USA Softball Announces 45-Member List of Selection Trial Invitees

Ten members of Team USA’s 2021 Olympic softball squad will take part in Selection Trials for the 2022 team. The silver-medal-winning Olympians are part of a 45-member list of invitees to the USA Softball trials, which will take place early next year.

Selection Trials will be held from January 1-6 and will build the Team USA roster ahead of the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Alabama, as well as other events next summer.

Veteran Olympian Monica Abbott, as well as long-time Team USA members Michelle Moultrie and Haylie McCleney are among the players participating in the selection trials. Other members of the US Olympic roster that will take part in the Trials include Ali Aguilar; Ally Carda; Rachel Garcia; Dejah Mulipola; Aubree Munro Watson; Bubba Nickles; and Delaney Spaulding. Olympic alternate Hannah Flippen will also take part in the 2022 trials.

A number of current NCAA softball stars will also take part in the selection trials, including Alabama pitcher Montana Fouts, Oklahoma slugger Jocelyn Alo, Kentucky star Kayla Kowalik; and Virginia Tech pitcher Keely Rochard.

Dissimilar to the tryouts that took place prior to the Tokyo Olympics, a number of players have been invited to the 2022 Trials who have never worn a USA Softball uniform in the past. Former Florida State infielder Jessie Warren, ex-James Madison breakout star Oddici Alexander, and former LSU speedster “Air Aliyah” Andrews headlined the group of USA first-timers who will vie for a position on the roster.

An interesting development occurred on Sunday afternoon, when a USA softball spokesperson confirmed that the initial list of invitees published by the organization on Sunday morning was not an up-to-date list of names and was published due to a website glitch. The corrected, current list of invitees added six new names (noted with * below for clarity) and removed others; the most notable absence from the current list is Olympic home-run hitter and utility infielder Kelsey Stewart.

Washington head coach Heather Tarr was named head coach of Team USA earlier this fall and is the only remaining member of the Tokyo Olympic coaching staff. The 18-member USA roster will be announced at the end of the January selection trials. See below for the full list of invited athletes.

2022 Team USA Selection Trials invitees:

Monica Abbott (Tennessee, 2007)
Ali Aguilar (Washington, 2017)
Odicci Alexander (James Madison, 2021)
Jocelyn Alo (Oklahoma, RS Senior)
Aliyah Andrews (LSU, 2021)
Sis Bates (Washington, 2021)
Maya Brady (UCLA, RS Sophomore)
Ally Carda (UCLA, 2015)
Jada Cody (UCF, Sophomore)
Jayda Coleman (Oklahoma, Sophomore)
Charla Echols (Florida, Senior)
Megan Faraimo (UCLA, Senior)
Hannah Flippen (Utah, 2017)
Jailyn Ford (James Madison, 2016)*
Montana Fouts (Alabama, Senior)
Rachel Garcia (UCLA, 2021)
Kinzie Hansen (Oklahoma, Junior)
Bailey Hemphill (Alabama, 2021)
Carley Hoover (LSU, 2018)
Sahvanna Jaquish (LSU, 2017)
Janae Jefferson (Texas, Senior)
Tiare Jennings (Oklahoma, Sophomore)
Aaliyah Jordan (UCLA, RS Senior)
Baylee Klingler (Washington, Senior)
Kayla Kowalik (Kentucky, Senior)
Haley Lee (Texas A&M, Senior)*
Amanda Lorenz (Florida, 2019)
Kelly Maxwell (Oklahoma State, RS Junior)
Haylie McCleney (Alabama, 2016)
Janelle Meono (Arizona, RS Sophomore)*
Kiki Milloy (Tennessee, Junior)
Michelle Moultrie (Florida, 2012)
Dejah Mulipola (Arizona, 2021)
Aubree Munro (Florida, 2016)
Bubba Nickles (UCLA, 2021)
Sharlize Palacios (Arizona, RS Sophomore)*
Brittany Pickett (North Carolina, 2021)
Taylor Pleasants (LSU, RS Sophomore)*
Sami Reynolds (Washington, Senior)*
Keely Rochard (Virginia Tech, Senior)
Kathryn Sandercock (Florida State, RS Junior)
Delaney Spaulding (UCLA, 2017)
Gwen Svekis (Oregon, 2018)
Jessie Warren (Florida State, 2018)
Morgan Zerkle (Marshall, 2017)