Summer 2023

In the book, she writes, “Sports can help any- one, but especially girls, in significant ways. Sports gives them a positive place away from feeling down about whatever it is that is going on with their bodies. In high school I might have been thinking, ‘I feel so tall; the guy I like isn’t as tall as I am…You go to the softball field.You have two hours of practice. You have zero time to be thinking,‘Wow, my hair is frizzy…’You don’t have time to worry about those trivial things…” Abbott hopes that she can inspire and impact women in sports as well as in their everyday lives and in the workplace. “The more you talk about women’s empow- erment in the public, the more you can create a conversation,” she says. “You can inspire change and growth in a way that’s not abrasive and brings people together.” Having women and girls in the spotlight is important to Abbott, and she travels around the country appearing at clinics and camps, person- alizing messages for different organizations. “These girls are eager to be successful and Photo: Courtesy of Monica Abbott Abbott was an All-American pitcher in college and went on to pitch for Team USA at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and at the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo. Photo: Jade Hewett Media Since retiring from her professional softball career, Monica Abbott has been on the road, visiting clinics and camps, speaking to young women and girls about her experiences and the positive impact sports can have on your life. 114 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R 2 0 2 3