International News: USA Softball Reveals 2026 Women’s National Team Athlete Pool (April 4, 2026)
By USA Softball
April 4, 2026
International News: USA Softball Reveals 2026 Women’s National Team Athlete Pool (April 4, 2026)
USA Softball has announced 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.
A total of 36 athletes has been selected for consideration for the 2026 USA Softball WNT, which will compete at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) World Cup Group Stage event as well as the 2026 USA Softball International Cup.
This athlete pool will also serve as the foundation for the 2025–28 Olympic quadrennial cycle.
***Click HERE to view the 2026 Women’s National Team Athlete Pool
WNT Head Coach Patty Gasso
“This is an incredibly elite group, and we’re ready to get to work,” said WNT head coach, Patty Gasso.
“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.”
With seven current and 29 former NCAA Division I student-athletes, the WNT Athlete Pool features talent from across the country, representing 18 universities and six athletic conferences.
Here’s how many players came from each of the conferences:
20– SEC
9 – Big Ten
7 – Big 12
1–American Conference, ACC, Sun Belt Conference
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Team USA members celebrate after Megan Faraimo – who is one of the 26 in the athlete pool – pitched a masterful 5-0 shutout to clinch the Americans fourth consecutive gold medal at The World Games last fall. Photo by WBSC.
Previously announced by USA Softball, the 2026 WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Group Stage event is slated for September 12-16 at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, as The Softball Capital of the World® hosts one of three group stages.
The upcoming WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup will mark the second edition under the new two-stage format, with the Group Stage and Finals held in consecutive years.
The Finals are set for April 5-11, 2027, in Brisbane, Australia.
As a host of the Group Stage, the world-ranked No. 2 Team USA has earned an automatic berth in its respective group event and will be joined by five additional qualified teams.
*** For more info on the 2026 WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Group Stage click HERE.
The 2026 International Cup will feature all 36 athletes, with USA Softball set to compete with both the WNT and a Women’s Elite Team.
Formerly known as the World Cup of Softball, the event will be 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. Tournament passes for the 2026 International Cup will go on sale April 15, with single-day tickets to follow.
All tickets will be sold via SeatGeek. The full event schedule and Team USA rosters will be announced at a later date.
Members of the USA Softball WNTSC are responsible for selecting rosters to represent the United States in international competitions, including the Pan American Games, WBSC World Cups and the Olympic Games.
Selection to the WNT Athlete Pool does not guarantee future inclusion or selection to a specific team. Athletes may be added to or removed from the pool at any time.
USA Softball has announced 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.
The 2026 International Cup will feature all 36 athletes, with USA Softball set to compete with both the WNT and a Women’s Elite Team.
