Knights star utility player Jada Cody, after making her first trip to Japan with Team USA last summer, will return once again to the Land of the Rising Sun donning the stars and stripes this August.
As announced by USA Softball Thursday morning, Cody, along with 15 other collegiate players, will make the trip across the Pacific Ocean to compete in a three-game, three-city All-Star Series against world-ranked No. 2 Japan from August 4-7.
"It's definitely a privilege, and I'm truly blessed to have this opportunity again," Cody said of her selection. "When I went last year in August, I had the time of my life there. Just to see how I can grow as a player, being with Team USA and competing in that aspect is going to be a great thing. I'm excited to have another opportunity to go out there one last time for them."
Joining Cody in Japan this summer will be, among others, 2023 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Valerie Cagle (Clemson), 2023 TUCCI/NFCA Division I Freshman of the Year NiJaree Canady (Stanford), and three members of Oklahoma's 2023 National Championship team, Kinzie Hansen, Cydney Sanders and Avery Hodge.
Leading the four-man coaching staff in Japan will be Clemson head coach John Rittman, who will be assisted by University of the Pacific head coach Brian Kolze, Tennessee assistant coach Chris Malveaux and Virginia associate head coach Mike Roberts.
The Murrieta, California, native will be making the third international trip of her career with Team USA, after competing in the 2022 Japan All-Star Series last August, and later helping lead her team to a perfect 9-0 showing and the gold medal at the 2022 Pan American Games in Guatemala Nov. 12-19.
In the three-game series during which Team USA went 1-2 in Japan last summer, Cody hit .400 (2-for-5) with one run scored, and later produced another strong showing in Guatemala City in November. She hit safely in eight of the nine games, recording a .538 (14-for-26) mark with two home runs, 19 RBI and 10 runs scored.
Her efforts garnered an invitation to the 2023 U.S. Women's Fast Pitch Camp in Vero Beach, Florida, representing another opportunity for her to once again leave a lasting impression on Team USA's coaching staff.
"Japan was the first time I played with Team USA, and then I also got the privilege to play with them in Guatemala, so just having these opportunities has been a blessing," Cody added. "Going to this camp that we just had, seeing other programs coming in and play as one was definitely a big thing, and to wear 'USA' across your shirt is a big privilege, and I'm truly blessed about it."
The team will play three games in three different cities in Japan in early August, including Kizuma Stadium in Iwakuni, Azuma Stadium in Fukushima, and Yokohama Stadium in Yokohama.
For Cody, her second go-around in Japan represents one step closer to realizing her dream on the diamond.
"My end goal is to be an Olympian," she said. "This is a big step for that. So I've just continued to be within the USA program and showing my dedication to them, and that I want to wear USA across my jersey definitely shows them my dedication to them, and how I want to play further on."
