USA Softball Expands National Team Athlete Pool With 3 Additions
USA Softball Expands National Team Athlete Pool With 3 Additions
USA Softball announced that Megan Grant, Taylor Shumaker, and Kendall Wells have been added to the USA Softball Women's National Team Athlete Pool. Sarah Lewis|
The USA Softball Women's National Team Athlete Pool serves as the foundation for the USA Softball Women’s National Team and three college standouts had their names added for consideration, according to a press release on Tuesday.
USA Softball announced that UCLA’s Megan Grant, Florida’s Taylor Shumaker, and Oklahoma’s Kendall Wells have been added to the USA Softball Women's National Team Athlete Pool.
𝐀𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 🇺🇸
— USA Softball Women's National Team 🇺🇸 (@USASoftballWNT) June 30, 2026
Megan Grant, Taylor Shumaker & Kendall Wells have been added to the 2026 𝐔.𝐒. 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧'𝐬 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 Athlete Pool!#USWNT | @USASoftball pic.twitter.com/YAY9Ql7sKw
Grant, a two-time USA Softball Player of the Year Finalist, was an offensive powerhouse in her time with the UCLA Bruins. In a record-breaking senior season, the three-time All-American boasted a .455 batting average with over 70 hits, 91 RBIs, and 42 home runs.
Grant’s 42 blasts broke the NCAA Division I single-season home run record previously held by Arizona’s Laura Espinoza. Grant is also a two-time All-Big Ten honoree and a two-time All-Pac-12 selection.
MEGAN GRANT IS THE NEW NCAA SINGLE-SEASON HOME RUN RECORD HOLDER!! 👩🍳
— UCLA Softball (@UCLASoftball) May 9, 2026
📺: @BigTenNetwork
📲: https://t.co/b1aUhqTdF5#GoBruins | @ChefMeganCookin pic.twitter.com/CO2hTh751g
Shumaker has been an immediate impact player in her time with the Florida Gators. In her two seasons with the Gators, the outfielder has amassed 172 hits, 45 RBIs, and 40 home runs.
In the 2026 season, Shumaker maintained a .445 batting average with 92 runs scored and 10 stolen bases. Schumaker is a 2026 USA Softball Player of the Year Finalist, a two-time All-American, and was the 2025 NFCA Freshman of the Year.
*ahem*
— Gators Softball (@GatorsSB) May 17, 2026
Taylor Shumaker now enters the top-10 in career home runs in program history 😤 number 40!!! pic.twitter.com/NklmIVIFHH
Wells is coming off a stellar rookie season with the Oklahoma Sooners. The catcher also surpassed the NCAA single-season home run record, in addition to setting the OU and SEC record with 39 home runs in her first season with the Sooners.
Wells' impressive defense was also noted, as she earned the 2026 Johnny Bench Award, an award presented to the best catcher in NCAA Division I softball. Wells was also recognized as the NCFA 2026 Freshman of the Year and a First Team All-American.
Kendall Wells' 38th homer of the year is Super 💥#RoadToWCWS x 🎥 ESPN2 / @OU_Softball pic.twitter.com/C09YaPQASc
— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) May 22, 2026
The USA Softball Women's National Team Athlete Pool features 36 elite athletes and will serve as the foundation from which the Women’s National Team roster is selected for the 2026 USA Softball International Cup and 2028 Olympic Games.
Patty Gasso, the head coach of the Sooners, also serves as the Women’s National Team Head Coach.
“All 36 athletes bring something different, and I’m excited to keep pushing forward together as we uphold the USA Softball gold standard,” Gasso remarked in a press release to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
Gasso will lead the group as they compete in the 2026 USA Softball International Cup. The international tournament will be held July 30- Aug. 3 at Devon Park in Oklahoma City.
Published 1 hour ago | Modified 1 hour ago
SARAH LEWISSarah Lewis is a public health professional with a B.S. in Healthcare Studies and a Master of Public Health. Her career has taken her through both the healthcare and nonprofit sectors, where she engages diverse stakeholders and has established a commitment to improving the community. A former Division III softball player, Sarah has a deep passion for the game that has never left her. With experience as a travel ball coach, she has poured that energy into mentoring young athletes while advocating for the growth and visibility of women’s sports. Ultimately, she hopes to leave the game bigger and more celebrated than she found it.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
