A former University of Tennessee softball player and Lady Vols’ legend will represent the United States in the upcoming 2020 Olympic Games.
Left-handed pitcher Monica Abbott will play for Team USA in the Olympics, which open next week in Tokyo, Japan, as softball returns to the summer games for the first time since 2008.
Competition in the upcoming Olympic tournament begins July 20 at Fukushima Stadium and Yokohama Stadium.
Team USA is the top-ranked team in the six-team field, which features teams from host Japan, Canada, Mexico, Australia and Italy.
Abbott, a native of Salinas, California, is one of three pitchers on Team USA’s 15-player roster.
She is one of two players with previous Olympic experience, winning a gold medal in 2008.
Team USA will begin its quest for a fourth Olympic gold medal when it plays Italy on July 20 at 11 p.m. EDT.
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