Softball Australia is today announcing the Aussie Spirit Training Squad, who will be invited to engage in a year-round program to prepare for the WBSC Women’s World Cup in July 2024.  

The program for the Aussie Spirit Squad over the next 12 months will include training camps, competition against international opponents, elite training hubs around Australia, and high accountability against training standards and elite performance behaviours. 

Aussie Spirit Head Coach Laing Harrow said “To support players to bring their best performances to the Aussie Spirit team in international competition, we need to connect more frequently as a group, train and compete together more regularly and have more focus on the training that players are able to do year-round wherever they live. We want to better support them to achieve their individual softball and life goals, and collectively work toward the Aussie Spirit performance goals. This program will best support us to do so.” 

Harrow explained further, saying the Aussie Spirit squad will be reviewed over time with players coming in and out based on training performance, competition performance and levels of commitment to the program.

“This is not a closed group; the purpose of the squad is to provide a higher level of training and support around a group of Australia’s top female players, but it doesn’t mean that selections for next year’s World Cup will only be made from this group. All players can make a case for selection to the Aussie Spirit team by excelling on the diamond, whether that is in Australia’s premier domestic tournaments or in overseas college or professional leagues.”  

Head Coach Laing Harrow will be leading the team at the WBSC World Cup in Italy in July 2024, and his Assistant Coach will be Chantelle James. The rest of the team of officials for the Aussie Spirit will be firmed up over the coming months.   

Aussie Spirit Training Squad 2023/24 

Clare Warwick (C)
Belinda White (VC)
Pippa Adkins
Madison Baker
Hayley Bonython
Michelle Cox
Amelia Fidge
Georgia Hood
Shannon Keevers
Hirari Kurihara
Olivia Kuzminski
Kandra Lamb
Stacey McManus
Kaia Parnaby
Gabbie Plain
Ellen Roberts
Madison Scott
Kylie Steemers
Taylah Tsitsikronis
Jade Wall
Shaylan Whatman
Tamieka Whitefield
Sasha Willems
Grace Wrixon