USA Cricket has announced the appointment of 14 Volunteer Women’s Coordinators to support the development of women’s cricket as part of the Women & Girls Engagement Plan.
The appointments come more than two months after USA Cricket advertised several new roles in alignment with their Foundational Plan.
Coordinators from 12 cities in 10 states across USA Cricket’s six zones were selected and are charged with “creating more opportunities for women and girls to engage with cricket as players, coaches, umpires, scorers, fans and administrators through localized programs and initiatives.”
‘The appointment of a team of Volunteer Women’s Coordinators who share our desire to grow the women’s game is another really important step for USA Cricket as we continue to develop the platform on which we can achieve success in the strategic focus areas that we have identified in the Foundational Plan,’ USA Cricket Women & Girls Committee Nadia Gruny said in the announcement.
‘The quality and enthusiasm of the applicants for these roles was very encouraging, and the breadth of experience and passion for cricket that they will now bring to the position will provide great support to the delivery of key initiatives in the evolving Engagement Plan and more broadly as we seek to develop the sport for women and girls in the USA.’
Coordinators have been immediately put to work, with their first project to provide operational support and coordination for the Women’s Intra-Regional domestic competition culminating in early June, followed by the eventual Regional and National competition pathway events, yet to be announced.
‘When I first saw that USA Cricket was looking for VWCs I immediately stopped what I was doing and started writing a detailed cover letter,’ Emily Reynolds, a Volunteer Women’s Coordinator in the West Zone told Emerging Cricket. ‘For weeks leading up to that, I was seriously telling everyone in my family and friend group that all I wanted to do was work for USA Cricket and grow the game here. So the post was a dream come true!’
Emily discovered cricket while on a trip to Australia to watch her brother, Mikey Reynolds, play professional baseball for the Adelaide Giants in January of 2020. The introduction came when she attended the first day of the Australia vs New Zealand Test at SCG. Emily watched the remaining days on TV. ‘Then, in Adelaide, my brother informed me that the BBL was also happening, so we went to the Strikers v Sixers at the Adelaide Oval, where Rashid Khan got a hat trick. From that moment, I was hooked!’
Since then, Emily has immersed herself in her new hobby, subscribing to Willow and driving up to four hours at times for coaching with Marty Kain in San Diego. ‘I come from a very athletic family, so sport definitely runs through my veins. Growing up I never seemed to find the sport that fit me the best, however I strongly believe that if cricket was popular in the US, I would be on a completely different life path.’
Emily hopes that the passion she shares with the other volunteer coordinators can be contagious in their efforts to reach out into new communities. ‘What I’m most enthusiastic about is community outreach and introducing cricket to the young girls who have never heard of the sport before, like me. I’d be over the moon to show them the women who have made this game what it is today and help them explore all the future opportunities!’
| Name | Zone | State |
| Kiruthika Subramanian | East | Massachusetts |
| Delkash Shahriarian | East | New York |
| Roy Fernando | Mid-Atlantic | Maryland |
| Jaisri Chety | Mid-Atlantic | Pennsylvania |
| Minaxi Patel | Midwest | Missouri |
| Rachna Paul | South West | Texas |
| Mithali Das | South West | Texas |
| Supriya Desai | South | North Carolina |
| Asia Sheikh | South | North Carolina |
| Ufuoma Ikoba | South | Florida |
| Srividya Rao | West | California |
| Nauheen Chaudhary | West | California |
| Emily Reynolds | West | California |
| Mani Karra | West | Arizona |
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