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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 7, 2026) – USA Volleyball announces the 14 athletes who will compete for the U.S. Women’s Sitting National Team at the 2026 World ParaVolley World Championship, July 10-17, in Hangzhou, China.
This is the first opportunity for sitting teams to qualify for the 2028 Paralympic Games, with the first- and second-place finishers earning bids to Los Angeles. Moreover, the host country (the U.S.) will also qualify for Los Angeles with a top-eight finish. The U.S. Women’s Sitting Team is currently ranked No. 1 in the world.
Sixteen women’s teams are in the tournament, and the compeition opens with a three-day pool stage from July 10-12, with teams divided into four pools of four. The knockout phase begins July 14. This is the first time the Sitting World Championship will be held in China, and it’s also the first time a video challenge system will be used at the event.
Despite winning gold at the last three Paralympic Games, the U.S. has never won gold at the World Championship. Most recently, the team finished third at the 2022 World Championship; the team has won silver three times. The top 10 teams in the world are among the competitors; besides the U.S., teams are No. 2 Canada, No. 3 Brazil, No. 4 Italy, No. 5 Slovenia, No. 6 Germany, No. 7 China, No. 8 Rwanda, No. 9 Iran and No. 10 Ukraine.
The U.S. is in a pool with the Netherlands, Germany and Ukraine and opens play against the Netherlands on July 10 at 3:30 a.m.
Head coach Bill Hamiter leads a seasoned roster that includes 10 Paralympians.
Five-time Paralympian Katie Bridge leads the team at outside, and she’s joined by two four-time Paralympians, setter Kaleo Kanahele Maclay and middle Monique Matthews. Libero Bethany Zummo is a three-time Paralympian. Whitney Dosty (outside/opposite), Tia Edwards (middle/outside), Nicky Nieves (middle), Alexis Patterson (setter) and Emma Schieck (outside) are all two-time Paralympians. 2020 Paralympian Jillian Williams-Coffee (middle/outside/opposite) also joins the team in Hangzhou.
Outside hitter Raelene Elam and middle hitter Courtney Baker, who were 2024 Paralympic alternates, bring valuable international experience. Outside hitter Jessie West and libero Maddy Ball round out the roster.
U.S. Women’s Sitting Team Roster for World Championship
No Name (Position, Height, Hometown)
2 Bethany Zummo (L, 5-3, Dublin, Calif.)
3 Alexis Patterson (S/L, 5-4, Waseca, Minn.)
4 Maddy Ball (DS, 5-7, Delray Beach, Fla.)
5 Katie Bridge (OH, 6-3, Lake Stevens, Wash.)
7 Monique Matthews (MB, 6-0, Ardmore, Okla.)
8 Whitney Dosty (OH/OPP, 6-3, Tucson, Ariz.)
9 Tia Edwards (OH/MB, 5-7, Skiatook, Okla.)
11 Jillian Williams-Coffee (MB/OH/OPP, 5-10, Odem, Texas)
12 Emma Schieck (OH, 5-7, Statesville, N.C.)
14 Kaleo Kanahele Maclay (S, 5-6, Oklahoma City, Okla.)
16 Nicky Nieves (MB/OH, 5-10, Kissimmee, Fla.)
17 Jessie West (OH, 5-8, Edmond, Okla.)
18 Courtney Baker (MH, 5-9, Crofton, Ky.)
24 Raelene Elam (OH, 6-1, St. George, Utah, Northern California)
Head Coach: Bill Hamiter
Assistant Coach: Grace Campbell
Performance Analyst: Jeff Hicks
Athletic Trainer: Samantha Carter
Mental Performance Coach: Brooke Lamphere
Team Manager: Layne Smith
Schedule
All times Pacific
July 10: USA vs. Netherlands, 3:30 a.m.
July 10: USA vs. Germany, 8:30 p.m.
July 11: USA vs. Ukraine, 10 p.m.
July 13: Round of 16
July 14: Quarterfinals and classification matches
July 15: Semifinals and knockout rounds
July 16: Bronze medal match and placement matches
July 17: Gold medal match