The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Softball’s Jefferson named to 2022 USA Softball Women’s National Team
01.07.2022 | Softball
The Texas “super senior” will represent the U.S. at the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Ala.
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas "super senior" second baseman Janae Jefferson has been selected to the 2022 USA Softball Women's National Team (WNT) World Games roster.
Following a four-day selection process, over Jan. 1-6 at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, Fla., by the Women's National Team Selection Committee (WNTSC), the 15-player roster and three replacement athletes will compete at the 2022 World Games this July in Birmingham, Ala., which will signify as the 2022 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) World Cup.
A three-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American and the Texas career leader in both batting average (.431) and hits (270), Jefferson preps to enter her "super senior" campaign on the Forty Acres coming off a stellar 2021 season. In helping lead the Longhorns to a 43-14 overall record and a berth in the NCAA Stillwater Super Regional, the Humble, Texas, product led the squad in batting average (.446), hits (75), on-base percentage (.495) and stolen bases (14), while rating second in runs scored (49), third in total bases (100) and fifth in slugging percentage (.595). Jefferson reached base safely in 47-of-51 games played, led Texas with 25 multi-hit efforts, registered four separate hitting streaks of at least seven games and blasted two of her career-high five total HR's during a win at Iowa State (April 10.)
During the 2021 fall season, Jefferson continued her remarkable offensive production by hitting .667 overall (16-for-24) with five doubles, a HR and seven RBIs.
The 2022 USA Softball Women's National Team World Games roster includes eight veterans from the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team as well as three members of the 2019 Junior Women's National Team (JWNT) World Championship gold medal team. The roster also includes two athletes who have previously worn the Red, White and Blue either as a member of the USA Softball JWNT or USA Softball Women's Elite Team and two rookies who will represent the U.S. for the first time in their career.
Representing four athletic conferences (SEC – 6, Pac-12 – 9, CAA – 1, Big 12 – 2), the 2022 World Games roster is comprised of 11 former student athletes and seven current athletes from 12 NCAA Division I universities with three members having won a NCAA Women's College World Series (WCWS) National Championship with their respective university.
