Former Oregon catcher Gwen Svekis has been selected for U.S. Women’s National Team.
It’s the first time Svekis, a 2018 graduate of UO, has been on the roster for the national team. She was an alternate in 2022.
Svekis will be among 16 players representing Team USA at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) World Cup – Group A event from July 11-15 in Fingal-Dublin, Ireland. She is the eighth Duck to earn a spot with Team USA since 2013.
“We are so proud to have Gwen competing at the highest level of our sport and representing the University of Oregon,” Oregon coach Melyssa Lombardi said in a release. “We are so thrilled to see all her dedication and hard work rewarded by being rostered with Team USA and can’t wait to see her play for the Red, White and Blue this summer.”
The two-stage event will feature three groups of six teams playing in a round robin format, with a playoff round to follow. The top-ranked U.S. will play in a group with No. 3 Chinese Taipei, No. 9 Australia, No. 16 Great Britain, No. 17 Ireland and No. 43 Botswana. The top two teams from each group and two wild card teams will advance to the finals, to be held in Italy in 2024.
A three-time Pac-12 champion and Women’s College World Series participant, 2018 NFCA All-American and national catcher of the year, Svekis has spent the last three seasons playing professionally with Athletes United and two prior seasons with Chicago in National Pro Fastpitch.
