Breaking News: USA Softball Announces 15-Member Roster and Replacement Athletes for 2022

On Friday morning, USA Softball unveiled their 15-member roster for the 2022 summer slate of games.

Friday’s announcement follows the week-long tryouts that were held in Vero Beach, Florida last week and forms the first team under Heather Tarr’s tenure as head coach of the USA Softball national team.

The roster is headlined by seven returning members of the 2021 US Olympic team that won the silver medal in Tokyo. Among that group are: Monica Abbott, Ali Aguilar, Ally Carda, Haylie McCleney, Michelle Moultrie, Dejah Mulipola, and Bubba Nickles, as well as Olympic alternate Hannah Flippen.

In direct contrast to the veteran returners, two players – Janae Jefferson and Kinzie Hansen – were selected for the roster and will suit up in red, white, and blue for the first time this summer.

Five active college players made the roster, including Alabama’s Montana Fouts and Oklahoma’s Hansen.

Only two schools placed multiple representatives on the USA roster; Florida led the way with three players selected, while a pair of Alabama Crimson Tide also earned spots.

Three players were named as Replacement Athletes for the team. UCLA pitcher Megan Faraimo, Washington outfielder Sami Reynolds, and former Oregon catcher Gwen Svekis were those named as replacement athletes.

Positionally, the roster breakdown includes four pitchers, two catchers, six infielders, and three outfielders. Amanda Lorenz was listed as a corner infielder in the primary position breakdown of the tryout roster.

A total of forty-five (45) players were invited to last week’s roster tryout; six players did not participate in the tryouts and utilized USA’s illness/injury waiver. Under that waiver, those athletes remained eligible for the team and were to be evaluated based on past performances. Sources did confirm to Extra Inning Softball that multiple players tested positive for COVID-19 or suffered a physical injury during the tryouts.

The full Team USA roster for 2022 is below:

• Monica Abbott (Tennessee, 2007)
• Ali Aguilar (Washington, 2017)
• Ally Carda (UCLA, 2015)
• Charla Echols (Florida, SR)
• Hannah Flippen (Utah, 2017)
• Jailyn Ford (James Madison, 2016)
• Montana Fouts (Alabama, SR)
• Kinzie Hansen (Oklahoma, JR)
• Janae Jefferson (Texas, SR)
• Amanda Lorenz (Florida, 2019)
• Haylie McCleney (Alabama, 2016)
• Michelle Moultrie (Florida, 2012)
• Dejah Mulipola (Arizona, 2021)
• Bubba Nickles (UCLA, 2021)
• Taylor Pleasants (LSU, RS SO)