Thirteen AUSL players are on the 16-player U.S. Women’s National Team roster for the 2026 Japan All-Star Series, a three-game set against Japan from Nov. 19 to 22. USA Softball announced the roster on Sept. 18.
Game 1 is Thursday, Nov. 19, at Vantelin Dome in Nagoya. Games 2 and 3 move to Okinawa Cellular Stadium in Naha on Saturday, Nov. 21, and Sunday, Nov. 22. Japan is ranked No. 1 in the world. The U.S. is No. 2. Oklahoma’s Patty Gasso will coach the Americans.
Three new names in the pool
USA Softball added three players to the national team athlete pool for the series. Two of them will play for Team USA for the first time: Portland Cascade pitcher Kenzie Brown and Chicago Bandits infielder Sami Williams.
The third is Oklahoma City Spark shortstop Sydney Romero. Her last Team USA roster was the 2015 Junior Women’s National Team. She later played for Mexico at the 2020 Olympics.
Brown was an AUSL rookie this season out of Arizona State. She struck out 10 Utah Talons in a 2-1 complete-game win on June 14, a league single-game record at the time. Williams, who played at Iowa State, was the 2026 AUSL Hitter of the Year. She hit .427 in the regular season and led the league with 34 RBIs. Romero won the first AUSL Rawlings Gold Glove Award in August.
Most of the roster has played for the U.S. this year
Seven players on the roster were with Team USA in Oklahoma City in September, when the U.S. qualified for the 2027 WBSC World Cup Finals. Six more played at the 2026 International Cup.
The AUSL players on the roster
- Carolina Blaze: Alyssa Brito, Kayla Kowalik, Karlyn Pickens
- Chicago Bandits: Jocelyn Erickson, Skylar Wallace, Sami Williams, Morgan Zerkle
- Oklahoma City Spark: Maya Brady, Sydney Romero
- Utah Talons: Jayda Coleman, Megan Faraimo
- Portland Cascade: Kenzie Brown
- Texas Volts: NiJaree Canady
The other three are former Texas infielder Janae Jefferson and two current college players, UCLA infielder Aleena Garcia and Oklahoma catcher Kendall Wells.
The Bandits have the most players on the roster with four. Every AUSL team has at least one.
How to follow the series
USA Softball said it cannot stream the games because of live streaming restrictions in Japan. Live stats will be on GameChanger. Game times had not been posted as of Oct. 6.
The series began in 2016, when more than 31,000 fans came to the Tokyo Dome. In 2017, 15,000 attended at Yokohama Stadium.
When is the 2026 Japan All-Star Series?
Nov. 19-22, 2026. Game 1 is Nov. 19 at Vantelin Dome in Nagoya. Games 2 and 3 are Nov. 21 and Nov. 22 at Okinawa Cellular Stadium in Naha.
How many AUSL players are on Team USA’s Japan All-Star Series roster?
Thirteen of the 16 players, from all six AUSL teams. The Chicago Bandits have four.
Which players were added to the national team pool for the series?
Kenzie Brown of the Portland Cascade and Sami Williams of the Chicago Bandits, who are making their Team USA debuts, plus Sydney Romero of the Oklahoma City Spark.
Can I watch the Japan All-Star Series in the U.S.?
USA Softball said it is unable to stream the series because of live streaming restrictions in Japan. Live stats will be available on GameChanger.
About the AUSL. The Athletes Unlimited Softball League is a professional softball league with six teams across the U.S. Commissioner Kim Ng leads the league, whose games air on ESPN, ABC, CBS Sports Network and MLB Network.
Sources: USA Softball: Women’s National Team names 16-player Japan All-Star Series roster; USA Softball: 2026 Japan All-Star Series; USA Softball: Women’s National Team rosters; AUSL: Kenzie Brown sets a league record with 10 strikeouts; AUSL: Sami Williams named Hitter of the Year; MLB.com: Romero wins inaugural Rawlings Gold Glove Award in AUSL; AUSL player pages and 2026 stats. Featured photo: AUSL.
About Aspen Eighty
Aspen Eighty is a female-founded, independent digital publication covering the Athletes Unlimited Softball League. We publish news, season coverage, and player profiles for all six AUSL teams. Our mission is to amplify women’s professional softball and inspire the next generation of athletes.
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