USA Baseball announced the coaching staff of the 2023 Women's National Team with former National Team star Veronica Alvarez returning as manager ahead of a season which is highlighted by the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup in August.
Reynol Mendoza and Alex Oglesby will also feature in their roles again as pitching coach and assistant coach, respectively. National Team veteran Malaika Underwood will make her coaching debut as she joins the team as an assistant coach.
"We are thrilled to have Veronica, Reynol, and Alex back to guide our Women's National Team and to add Malaika to the staff as we return to World Cup action in 2023," USA Baseball Director of Baseball Operations Ann Claire Roberson said. "Every one of these coaches brings an incredible amount of baseball knowledge and experience to this programme that will be instrumental in not only the pursuit of a gold medal but also the growth and development of all of our athletes both on and off the field. We are confident that they will represent this organization and the US exceptionally well at the helm of our National Team, and we cannot wait to get started."
Alvarez, 40, is a former catcher. She helped the US earn two bronze (2008, 2010) and a silver medal (2012) at the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup. She also played on the team that won gold at the Pan American Games 2015.
She transitioned to the coaching staff at the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup 2018 and took the helm at the 2019 Pan American Games. She led the US to a gold medal and became the first female recipient of the USA Baseball Rod Dedeaux Coach of the Year award.
Most recently, she managed the US in a friendly series against Canada. She is currently the Coordinator of Player Development in Latin America for the Oakland A’s of Major League Baseball (MLB).
"I am proud to once again serve as the manager of the Women's National Team because I am proud of the women that I get to lead," said Alvarez. "Since our last international competition in 2019, we have taken advantage of every opportunity we have been given to develop our players, elevate our level of play as a team, and grow the game. It's been incredible to witness how the players have stayed focused and have continued to challenge themselves and each other during uncertain times. We are eager to finally showcase the work we've done, both physically and mentally, on and off the field, in pursuit of our goal to be the best in the world."
Mendoza returns as Team USA’s pitching coach after serving in 2019 and 2022. Oglesby also returns to Team USA as an assistant coach after working in the position in 2019 and 2022. Oglesby was a member of the inaugural Women’s National Team that won a gold medal at the IBAF Women’s Baseball World Cup in 2004, where she was named to the All-World Team.
Underwood debuted on the Women’s National Team staff as an assistant coach after recently concluding one of the most successful playing careers in USA Baseball history. From her debut in 2006 through to her final appearance in 2022 she helped the US win the 2006 World Cup, earn silver at the 2012 and 2014 World Cups, and bronze at the 2010 World Cup.
The 2023 USA Women’s National Team schedule begins with the Women’s National Open, which will take place from July 7-9 at Riverview Baseball Complex – the Spring Training facility for MLB's Chicago Cubs in Mesa, Arizona – and serve as the primary identification event for Team USA.
World No. 4 USA will compete in Group A of the IX WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup first stage, scheduled from 8 to 13 August in Thunder Bay, Canada. They will face the hosts, No. 3 Canada, No. 8 Australia, and Asia 3 and 4 from the Women's Baseball Asia Cup finishers.
