STOCKTON, Calif. – Pacific softball assistant coach Keilani Ricketts-Tumanuvao was one of the 36 athletes selected by the Women's National Team Selection Committee for a spot on the 2026 USA Softball Women's National Team ahead of the 2026 World Baseball Softball Confederation World Cup Group Stage in Oklahoma City in September.

The pool consists of 29 former, and seven current, NCAA Division-I student-athletes and is led by Ricketts-Tumanuvao's collegiate head coach, Patty Gasso. She is also joined in the pool by three of her Carolina Blaze teammates from the AUSL in Kayla Kowalik, Aubrey Leach and Ana Gold.

"I'm extremely honored to represent the United States this summer," Ricketts-Tumanuvao said. "I wouldn't be in this position without the unwavering support from Coach Sam [Duran-Kukuk] and Pacific. I'm grateful for the facilities as well as the athletes that help me train to stay at the top of my game as a player and coach."

The United States enters the competition ranked first in the world and as such will host one of the group stages where they will face No. 6 Netherlands, No. 7 Mexico, No. 8 China, No. 23 New Zealand, and No. 36 South Africa. In addition to the United States group stage, additional group stages will be held in Lima, Peru and Prague, Czechia.

"We're beyond excited to watch Keilani take the field and represent the red, white and blue! She's an incredible athlete and it's been so much fun watching her continue to compete at the highest level of our sport," Pacific softball Head Coach Sam Duran-Kukuk said. "She's an amazing role model to our athletes – I am so proud of her and can't wait to see what she does next!"

The group stage will take place from September 12-16 at Devon Park in Oklahoma City. The top two teams from each group will advance to the finals in 2027 in Brisbane, Australia. This is the first year the new format will be implemented.

Ricketts-Tumanuvao will also be part of the team when the United States competes in the International Cup from July 30-August 3. Previously known as the World Cup of Softball, the event returns after a six-year hiatus. Since the event's inception in 2005, the United States has traditionally dominated, winning 11 of the 14 tournaments.

Tickets for the International Cup go on sale on April 15, and the schedule and tickets for the WBSC Women's World Cup will be announced at a later date.

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