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Playing in the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City is the ultimate goal for the majority of the college softball players.
But before reaching that stage, some players have the opportunity to play in the Little League Softball World Series when they are 12. However, the list of players who have played in both the WCWS and the LLSWS is very elite, with just a few names on it.
The 2026 Little League Softball World Series is set to begin on Saturday, Aug. 1, with the opening ceremony and games beginning the next day and running through Sunday, Aug. 9, at Stallings Stadium at Elm Street Park in Greenville, North Carolina, with one team claiming the international championship.
More: When is Little League Softball World Series? How to watch with TV, stream
Here's a look at the players who have played in both the WCWS and the LLSWS, with a look at their high school career:
Christensen played in the LLSWS for Crawford (Texas) in 2010 before playing for Baylor in the WCWS in 2017.
She played her high school softball career at Crawford High School in Crawford, Texas, leading the program to two state titles and was named to the first-team All-American by MaxPreps at catcher.
One year after Christenson played in the Little League Softball World Series, her future Baylor teammate, Ellis, played in it for Midway (Texas), finishing as the runner-up. Christenson and Ellis teamed up for the Bears in the 2017 WCWS.
Ellis and Christenson were not teammates in high school, with Ellis attending Midway High School in Waco, Texas. Ellis was named the District 12-6A Defensive MVP in 2016 and the Co-MVP in 2015.
In 2005, Hoag helped guide Evangeline (Louisiana) to the LLSWS. She was also a member of the Louisiana-Lafayette team that made the WCWS in 2015.
In between her appearances in the LLSWS and the WCWS, Hoag attended Catholic High School in New Iberia, La. She led the school to a state championship in 2011 and was named the district MVP, after finishing with a .583 batting average and a 0.73 ERA with an 11-2 record her senior year.
Before becoming the 2013 Gatorade National Player of the Year out D.W. Daniel High School in South Carolina, Hoover led Simpsonville (S.C.) to a championship in the 2008 LLSWS. In 2017, she was a member of the LSU softball squad that reached the WCWS.
Hoover led D.W. Daniel to a state runner-up finish as a junior and a state championship as a senior. She finished her prep career with 1,345 career strikeouts, averaging 2.00 strikeouts per inning in every season. Hoover finished her senior season with a 16-4 record to go along with 338 strikeouts, allowing just three earned runs in 138 innings pitched and an opponent batting average of .062.
Iamurri has a unique distinction over others on this list. She helped lead Naples (Florida) to a runner-up finish in the LLSWS in 2003. Three years later, in 2006, she was a member of the championship squad for the JLSWS (Junior League Softball World Series). She reached the WCWS with Alabama (and won) in 2012.
She helped Naples High School win the 2008 state championship and was named the Naples High School Most Outstanding Female Athlete. Hoover was also crowned the 2009 Florida 4A offensive player of the year.
Kirkpatrick led Greater Helotes (Texas) to a championship in the LLSWS in 2016. Seven years later, she helped Tennessee reach the WCWS as a freshman in 2023.
She started her prep career in Moore, Oklahoma, before playing her final three seasons at Mililani High School in Hawaii.
Mathis played a key role for Windermere's (Florida) runner-up finish in the 2012 LLSWS. She then played a key role for Georgia in reaching the 2018 WCWS.
During her senior season, Mathis threw 10 no-hitters, finishing the year with a 0.15 ERA with 279 strikeouts and 142 innings pitched for West Orange High School in Windermere. She led the Warriors to a 9A state championship her junior and senior years.
The former Florida State softball ace shined for McLean in the 2013 LLSWS, leading the team to a runner-up finish. Sandercock then reached the WCWS twice with the Seminoles, in 2021 and 2023. FSU finished as the runner-up in both seasons.
Sandercock earned Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year as a junior in 2017 and 2017 Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) Player of the Year honors during her junior season at Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington County, Va.
Thomas was teammates with Hoag on the LLSWS 2005 runner-up team. The duo then again teamed up with the Ragin' Cajuns to reach the WCWS in 2015.
She also teamed up with Hoag in high school at New Iberia, leading the program to a state championship in 2011. She was named first team all-district in 2009, 2010, and 2011.
Famously regarded as one of the best softball pitchers in Alabama softball history, Traina was teammates with Iamurri on the 2003 runner-up Naples team in the LLSWS and then on the championship team at the 2006 JLSWS. Traina and Iamurri completed the rare feat of winning on the college stage in 2012, leading the Crimson Tide to its first national title.
Traina, along with Iamurri, led Naples to a 4A state championship in 2008. Traina was named the 4A Pitcher of the Year in 2008 and 2009. She finished her high school career with an 85-8 record and a 0.23 ERA, along with 1,089 strikeouts.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Little League Softball World Series alumni who reached the WCWS: The exclusive list
Continue reading...
