STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford softball alumna Jessica Mendoza (’02) was named to the Pac-12 Softball All-Century Team, as announced by the conference Monday night on the Pac-12 Network Sports Report.
Mendoza is one of 30 softball players selected to the All-Century Team. She is one of the most accomplished Stanford softball players in program history and has had an impact on sports beyond the softball field. Mendoza was a four-time All-American at Stanford, a starting outfielder for the U.S. National Team from 2004-10 and won Olympic medals in 2004 (gold) and 2008 (silver).
Mendoza has paved new paths for women in sports broadcasting, becoming the first female broadcaster in the booth for ESPN’s College World Series, the first female analyst for an MLB game on ESPN and the first female analyst for Sunday Night Baseball. She also became the first female analyst in MLB Postseason history when she broadcasted the 2015 American League Wild Card Game. Mendoza moved into a full-time role on Sunday Night Baseball in 2016.
The roster, compiled as part of the Pac-12’s centennial celebration, was chosen from a field of players nominated by each Pac-12 institution. Voting was conducted by a panel of coaches, former coaches and individuals associated with Pac-12 softball. The 30 players selected to the team have combined for 23 Olympic medals and 21 Conference Player of the Year awards.
Below is a summary of her accomplishments during her time at Stanford.
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Pac-12 All-Century Team
Jessica Mendoza • Outfield • 1999-02 Starting outfielder for U.S. National team from 2004-10 and helped lead the team to the Olympic gold medal in 2004 and the silver medal in 2008
Four-time First Team All-American
Four-time All-Pac-10 First Team selection
Pac-12 Player of the Year in 2000
Led Stanford to its first Women’s College World Series in 2001 and NCAA Regional appearances in each of her four years
Named to the WCWS All-Tournament Team in 2001
Graduated as Stanford’s all-time career leader in batting average (.416), hits (327), doubles (70), triples (9), home runs (50), runs scored (230), stolen bases (86) and slugging percentage (.719)
Ranked ninth in doubles (70) and 26th in hits (327) all-time among all NCAA Division I student-athletes, and was the NCAA batting champion in 2000 with 94 hits and a .475 batting average
Became the first female broadcaster in the booth for ESPN’s College World Series
Became the first female analyst for a Major League Baseball game in the history of ESPN and became the first female analyst for Sunday Night Baseball
Broadcasted 2015 American League Wild Card Game, becoming first female analyst in MLB Postseason history
Joined the Sunday Night Baseball broadcast team full-time in 2016