Keilani Ricketts looks forward to returning to Ashland, Ohio where she originally participated in 2012 for National Team Trials and exhibition games. Photo by USA Softball.
In the Week leading up to Christmas, USA Softball announced three new locations for the Stand Beside Her tour that will take the Women’s National Team across the nation in 2020.
The four new additions include one each in Connecticut, Ohio and Texas for the USA Olympic Softball Team for a total of 29 cities in 17 states which they’ll visit from early February through the end of June (see the complete schedule below).
Here are more details on the newly announced sites…
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CONNECTICUT
The 2020 USA Softball Women’s National Team (WNT) will head to Stratford, Conn. on June 19, 2020.
The home field for the Stratford Brakettes, a team of legend in the history books for the sport of softball, Stratford will host the Red, White and Blue as they look to capture the Gold Medal in Tokyo where the sport of softball returns to the Olympic program for the first time since 2008.
Ally Carda
“We are excited to be able to play in the city of Stratford,” said 2020 WNT member, Ally Carda. “We know the long history of the Stratford Brakettes and their impact they have had on women’s softball. We look forward to the city of Stratford being able to come and watch the best of the best play great softball.”
In Stratford, fans will have the opportunity to watch the Red, White and Blue compete against the Brakettes in an exhibition doubleheader. Game one will take place at 5:30 p.m. ET with the second game taking place approximately 35 minutes after the conclusion of game one. Games will be played at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field (1000 Main Street, Stratford, Conn., 06615).
Tickets for the game will go on sale January 13, 2020 at http://townofstratford.com/softball. Reserved seats behind home plate are $40 and $45, reserved seating along the baselines will be $35 while outfield general admission tickets are $25. Groups of 20 or more can also purchase tickets with a 20% discount for outfield seating.
OHIO
The 2020 USA Softball Women’s National Team (WNT) will head to Ashland, Ohio on June 7 as the “Stand Beside Her” tour rolls through the United States in preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. USA Softball of Ohio will host the Red, White and Blue as they look to capture the Gold Medal in Tokyo where the sport of softball returns to the Olympic program for the first time since 2008.
Keilani Ricketts
“We’re excited to come play in Ashland, Ohio on the ‘Stand Beside Her’ tour,” said 2020 WNT member, Keilani Ricketts. “I remember first coming to Ashland with USA Softball in 2012 for National Team Trials and exhibition games and we received nothing but the upmost support from the community and USA Softball of Ohio. Coming back next June with our team being a month away from the 2020 Olympics Games will be even more exciting! We hope to have the community’s support as they help us prepare for the Olympic crowd and competition.”
In Ashland, fans will have the opportunity to watch the Red, White and Blue compete against in an exhibition doubleheader at Brookside Park (575 N. Baney Rd, Ashland, Ohio, 44805). Game one will take place at 2 p.m. ET with the second game taking place approximately 35 minutes after the conclusion of game one. General Admission tickets for the game are now on sale at USASoftballStore.com for $15 each.
TEXAS
The Red, White and Blue will participate in three days of exhibition contests in the Dallas area from April 21-23 at AirHogs Stadium (1600 Lone Star Pkwy, Grand Prairie, Texas, 75050), home of the Texas AirHogs.
Michelle Moultrie
“We are really excited that the ‘Stand Beside Her’ tour is bringing the Olympic team to Dallas,” said 2020 WNT member, Michelle Moultrie. “The people in Texas are known for their amazing support of athletics at all levels, so we are looking forward to playing multiple games and getting out to meet the community. Thank you, Dallas, for standing beside us on our road to Tokyo!”
In Dallas, fans will have the opportunity to watch the Red, White and Blue compete against NCAA Division I and II universities. On April 21, Team USA will take on Oklahoma Christian University at 6 p.m. before closing the night with North Texas approximately 35 minutes after the conclusion of game one.
“What a great opportunity and honor for our program to play the best team in the world,” said Oklahoma Christian University Head Coach, Shanon Hays. “Our girls are super excited. I’m happy that our schedule allowed us to play them because it’s an opportunity you don’t want to miss out on. It’s awesome getting to be a part of helping Team USA get ready to represent our country in the Olympics!”
“What an honor it is to play against Team USA, they are the best team in the world made up of some of the best players in the world,” said North Texas Head Coach, Rodney DeLong. “It will be a great opportunity for us to compete against and learn from some of our games best and most influential players.”
The U.S. will return on April 22 for a 6 p.m. contest against Abilene Christian University followed by a game against Texas Woman’s University approximately 35 minutes after the conclusion of the previous contest.
“We are honored and excited to be slated to compete against Team USA this season,” said Abilene Christian Head Coach, Abigail Farler. “This is a unique opportunity to be able to help prepare Team USA for their run at an Olympic Gold Medal this summer in Tokyo. We look forward to meeting in Dallas in April!”
“We are incredibly excited and honored to participate in the ‘Stand Beside Her’ tour,” said Texas Woman’s University Head Coach, Amber Barker. “What a great once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our student-athletes, staff, and fans! To play against the best on their way to defend the USA, there’s no better feeling!”
A complete game schedule for April 23 will be determined at a later date.
Tickets for the game will go on sale January 13, 2020 with Reserved Seats for $25 and General Admission tickets for $10. Luxury suites will also be available for rent and requests for information can be sent to Ryan Breckenridge at ryan@brkpartners.com.
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The “Stand Beside Her” tour is a series of competitions and The “Stand Beside Her” message encourages fans everywhere to stand united in their support of the WNT and the United States in their journey to the Olympic Games.
The tour will kick off in February with the USA squad competing in a pair of prestigious college tournaments and run through the summer right up to the start of the Tokyo games.
The 2020 USA Softball Women’s National Team (WNT) has announced over the last few months several additional stops on its Stand Beside Her Tour featuring a series of competitions and training opportunities for the 2020 USA Softball Women’s National Team (WNT) as it prepares for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Olympic competition will start July 22, 2020 with the Gold Medal Game being played on July 28.
As created and first announced in August by USA Softball, the Stand Beside Her tour “evokes a powerful message of unity aimed to inspire communities to stand beside HER – the members of the WNT, America and the future generation of female athletes.”
Currently there are 29 stops on the tour hitting 17 states and extending from February to June prior to next summer’s Olympic Games.
Stand Beside Her Tour Stops (as of Dec. 26, 2019)
Click on the links to get info on how to purchase tickets and where the games will be played…
Here is a visual map of all the places Team USA will play on the Stand Beside Her Tour as announced so far:
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Additional stops for the “Stand Beside Her” tour will be announced at a later date according to USA Softball. For more information on the “Stand Beside Her” tour, you can visit StandBesideHerTour.com.
The four new additions include one each in Connecticut, Ohio and Texas for the USA Olympic Softball Team for a total of 29 cities in 17 states which they’ll visit from early February through the end of June (see the complete schedule below).
The tour will kick off in February with the USA squad competing in a pair of prestigious college tournaments and run through the summer right up to the start of the Tokyo games.
