Every journey to the Little League® World Series is built on countless hours of practice and perseverance. For the female coaches who helped guide their teams to the 2026 Little League Softball® World Series (LLSWS), Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, the experience represented something bigger than softball. It represented an opportunity to inspire the next generation of girls with game.
Launched in 2019, the Little League® Girls with Game® Initiative is dedicated to honoring all the girls and women who have made the Little League program what it is today and those who inspire the future generation of female participants at every level. One of the key goals of the initiative is to grow the female coaching staff across every country that Little League has a presence in. During the peak of the Summer of Softball™, Little League has the pleasure of sitting down with each of the female coaches at the 2026 LLSWS to see what this platform has meant to them.
Asia-Pacific: Mika Oka
“For players who want to be involved in softball in the future, I think it is of great significance to have a chance for many people to know that there are various options such as coaches. I would like to support the children who participate in this competition so that they can draw various future maps.”
Canada: Ariane Ross
“As the tournament went on, I realized that my role was about much more than coaching the game. Some of the girls were facing stressful and anxious moments, and I had the opportunity to help them through those moments. Sometimes, I felt less like just a softball coach and more like a sports psychologist, teaching them how to breathe when they were nervous, how to stay focused during a stressful game, and, maybe most importantly, how to reset after making a mistake. One of the most meaningful parts of being a female coach is that we’re not only teaching girls how to throw, hit, or compete. We’re helping them build confidence, resilience, and the ability to handle challenges and skills that they can carry with them far beyond the softball field. Representing female coaches on such a big stage was a real privilege and a responsibility that I took seriously. But, it was also a beautiful reminder of why I decided to coach in the first place. I got to connect with these amazing young women and watch them grow. It was more than just a game. It was about being there for them, believing in them, and helping them discover what they’re capable of. If I can be a role model who shows them that a woman can lead, coach, support, and inspire others, then that makes the experience even more meaningful to me.”
Central: Terra Knight
“I never realized the impact I had; I fully intended to fade into the background of this tournament and have all the spotlight on the kids playing, as it should be. But if my simply being there, as one of the coaches, inspires another female to step up and take on coaching, then that is awesome! Also, if it helps young female athletes to see women as authority figures in the sport, then I am grateful to hold this role. Going through this experience, being able to coach my daughter, was truly amazing. Being a female in this tournament is something truly special that neither of us will forget.”
Italy: Stefania Vitaliani
“It’s for sure a great satisfaction to participate in such an important tournament, and I’m happy that our girls were able to enjoy this wonderful experience. It will undoubtedly remain an indelible memory in their sporting careers. For me, these World Series were unique because I had the opportunity to share this wonderful experience with my niece and my sister… a great memory!”
Italy: Michela Vitaliani
Latin America: Yazneris Ortiz
“It was an honor and a great responsibility to represent female coaches. I was able to show that women have an important place in softball and that we can be great leaders, mentors and role models for our players. I hope that my presence will also inspire other women to take that step and discover all that they can contribute to sports. My favorite moment was being able to see the team grow and support each other throughout the tournament. Beyond the results, I’m left with those moments when the players cheered each other on, celebrated together and never stopped believing in their team. Seeing them enjoy, compete and grow as a group was the most special thing for me because our girls need to see strong, capable, and committed women in leadership positions. Being a coach isn’t just about teaching baseball or softball, it’s about teaching discipline, confidence, teamwork, and how to meet challenges. Sometimes a woman just needs someone to tell her, “You can do it too.” If we take that first step, we can open the door for many more women to be encouraged to participate and for our girls and young women to grow up seeing that leadership has no gender.”
Southeast: Julie Brandon
“It meant a lot to me to represent female coaches on such a big stage. I hope the girls watching could see that women belong in these moments too—that we can lead, compete, and coach at the highest level in youth sports. But honestly, being there with my daughter made it even more special. I wasn’t just coaching a team; I was getting to experience something incredible alongside her. If I can show her and the other girls that they can be leaders on the field and in life, then that means more to me than I could ever put into words.”
Southwest: Allison Briseño
“Representing female coaches on the biggest stage in youth sports meant the world to me. I am extremely proud and grateful for the opportunity to be able to show that women belong on this stage leading, competing and making an impact in young girls’ lives. It has truly been an honor not only getting to teach the game of softball, but also helping build confidence in these young athletes. I hope that other female coaches and young girls watching all of the women coaching at the World Series walked away knowing that this is also something that they can do!”
To learn more about the Girls with Game Initiative, including information on how you can step up to the plate to become a volunteer in your community, visit LittleLeague.org/GirlsWithGame.