Jan. 11, 2010

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Former Wildcats Eileen Canney and Tammy Williams have been named to the 17-member USA Softball Women's National Team for 2010 after a selection camp held last week, the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America announced today.

The 17 athletes named to the team were offered a USA Softball athlete agreement for the 2010 competition schedule, while 13 others were named as alternates. The final roster for the 2010 USA Softball Women's National Team will be announced in March with the team competing in the ISF Women's World Championships, June 23-July 2 in Caracas, Venezuela, as well as other events to be scheduled at a later date.

Canney and Williams are the first Wildcats to make the Women's National Team since Lisa Ishikawa pitched the United States to the title at the Women's World Softball Championship in New Zealand in 1985, earning ASA Sportswoman of the Year honors. Williams competed for the USA Softball Elite team in 2009.

Both Canney and Williams played professionally for the Chicago Bandits of National Professional Fastpitch (NPF) in 2009. Canney was named the 2009 NPF Pitcher of the Year while Williams won both Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors. In addition to competing for the Bandits, the duo will take their professional careers overseas to compete in Japan in 2010.

During their careers in Evanston, Canney was a two-time Big Ten Pitcher of the Year and NFCA All-American. Williams won two Big Ten Player of the Year awards and is the only four-time NFCA All-American in program history.

In addition to Canney, a 2007 Northwestern graduate, and Williams, a 2009 graduate, second-year Wildcat volunteer assistant coach Lauren Lappin also was named to the Women's National Team.

For the complete list of athletes offered a spot on the 2010 Women's National Team, link to asasoftball.com.