Aspen Boulware: Carrying on a family legacy, building her own path

Aspen Boulware has been a standout for USA throughout her still-young career. A WBSC U-15 Women’s Softball World Cup champion, the centre fielder is now aiming for her second world title this week in Oklahoma at the WBSC U-18 Women's Softball World Cup Finals 2025. And she has already had a massive impact on the team’s success.

Through four games, Boulware has posted a .667 batting average with a 2.192 OPS, two home runs, two triples, seven RBIs, and nine runs scored. On Monday, she delivered one of the tournament’s defining moments, crushing a 58 mph pitch up in the zone for a 71 mph, 233-foot home run to right field — the go-ahead shot that lifted USA to a comeback win over Japan.

“I think we just came out really excited. I really looked forward to playing Japan. They’re a great team, so we were excited to get out there as a team,” she said shortly after the game. “I think Caroline (Stanton) on the mound, she handled it, and we really backed her up throughout the whole game on defence. Offensively, it was a little slow, but I think you could see we all contributed.”

Softball runs deep in Boulware’s family. Her mother, Jessica Van der Linden, was a two-way star who finished her NCAA career with a .361 batting average and 76 wins in the circle, earning the USA Softball Player of the Year Award in 2004.

“She’s definitely prepared me to be here,” Aspen explained. “Her arm is a little hurt, but she still throws to me and helps me get ready offensively. My family is there in the stands cheering me on, and I have a lot of support, which I’m really thankful for.”

What advice has her mum given her? “Offensively, just hit line drives. You can’t change your style to be like others,” Boulware said. “We have Goose Hutchins — she hits bombs. I can’t try to be like her out there. I just have to be myself, hit line drives, and see where it goes.”

Her father, Michael Boulware, also left his mark in sports, playing four seasons in the NFL as a safety for the Seattle Seahawks and Houston Texans.

“Of course, he doesn’t really speak on the softball aspect because he doesn’t know it as well but he is my biggest role model,” Aspen said with admiration. “He teaches me about speed, confidence, humility, and all that type of stuff. I really love my dad. I’m my daddy’s girl!”

Despite her family’s impressive athletic pedigree, Aspen is building her own career at a rapid pace. She was part of the USA team that won the inaugural WBSC U-15 Women’s Softball World Cup in Japan in 2023, starred last year in the U-18 World Cup group stage in Dallas, and has been one of the driving forces of this year’s squad.

In 2023, she was the MVP of the U-15 World Cup, posting a .421 batting average with four homers, six RBIs and 10 runs scored. Asked about her biggest memory from the tournament, she didn’t hesitate: “I would say winning it. It was the best. Being with that group of girls was really special, and winning it together was amazing. We did lose one game against Japan and came back to beat them. Facing them again today, it’s always super fun — a cool and healthy rivalry between the two teams.”

Boulware is grateful for the opportunity to play with the USA Softball junior national teams over the past three years, noting the exposure to colleges and the chance to showcase her skills. “I love being here,” she summed up.

Now, after USA’s dramatic win against Japan, the team is heading directly to Wednesday’s World Championship Game. Aspen knows the challenge ahead.

“Definitely a lot of competition. We have to bring our utmost game, our A game, to win,” she said. “As a team, we’re very competitive, very driven. All of us want to win. Nobody wants to lose. I think we’re super strong when we’re together.”