MESA, Ariz. - USA Baseball today announced the final 20-woman roster for the 2023 Women's National Team, which will compete at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Women's Baseball World Cup group stage in Thunder Bay, Ontario, from August 8-13.
"We are beyond thrilled with the players chosen for this year's roster," said Women's National Team Program Director Ann Claire Roberson. "Each of the athletes selected impressed mightily during the identification process, and we are confident that every one of them will represent the U.S. well both on and off the field."
In total, 15 alumnae of the Women's National Team will once again compete for a gold medal on the international stage, all of whom helped the team take home a 3-2 friendship series victory over Canada last year.
The roster is highlighted by Anna Kimbrell, who will suit up in the red, white, and blue for the 11th time, a mark that ties the record for the most appearances on a USA Baseball national team. In addition, Kelsie Whitmore and Jade Gortarez will play for their eighth time each, and Meggie Meidlinger will play for her seventh.
Beyond them, Alex Hugo, Kylee Lahners, and Ashton Lansdell will be donning the stars and stripes for the fourth different time, while Denae Benites will be suiting up for her third. Seven players - Jillian Albayati, Jamie Baum, Elise Berger, Niki Eckert, Alana Martinez, Olivia Pichardo, and Remi Schaber - earned a spot on the roster for their second time each.
Five players - Sarah Edwards, Beth Greenwood, Valerie Perez, Naomi Ryan, and London Studer - will be making their first appearance on a Women's National Team this year. Greenwood, Perez, and Ryan all participated in either a Women's National Team Development Program or a Women's National Team Training Camp in previous years, while Edwards and Studer both earned their roster spots in their first experience with the Women's National Team program.
This year's Women's National Team manager is five-time Team USA player Veronica Alvarez. She will coach alongside pitching coach Reynol Mendoza and assistant coaches Alex Oglesby and Malaika Underwood.
The Women's National Team will train at Beyer Stadium - the former home of the Rockford Peaches - in Rockford, Illinois, on August 3, at Simmons Field - former home of the Kenosha Comets - in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on August 4, and at Siebert Field in St. Paul, Minnesota, on August 6, before opening up the group stage of the WBSC Women's World Cup on August 8.
Fans can follow along with the action by following @USABaseballWNT on Twitter and @USABaseball on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
The 2023 Women's National Team roster is as follows:
2023 Women's National Team Roster
(Name; Position; Hometown)
- *^Jillian Albayati; RHP/INF; Anaheim, Calif.
- *^Jamie Baum; RHP/UTIL; Los Altos, Calif.
- *^Denae Benites; C/UTIL; Las Vegas, Nev.
- *^Elise Berger; RHP/INF; Shelburne, Vt.
- *Niki Eckert; LHP/OF; Englewood, N.J.
- Sarah Edwards; INF/LHP; Bay Shore, N.Y.
- *^Jade Gortarez; INF/RHP; Riverside, Calif.
- ^Beth Greenwood; C/UTIL; Amherst, N.H.
- *^Alex Hugo; INF/OF; Olathe, Kan.
- *^Anna Kimbrell; C; Fort Mill, S.C.
- *^Kylee Lahners; INF; Laguna Hills, Calif.
- *^Ashton Lansdell; INF/RHP; Marietta, Ga.
- *^Alana Martinez; INF/OF; Cooper City, Fla.
- *^Meggie Meidlinger; RHP/INF; Sterling, Va.
- Valerie Perez; INF/UTIL; Corpus Christi, Texas
- *^Olivia Pichardo; RHP/OF; Forest Hills, N.Y.
- ^Naomi Ryan; LHP/INF; North Chesterfield, Va.
- *^Remi Schaber; INF/RHP; Cordova, Tenn.
- London Studer; INF/LHP; Blacklick, Ohio
- *^Kelsie Whitmore; OF/RHP; Temecula, Calif.
* denotes National Team alumna
^ denotes National Team Development Program participant
