Oklahoma’s Kinzie Hansen and Texas’ Janae Jefferson have been selected to the 2022 USA Softball Women’s National Team (WNT) World Games roster.

An NFCA All-American in 2021, Hansen ranked fifth in the country a season ago with 24 home runs as she batted .438 with 66 RBIs. The Norco, Calif., product was a versatile weapon for 2021 NCAA National Champion OU, starting all but two games behind the plate or at first base. The 2021 Big 12 Championship Most Outstanding Player allowed just three runners to steal on her, finishing the season with a .990 fielding clip.

A three-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American and the Texas career leader in both batting average (.431) and hits (270), Jefferson preps to enter her "super senior" campaign on the Forty Acres coming off a stellar 2021 season. In helping lead the Longhorns to a 43-14 overall record and a berth in the NCAA Stillwater Super Regional, the Humble, Texas, product led the squad in batting average (.446), hits (75), on-base percentage (.495) and stolen bases (14), while rating second in runs scored (49), third in total bases (100) and fifth in slugging percentage (.595). Jefferson reached base safely in 47-of-51 games played, led Texas with 25 multi-hit efforts, registered four separate hitting streaks of at least seven games and blasted two of her career-high five total HR's during a win at Iowa State (April 10).

The announcement comes following a four-day selection day process, over Jan. 1-6 at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, Fla., by the Women’s National Team Selection Committee (WNTSC). The 15-player roster and three replacement athletes will compete at the 2022 World Games this July in Birmingham, Ala., which will signify as the 2022 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) World Cup.

During the selection process, athletes participated in position drills as well as simulated games and were evaluated by the USA Softball WNTSC in accordance with the 2022 Women's National Team Selection Procedures. Those Selection Procedures are available for viewing at USASoftball.com. 

You can follow along with the USA Softball National Teams at USASoftball.com and follow Big12Sports.com and the Conference’s social media platforms for additional coverage of Big 12 softball throughout the season.