia McMichael, who also serves as the head coach at Frisco Emerson High School. Holas and McMichael guided the U-15 WNT to a gold medal victory at the U-15 Women’s Pan American Championship earlier this year, followed by a first-place finish at last month’s 2023 U-15 Utsugi Cup. Additional coaching staff members will be announced at a later date.
The 16-player roster results from the USA Softball High-Performance Program (HPP) and features athletes from both the Pan American Championship and Utsugi Cup rosters. It includes three athletes from the Pan American Championship roster, one athlete from the Utsugi Cup roster, and 12 athletes who represented the U.S. in both previous tournaments. The roster showcases talent from six different regions across the United States, with six athletes hailing from Region 10 (California), five from Region 5 (Texas), two from Region 3 (Florida, Anabella Abdullah), South Carolina), and one each from Region 2 (Virginia), Region 7 (Kansas), and Region 9 (Utah).
Team USA ranked No. 1 in the world, will compete against 11 other countries in the inaugural U-15 World Cup. The tournament will feature teams from Brazil, Mexico, Peru, and Puerto Rico, all of whom qualified at the Pan American Championship by placing in the top five behind the U.S. Additionally. The Eagles will face Japan and Italy once again, following their matchups at the U-15 Utsugi Cup in Takasaki City, Japan, where they clinched the championship title with a 1-0 victory over Japan. Completing the playing field in Japan will be the Czech Republic, New Zealand, Uganda, Chinese Taipei, and the Philippines, who earned their qualification this past weekend.
The inaugural event will be hosted at three stadiums in Tokyo, Japan, including Komazawa Olympic Park Sports Complex Baseball Stadium, Ota Stadium, and Setagaya City Okura Sports Center Baseball Ground. The world will witness the rising stars of U-15 women’s softball as they showcase their skills and compete for international glory on the global stage.
