Monica Abbott is considered one of the most dominant players in professional softball. Join us at Sport Fuels Life as we hear her story from tagalong younger sister to today’s world class athlete. Monica is at the top of her game, and she’s also opened doors for future generations.
Originally from Salinas, California, Monica is one of five children. She first fell in love with the game of softball by tagging along with her older sister to pitching lessons plus watching her play. She went on to lead her high school team to three Central Coast Section Division 1 titles and averaged more than 300 strikeouts per season. After high school, Monica played for the University of Tennessee Lady Vols, where she became the first Lady Vol to earn first-team All-American. She set many records including the 2007 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year and the NCAA Division 1 leader in wins, strikeouts, shutouts, and innings. Monica was named to the USA Softball team where she pitched the first perfect game in Olympic history and led TEAM USA to a silver medal. Monica currently plays professionally with Toyota Moto Corporation in the Japan Softball League and is on the USA Team as well.
Monica’s impact on female athletes in the sport of softball is impressive. She received a landmark $1 million contract which set a precedent for female sports professionals. She also started a scholarship fund to help multi-sport female athletes pursue their dreams.
Join us as we learn more about her mantra to “live to bring it”. To her, that means “being fully invested in the moment and giving it all you have so you don’t have any regrets”. We also learn how that belief pushed her to become one of the top softball players in the world. Listen in as she talks about team dynamics, the softball community, and how she overcame mental and physical challenges. In the process, you’ll likely become a “moniac” as she helps you to discover your full potential.
Season accomplishments
- 2007 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year
- Only Player with more than one 50-win season in a career (2)
- Only Player with four seasons of 40+ wins in a career
- Only Player with four 500-strikeout seasons (and two 600-strikeout seasons) in a collegiate career
- Most strikeouts in a season (2007) – 724
- Most games pitched in a season (2005) – 69
- Most wins and most strikeouts in a season by a freshman (2004) – 45 wins and 582 strikeouts
Career accomplishments
- 2,440 career NCAA Division I strikeouts (1st all-time)
- 189 career NCAA Division I wins (1st all-time)
- 112 career shutouts (1st all-time)
- 253 career games pitched (1st all-time)
- 206 career games started (1st all-time)
- 1448 career innings pitched (1st all-time)
- 178 career complete games (2nd all-time)
- 11.80 career strikeouts per 7 innings (3rd all-time)
- .848 career win percentage
- 16 career saves (tied-10th all-time)
- 23 career NCAA Division I no-hitters (2nd all-time)
- 6 career NCAA Division I perfect games (2nd all-time)
Career highlights
- 6× Japan Softball League Champion (2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018)
- 5× Japan Softball League MVP (2010, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2018)
- 2008 Olympic Silver Medalist
- Pitched First Perfect Game in Olympic History
- 3× World Champion Gold Medalist
- 2× Pan American Gold Medalist
- 5× National Pro Fastpitch Champion (2007, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017)
- 4× NPF MVP (2007, 2011, 2015, 2017)
- 5× NPF Pitcher of the Year (2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017)
- All-NPF Selection (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
- Women’s Sports Foundation Sportswoman of the Year (2007)
- Honda Award Winner in Softball (2007)
- 4× All-American
- First pitcher in D1 to record 500 Strikeouts all 4 seasons at the collegiate level.