USA reveals roster, looks to win Women’s Baseball World Cup 2018 on home soil

DURHAM, N.C. — USA Baseball has completed a nationwide search to find the best 20 players in the country to compete in the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup, the biggest stage in women’s baseball.

The USA Baseball Women’s National Team will have the added pressure/advantage of the Women’s Baseball World Cup being held in the U.S. for the first time, when the pinnacle event comes to the USSSA Space Coast Complex in Viera, Florida, from 22-31 August.

The U.S. aims to dethrone five-time defending Women’s Baseball World Cup Champions Japan.

“These athletes have the talent and the character to represent the U.S. well both on and off the field and we are excited to get to work with them on bringing a gold medal home on our soil,” said Matt Weagle, who will be making his debut as manager of the USA Baseball Women’s National Team.

In total, 14 USA Baseball Women’s National Team past players return to the roster, including 11 members of the squad that claimed the gold medal when women’s baseball was debuted at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games.

Headlining the roster are Tamara Holmes, Meggie Meidlinger, Marti Sementelli and Malaika Underwood, who were all part of the U.S. squad that won the Women’s Baseball World Cup in 2006, the last time the U.S. claimed the title of World Champion in women’s baseball.

The youngest player selected to wear the red, white and blue was 16-year-old right-handed pitcher Ashton Lansdell.

Making History

Underwood will be suiting up for USA Baseball for a record ninth international event, the most of any male or female National Team representative in USA Baseball history.

Underwood will play for USA Baseball a record ninth time. Photo: WBSC

Left-handed pitcher Ila Borders, who broke the barrier in the U.S. as the first female player/starter in college baseball history and played professionally with the St. Paul Saints, will be competing with the U.S. in Viera, marking the first time she’s ever played in an all-women’s baseball competition.

For the VIII WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup 2018 in Viera, the world No. 3 U.S. National Team will be starting tournament-play in Group A, along with No. 5 Venezuela, No. 6 Chinese Taipei, No. 7 Korea, No. 8 Netherlands and unranked Puerto Rico. The top three finishers from the group will advance to the Super Round.

For updates on USA Baseball’s Women’s National Team, follow @USABaseballWNT on Twitter.