Natasha Watley

American softball player and two-time Olympic medalist, renowned as one of the fastest base runners in women's softball history with exceptional speed.

Natasha Renee Watley was born on 27 November 1981 in Irvine, California, to Edwin and Carolyn Watley, and attended Woodbridge High School before starring at UCLA, where she became a four-time first-team All-American and helped the Bruins win a national championship, setting numerous school records including being one of the few Division I players ever to bat at least .400 with 300 hits, 200 runs, and 100 stolen bases in a career. Watley represented the United States at the 2004 Athens Olympics, helping the team win gold, becoming the first African-American woman to play softball for the United States in Olympic competition. She returned for the 2008 Beijing Games, where Team USA was famously upset by Yukiko Ueno and Japan in the gold medal game, settling for silver. Watley turned professional in 2005, playing for the NY/NJ Juggernauts and later the Philadelphia Force and USSSA Pride, becoming the career batting average leader in National Pro Fastpitch history and earning seven professional All-Star selections. She was also among the first American softball players to sign a professional contract in Japan, helping broaden the sport's international reach. Watley, renowned for her blazing speed and defensive range at shortstop as well as her prowess as a slap hitter, retired as one of the most decorated and pioneering players of her generation, having helped popularise a more athletic, speed-based style of play in American softball.

Speed-focused utility player and base stealer

One of the fastest players in USA softball history

• Olympic Gold 2004
• Olympic Silver 2008
• Olympic record for stolen bases
• 3x World Champion
• 4x World Cup Champion