OKLAHOMA CITY –– USA Softball is pleased to announce the addition of Ally Carda (Elk Grove, Calif.), Lovie Jung (Fountain Valley, Calif.), Aubree Munro (Brea, Calif.), Janie Reed (Placentia, Calif.) and Natasha Watley (Irvine, Calif.) to the Board of Directors (BOD). Serving as Elite Athlete Representatives, Carda joins the BOD for a three-year term while Jung, Munro, Reed and Watley will act as temporary one-year board members. Their appointments come as a result of changes to the USA Softball Bylaws at the most recent USA Softball Annual Council Meeting, which increased athlete representation to a total of eight members with the inclusion of current BOD Elite Athlete Reps Michelle Moultrie (Jacksonville, Fla.), Nick Mullins (Toms River, N.J.) and Cameron Schiller (Prescott, Ariz.).
Filling the spot of a vacated three-year term, Ally Carda joins the BOD as a current member of the USA Softball Women’s National Team (WNT) and will represent the U.S. at the 2022 World Games, Canada Cup and Japan All-Star Series this summer. Carda is entering her seventh-straight season with the Red, White and Blue after most recently competing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games where the U.S. claimed silver in the sport’s long-awaited return to the Olympic program following a 13-year hiatus. Additional accomplishments for Carda include being a three-time Japan Cup gold medalist while also earning gold at the 2016 WBSC World Championship and 2017 Pan American Games. In addition to her experience on the field, Carda garners a passion for mental health and is eager to work alongside USA Softball in developing the sport both physically and mentally.
“I am so excited to begin my term as an elite athlete representative for the USA Softball Board of Directors,” said Carda. “My main goal is to be a positive voice for the current and future athletes in our sport. I believe all of us on this board will be able to work together to create any necessary changes while building on our established foundation to allow everyone from the youth level to national team level a place to thrive and excel.”
An Olympic gold and silver Medalist as well as two-time Pan American Games Gold Medalist and World Champion, Lovie Jung garners an eight-year playing career with the USA Softball WNT in addition to previously serving on the Women’s National Team Selection Committee (WNTSC). Jung was a member of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Softball Team – dubbed “The Real Dream Team” – that dominated in the Athens Olympic Games to earn a spot in the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame followed by her own induction into the National Softball Hall of Fame in 2020. As an athlete, Jung played the role of a true leader, demonstrating an admirable work ethic and accountability for her teammates on and off the field. With a passion that drives her to serve and take care of others, Jung currently works as a firefighter for the Riverside Fire Department.
“I’m excited to be join the USA Softball Board of Directors as an Elite Athlete Rep,” said Jung. “I can’t wait to get started and work towards giving young athletes an amazing opportunity to grow on and off the field.”
Aubree Munro joins the BOD as an Elite Athlete rep after competing on the USA Softball WNT for the past six years. Beginning her USA Softball career in 2016, Munro has helped the U.S. to two WBSC World Championship gold medals, two Pan American Games gold medals and an Olympic silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Munro brings exceptional experience to the BOD in the youth, collegiate, professional and international levels of softball. With a passion for giving back to the next generation, Munro created Born Ready Sports alongside her mother and older sister in effort of encouraging young individuals to grow and develop through sports.
“I am so excited to be a part of the next chapter of USA Softball as a Board Member,” said Munro. “I am so proud to have been a part of this program for six years as an athlete and I do not take serving in this new capacity lightly. I want to be a part of change and progress within USA Softball as we establish the future of our sport from the youth level to the international level.”
Returning to the USA Softball BOD after serving as an Elite Athlete Rep from 2016-2020, Janie Reed has been a member of the WNT since 2015 and has helped the U.S. to two WBSC World Championship gold medals and two Pan American Games gold medals while representing the Red, White and Blue. A six-year career that was capped with a silver medal finish at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, Reed looks to spend this year away from the playing field while working to improve and grow the game behind the scenes. With a passion to blend the worlds of faith and softball, Reed joined forces with Munro and other teammates in using their platforms to create Church on the Dirt for athletes across the globe to combine their passion for faith and softball.
“It’s been an honor to serve on the USA Softball Board of Directors for the previous quad and I’m excited to continue my service to USA Softball this year,” said Reed. “Being an athlete representative is a way for me to continue to grow the sport of softball and, more specifically, use my international experience to grow the Women’s National Team Program as we look ahead to their next Olympic opportunity.”
Natasha Watley steps in as an Elite Athlete Rep following a nine-year career with the USA Softball WNT where she helped the U.S. to an Olympic gold and silver medal, three World Championship titles and two Pan American gold medals. A member of the storied 2004 U.S. Olympic Softball Team, Watley was a key contributor to the dominance that led the U.S. to its third-straight Olympic gold medal and induction into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. Watley’s accomplishments speak for themselves –– but it was her humility, class, pride and passion for the game that set her apart. After retiring from the sport in 2010, Watley continues to be an inspiration and leader in her work with the Natasha Watley Foundation bringing her knowledge, passion, and hope to the next generation of young ladies. Watley also continues to give back to the sport through motivational speaking and coaching.
"I’m truly honored to serve on the USA Softball Board of Directors,” said Watley. “I look forward to helping guide the direction of USA softball in effort of supporting the growth of our softball community nationally and globally.”
With the new additions, the USA Softball Board of Directors now totals 24 members. To learn more about the BOD, visit USASoftball.com.
About USA Softball
USA Softball (USAS) is a 501(c)(3) not-for profit organization headquartered in Oklahoma City, Okla., and is designated as the National Governing Body (NGB) of Softball in the United States and a member of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. One of the nation’s largest sports organizations, USAS sanctions competition through a network of Local Associations, which includes all 50 states and select metro associations. USAS is dedicated to providing people of all ages the opportunity to play the game they love at a variety of levels by offering recreational, league, tournament and competitive play for fast pitch, slow pitch and modified pitch. USAS annually conducts thousands of tournaments throughout the country including over 100 National Championships. The USAS umpire program is among the nation’s largest and are widely known as the best trained umpires in the game.
As the NGB for the sport of softball, USAS is responsible for training, equipping and promoting the six USA Softball National Teams that compete in events such as the Olympics, Pan American Games, World Championships and other international and domestic events. For more information on USAS, including its founding and history as the Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA), please visit, www.USASoftball.com.