Monica Abbott

Monica Cecilia Abbott (born July 28, 1985) is a retired American professional softball player.

Abbott was an All-American pitcher for the Tennessee Lady Volunteers in college before starting a professional career in the NPF and in the Japan Softball League.

Abbott attended North Salinas High School from 1999 to 2003; her parents are Bruce and Julie Abbott, and her siblings are Jessica (born 1984), Jared (born 1988) and twins Bina and Gina (born 1991).

While at North Salinas, Abbott led the Vikings to three CIF Central Coast Section Division I titles, averaging more than 300 strikeouts per season.

Abbott won the Cal-Hi Softball Athlete of the Year, the Sports Focus Athlete of the Year, the state's large school Player of the Year, and the MVP trophies from her high school, conference, county and section.

She was also a two-time recipient of The Salinas Californian Athlete of the Year.

Much sought after by many colleges, Abbott decided to go to the University of Tennessee, with their treatment of female athletes an influencing factor.

Abbott pitched for the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers softball team from 2004 to 2007 and majored in communications.

Abbott became Tennessee's first All-American when selected as a Louisville Slugger/NFCA First Team All-American.

In 59 appearances, Abbott was 45–10, compiled a 1.03 earned run average with 44 complete games and 24 solo shutouts, four no-hitters and a perfect game.

She struck out 582 batters in 352 innings.

Following the season she was named SEC Freshman of the Year.

Abbott became the third pitcher in NCAA history to notch 500 strikeouts in a season.

Abbott became a two-time first-team Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American and All-South Region selection after going 50–9 with a 0.52 ERA in 392.0 IP.

She broke her own record for single season wins with 50 and had 603 strikeouts thus becoming the first pitcher in NCAA Division I history to record 500 strikeouts in a season twice in her career.

She helped lead UT to its first WCWS and was named to the WCWS All-Tourney team.

Once again, Abbott was chosen as a first-team Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American as well as a first-team All-South Region choice.

She led UT to the WCWS and was chosen as WCWS All-Tournament.

Abbott's 531 strikeouts made an unprecedented third year in a row of over 500.

Abbott struck out an NCAA Single Season current Record of 724 batters.

In international competition, she has played for Team USA from 2005 including the national softball team winning a silver medal at the 2008 and 2020 Summer Olympics.

Abbott is the NCAA Division I leader in wins, strikeouts, shutouts and innings.

Abbott was born in Santa Cruz, California and grew up in Salinas, California.

Abbott enjoyed tremendous success internationally between 2005 and 2010.

She led Team USA to four World Cup of Softball championships, three Canada Cup titles, and gold medals at both the 2006 and 2010 ISF Women's World Championships.

She had 23 no-hitters and six perfect games and was named the 2007 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year and the Women's Sports Foundation Sportswoman of the Year award for Team Sports athletes.

She also was the 2007 Honda Award Winner.

She guided UT to its first SEC title and a berth in the CWS championship, where they lost to top-ranked Arizona in the best-of-three series final.

Once again she was named to the all-tournament team.

Abbott set career and single season NCAA records her senior season with 189 victories, 2,440 strikeouts, 112 shutouts, 253 appearances and 1,448.0 innings pitched.

She set a Single Season Record in Strikeouts of 724.

Abbott was the first pitcher in NCAA Division I history to record 500 strikeouts in all four years of her collegiate career.

She was inducted in the Tennessee Athletics hall of fame.

She was Tennessee's first softball All-American in school history and was named to the All-Women's College World Series team three times.

Abbott pitched the United States to a gold medal at the 2007 Pan Am Games in Rio.

On August 11, 2008, Abbott made her Olympic debut for Team USA, pitching the final inning against Venezuela.

Abbott then pitched a 5 inning perfect game, striking out 8, as Team USA defeated the Netherlands 8–0.

Abbott stepped down from the US Softball National Team in 2010 but returned in 2018 where she helped the USA win another World Championship.

She was also a member of the team that won the 2018, 2019 USA Softball International Cup, 2018 & 2019 Japan Cup and 2019 Pan Am Games.

Abbott was selected for the final 15-person Olympic squad as one of three pitchers.