But before reaching that stage, some players have the opportunity to play in the Little League Softball World Series when they are 12. However, the list of players who have played in both the WCWS and the LLSWS is very elite, with just a few names on it.
The 2026 Little League Softball World Series is set to begin on Saturday, Aug. 1, with the opening ceremony and games beginning the next day and running through Sunday, Aug. 9, at Stallings Stadium at Elm Street Park in Greenville, North Carolina, with one team claiming the international championship.
More: When is Little League Softball World Series? How to watch with TV, stream
Here's a look at the players who have played in both the WCWS and the LLSWS, with a look at their high school career:
Sydney Christensen
Christensen played in the LLSWS for Crawford (Texas) in 2010 before playing for Baylor in the WCWS in 2017.
She played her high school softball career at Crawford High School in Crawford, Texas, leading the program to two state titles and was named to the first-team All-American by MaxPreps at catcher.
Taylor Ellis
One year after Christenson played in the Little League Softball World Series, her future Baylor teammate, Ellis, played in it for Midway (Texas), finishing as the runner-up. Christenson and Ellis teamed up for the Bears in the 2017 WCWS.
Ellis and Christenson were not teammates in high school, with Ellis attending Midway High School in Waco, Texas. Ellis was named the District 12-6A Defensive MVP in 2016 and the Co-MVP in 2015.
Marie Hoag
In 2005, Hoag helped guide Evangeline (Louisiana) to the LLSWS. She was also a member of the Louisiana-Lafayette team that made the WCWS in 2015.
In between her appearances in the LLSWS and the WCWS, Hoag attended Catholic High School in New Iberia, La. She led the school to a state championship in 2011 and was named the district MVP, after finishing with a .583 batting average and a 0.73 ERA with an 11-2 record her senior year.
Carley Hoover
Before becoming the 2013 Gatorade National Player of the Year out D.W. Daniel High School in South Carolina, Hoover led Simpsonville (S.C.) to a championship in the 2008 LLSWS. In 2017, she was a member of the LSU softball squad that reached the WCWS.
Hoover led D.W. Daniel to a state runner-up finish as a junior and a state championship as a senior. She finished her prep career with 1,345 career strikeouts, averaging 2.00 strikeouts per inning in every season. Hoover finished her senior season with a 16-4 record to go along with 338 strikeouts, allowing just three earned runs in 138 innings pitched and an opponent batting average of .062.
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Ryan Iamurri
Iamurri has a unique distinction over others on this list. She helped lead Naples (Florida) to a runner-up finish in the LLSWS in 2003. Three years later, in 2006, she was a member of the championship squad for the JLSWS (Junior League Softball World Series). She reached the WCWS with Alabama (and won) in 2012.
She helped Naples High School win the 2008 state championship and was named the Naples High School Most Outstanding Female Athlete. Hoover was also crowned the 2009 Florida 4A offensive player of the year.
Jackie Kirkpatrick
Kirkpatrick led Greater Helotes (Texas) to a championship in the LLSWS in 2016. Seven years later, she helped Tennessee reach the WCWS as a freshman in 2023.
She started her prep career in Moore, Oklahoma, before playing her final three seasons at Mililani High School in Hawaii.
Lauren Mathis
Mathis played a key role for Windermere's (Florida) runner-up finish in the 2012 LLSWS. She then played a key role for Georgia in reaching the 2018 WCWS.
During her senior season, Mathis threw 10 no-hitters, finishing the year with a 0.15 ERA with 279 strikeouts and 142 innings pitched for West Orange High School in Windermere. She led the Warriors to a 9A state championship her junior and senior years.
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Kathryn Sandercock
The former Florida State softball ace shined for McLean in the 2013 LLSWS, leading the team to a runner-up finish. Sandercock then reached the WCWS twice with the Seminoles, in 2021 and 2023. FSU finished as the runner-up in both seasons.
Sandercock earned Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year as a junior in 2017 and 2017 Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) Player of the Year honors during her junior season at Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington County, Va.
Meagan Thomas
Thomas was teammates with Hoag on the LLSWS 2005 runner-up team. The duo then again teamed up with the Ragin' Cajuns to reach the WCWS in 2015.
She also teamed up with Hoag in high school at New Iberia, leading the program to a state championship in 2011. She was named first team all-district in 2009, 2010, and 2011.
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Jackie Traina
Famously regarded as one of the best softball pitchers in Alabama softball history, Traina was teammates with Iamurri on the 2003 runner-up Naples team in the LLSWS and then on the championship team at the 2006 JLSWS. Traina and Iamurri completed the rare feat of winning on the college stage in 2012, leading the Crimson Tide to its first national title.
Traina, along with Iamurri, led Naples to a 4A state championship in 2008. Traina was named the 4A Pitcher of the Year in 2008 and 2009. She finished her high school career with an 85-8 record and a 0.23 ERA, along with 1,089 strikeouts.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Little League Softball World Series alumni who reached the WCWS: The exclusive list
Continue reading...
