For Immediate Release: April 1, 2024

Monica Abbott Joins ESPN

Kansas City, MO – Two-time USA Olympic Medalist and four-time NCAA All-American in women’s softball, Monica

Abbott will return to the field this week, calling games as ESPN’s newest on field analyst. Abbott will bring her

insider insights from playing the sport at its highest level to the media giant’s SEC Network and ACC Network

starting with the Mississippi State versus South Carolina game this Saturday, April 6, at 2pm eastern, see full

schedule below.

One of the most decorated players in the history of college softball, Abbott led the University of Tennessee to three

consecutive Women’s College World Series appearances (2005-2007). Her college resume includes 23 no hitters,

six perfect games, an overall 189-34 game record, a 0.79 ERA, 112 shutouts, 2,440 strikeouts and 125 games with

10 or more strikeouts.

Abbott went on to represent Team USA in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She also played

professionally in the United States’ National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) league for nine seasons, and the Japan Softball

League for 14 seasons. Retiring in 2023, the next phase of her career is focused on educating and motivating the

next generation of female athletes through national and international broadcasting, an online training platform for

players and coaches, and hosting national clinics and events for all levels of athletes across the country.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to bring Monica Abbott’s expertise and energy to our Women’s College Softball

viewers on ESPN,” said Nick Rudd, ESPN Coordinating Producer. “What she will bring to those games is the highest

level of intellect for the sport coupled with her intense and infectious passion for the game. She is simply one of the

very best to have played.”

“This is an opportunity of a lifetime for me,” said Abbott. “To be on the other side of the sport now, sharing these

games and undoubtedly special moments with today’s college softball stars and the fans who tune in to watch will

be a new career highlight for me. Knowing what’s going through their minds, how they prepared, failed and

succeeded to get to where they are - those are the stories I can’t wait to tell!”

Monica Abbott covering College Softball on ESPN:

● Mississippi State vs. South Carolina; Saturday, April 6, 2024; 2:00pm - 4:30pm (est); ESPN/SEC Network

● North Carolina State vs. Virginia; Friday, April 12, 2024; 7:00pm - 9:30pm (est); ESPN/ACC Network

● Virginia vs Virginia Tech; Tuesday, April 23, 2024; 7:00pm - 9:30pm (est); ESPN/ACC Network, ESPN App

● Missouri vs South Carolina; Saturday, May 4, 2024; 6:00pm - 8:30pm (est); ESPN/SEC Network

● ESPN Softball Regionals; Thursday, May 16, 2024; 1:00pm - Sunday, May 19, 2024, 5:00pm; TBD

For more information about Monica Abbott and how to catch the upcoming espn games please visit:

www.monicaabbott.com, or follow along on Facebook, Instagram and X.