OKLAHOMA CITY (October 16, 2024) — USA Softball has unveiled the final list of athletes invited to the 2024 High Performance Program (HPP) National Selection Event, presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods, which is set to take place from December 12-15 at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, Florida. A total of 432 registered athletes from across the country will gather at the Treasure Coast to compete for a spot on the Women’s National Team roster.
The athletes will undergo a series of on-field evaluations and scrimmages in hopes of being recognized as a 2024 Top Performer. These top performers, along with other athletes identified by the Junior Women’s National Selection Committee (JWNTSC), will be selected to represent the U.S. at major international events, including the WBSC U-15 Americas Qualifier, World Cup, and the WBSC U-18 World Cup Finals.
USA Softball’s Chief Sport Development Officer, Chris Sebren, expressed excitement about the event: “We are thrilled to be hosting the event again this year at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex. The level of talent attending this year’s event will pose a challenge for the committee when it comes to selecting the final rosters of just 16 athletes.” Sebren added, “Over the past two years, the teams we’ve assembled from this program have dominated on the diamond, and we expect nothing less from this year’s group of athletes.”
The athletes invited to the event have advanced through various HPP local Identifiers over the past year, and they will now compete in an action-packed three-day schedule that includes seminars hosted by former and current Women’s National Team (WNT) players. Notable WNT members attending include Ally Carda, Taylor Edwards, Sam Fischer, Amanda Lorenz, Destinee Martinez, Michelle Moultrie, Gwen Svekis, Lacey Waldrop, and Jessie Warren. Additionally, Blaine Milheim and Nick Mullins from the Men’s National Team (MNT) will also be present.
This year’s event will feature over 400 athletes from 41 states, with Region 5 sending the most athletes (103), followed by Region 10 (84 athletes) and Region 3 (64 athletes). The event will have a strong representation across age groups, including 121 athletes in the U-14 category, 86 in U-15, 87 in U-16, 76 in U-13, and 61 in U-17.
The HPP, created in 2020, serves as a pipeline to the Women’s National Team program. Its mission is to identify and train a pool of athletes who can compete and represent the U.S. in both domestic and international softball competitions. The program offers a unique opportunity for players to showcase their talent while helping to grow the sport of softball in the United States.
The 2024 National Selection Event is made possible thanks to the generous support of Dick’s Sporting Goods, and USA Softball also extends thanks to sponsors Treasure Coast Sports Commission, Major League Baseball (MLB), and Oakley for their contributions to the event.