USA Softball: Women’s National Team to Compete in Pair of College Tourneys to Start 2020 “Stand Beside Her” Tour

USA Softball announced on Friday the participation of the 2020 USA Softball Women’s National Team (WNT) in a pair of collegiate tournaments to kick off the “Stand Beside Her” tour.

USA Softball’s “Stand Beside Her” tour will officially kick off February 7-9 at the NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic before continuing on at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic February 20-23.

Taking the field against prominent NCAA Division I softball programs, these competitions play a pivotal role in the training for 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.

“USA Softball is excited to be participating at these prestigious events,” said USA Softball Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Craig Cress. “It’s important for our National Team to face quality competition in their training for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and participating in events such as this will help our team prepare. We look forward to sharing in the excitement of softball’s return to the Olympic Games.”

NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic

The NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic, presented by Rawlings, is the season-opener for the 2020 WNT roster and is scheduled to take place Feb. 7-9 at the Eddie C. Moore Complex (3050 Drew Street) in Clearwater, Fla.

Team USA will play in five exhibition games against NCAA Division I programs starting with a 6 p.m. ET contest against Mississippi State and 8 p.m. ET game against Illinois on Friday, February 7. The U.S. will return to the field for a 3 p.m. ET matchup against Baylor and a 5:30 p.m. nightcap against Kentucky on Saturday, February 8 before a 12 p.m. ET game against Texas State on Sunday, February 9 to close out the tournament.

Tickets for the NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic are now available for purchase at NFCA.org.

“I can’t think of a better way to start our tournament schedule on the “Stand Beside Her” tour than at the revival of the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater,” said 2020 WNT Head Coach, Ken Eriksen (Tampa, Fla./Head Coach at South Florida).

“NFCA Executive Director Carol Bruggeman’s relentless enthusiasm in promoting college softball and her help with providing Team USA with great competition is well appreciated by our program. The City of Clearwater’s continued support over the last 15 years has been nothing short of incredible loyalty to Team USA. We look forward to being in Clearwater in the early part of February.”

Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic

The 2020 WNT is also slated to compete in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic February 20-23 at Big League Dreams (33-700 Date Palm Drive) in Cathedral City, Calif. Team USA will play in four exhibition contests against NCAA Division I teams, including a matchup with reigning NCAA National Champion UCLA.

The U.S. is slated for matchups against New Mexico on February 20 at 8 p.m. PT, San Diego on Friday, February 21 at 8 p.m. PT, Utah on Saturday, February 22 at 8 p.m. PT and UCLA on Sunday, February 23 at 11:30 a.m. PT.

Tickets for the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic are now available for purchase online at MaryNutterClassic.com.

“To be able to continue to train against great competition on our tour is paramount to us being challenged on a daily basis,” Eriksen continued. “The Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic provides us with just that. We want to thank all the teams that are taking the time to give their players a once in a lifetime opportunity to play against the United States Olympic Softball Team.”

The “Stand Beside Her” Tour

With the return of softball to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games program, the “Stand Beside Her” tour provides training and competition for the 2020 WNT in their preparation for the Olympic Games while also giving fans a chance to watch the Red, White and Blue in person.

Olympic competition will start July 22, 2020 with the Gold Medal Game being played on July 28.

The “Stand Beside Her” tour evokes a message of unity aimed to inspire communities to stand beside HER – the members of the WNT, America and the future generation of female athletes.

Additional stops for the “Stand Beside Her” tour will be announced at a later date. For more information on the “Stand Beside Her” tour, visit StandBesideHerTour.com.