It was halfway through my junior year at the University of Washington when I got a call from Coach Tarr. “How would you feel about joining the national team this summer?” The question caught me off guard. I had dreamed of wearing that Team USA jersey since I was a little girl, but the idea of actually making it felt surreal. I thought about it for a moment. There was fear, too—fear that I wasn’t ready, fear that I might fail at that level. But then my coach and dad both reassured me, saying, “Why wouldn’t you do it?” In that moment, I realized that sometimes, you just have to say yes and trust in the process.

That June I joined the USA Softball camp in Oklahoma City, where I was placed on the “Elite” team—the group just below the Senior Women’s National Team. It was an exciting but intimidating experience. There were several Pac-12 players on the team, so I felt a bit more at ease once I settled in. The national team program operates mostly in the summer, and because time is limited, we quickly jumped into practices and competition.

Our first big test was the World Cup, where I would wear the USA jersey for the first time. That moment remains one of the most humbling and exhilarating of my career. Representing my country is an honor I’ll never take lightly. Over the course of the next few days, we competed against countries like Japan and Canada. I played the best I possibly could, and it was an experience that taught me so much about the level of competition I needed to reach to make it as a national team player.

After the World Cup, I expected a break before our next competition, but instead, I received a call from the head coach of the Senior National Team. He asked if I had my passport and if I was available to travel to Tokyo for a 3-game series, including a game at the iconic Tokyo Dome. That moment changed everything—it was the beginning of my journey with Team USA.

The Selection Process: Navigating the Road to Team USA

Until 2021, the selection process was an intense week-long trial each January, where a selection committee ranked around 60 athletes. There were usually about 15-18 women named to the team. It wasn’t easy, especially with the 2020 Olympics on the horizon. Each year, I had to prove myself all over again. Competing at the national team level means you’re up against some of the best softball players in the world, and I had to continuously challenge myself to be better, stronger, and more consistent.

Today, the selection process is evolving. Now, athletes are often selected based on their performance with their pro or college teams. The national team selection process is evolving, with changes that will likely include more camps throughout the year, providing additional opportunities for evaluation based on performance with your college or professional team. The national team still competes in 2-3 major events each summer, with 1-week training camps leading up to these competitions. With the 2028 LA Olympics on the horizon, the competition for spots is only getting more intense.

What This Means for Young Athletes: The Path to Team USA

If you’re a young athlete dreaming of representing Team USA, here’s what I want you to know: the journey isn’t about rushing to get there—it’s about taking the time to truly develop your game and your mindset. Success at the highest level is about more than just physical talent; it’s about cultivating the mental toughness, resilience, and confidence it takes to compete with the best.

The USA Softball High Performance Program (HPP) is one pathway for young athletes to get noticed, but it’s still growing and evolving. It’s a great place to start developing your skills and mental strength while gaining valuable exposure to national team coaches. The goal for HPP is to eventually create a more competitive, solid pipeline for athletes, so if you’re participating in it now, you’re getting an early look into what could become a bigger opportunity as the program grows.

That said, the real work happens on the field and in the gym—through the grind of training. Competing at the highest level requires consistent effort, year after year. It’s about showing up with the determination to compete at the highest level, playing alongside the best of the best. But most importantly, you need to be the best on every team you’re on—constantly pushing yourself to rise above and lead by example on and off the field. If you truly want to make it to Team USA, focus on developing the skills, discipline, and resilience that will serve you not just in softball, but in life. With the 2028 Olympics coming up, the national team is only getting more competitive, and the opportunities ahead are exciting.