The USA Softball JO Cup expands to 16U and 18U July 25-30 with FAB 50 teams traveling to the Atlanta area to compete for the grand prize cash donation.

32 teams were selected to compete in each division.

The Wichita Mustangs return to defend their National Title against highly touted teams EC Bullets Schnute, Texas Sudden Impact, St. Louis, and Texas Bombers Gold.

Texas Bombers Gold impressed at the TCS Fireworks Sparkler winning the tournament displaying a dangerous lineup from top to bottom. 

The 16U Division will be a battle with 11 teams in the FAB 50. 

Watch the USA JO Cup LIVE July 25-30 from Lost Mountain Softball Complex in Powder Springs, GA

WHAT TO WATCH FOR AT JO CUP 18U DIVISION

Who: No. 13 EC Bullets Schnute

Why: Bailey Hemphill (Alabama) is an absolute beast at the plate crushing the ball to all parts of the field. The Bullets struggled at TC/USA Nationals losing to Beverly Bandits DeMarini. They finished third at Boulder IDT.

Who: No. 16 Texas Sudden Impact Dutton

Why: Texas Sudden Impact are a scrappy bunch with Hot 100 Shelby "Goose" McGlaun (Baylor) and Payton McBride (Texas A&M). They showed strong performances at the TCS Fireworks Sparkler and TC/USA Nationals.

Who: No. 24 St. Louis Chaos

Why: Grace Baalman, a 2017 thrower committed to Kentucky takes over the circle. 

Who: No. 34 Texas Bombers Gold

Why: The Texas Bombers deserve to be in the top 15 in the FAB 50 knocking out No. 5 Firecrackers Rico and No. 22 Firecrackers AZ at the Sparkler. Scott Smith assembled a very young and solid team with Hot 100s Makinzy Herzog, Kelbi Fortenberry, Taylor Pleasants, and Shelby Sunserri. 

Who: Wichita Mustangs

Why: The Mustangs will defend their title at JO Cup. 2016 Hot 100 Ryleigh Buck, third baseman is a smooth-fielding infield with a quick glove-ball transition and a great arm enhanced by playing for the USA Women's Baseball National Team. Hot 100 No. 81 Miranda Rohleder is one of the top defensive shortstops in the nation and makes the impossible play look routine. 

No. 37 Georgia Elite Hoover

Why: Will home-state be an advantage? Hot 100 Brittany Maresette will be the future sparkplug in the Auburn Tigers lineup, running a 2.7 down the line with the ability to power slap or hit to the gaps. She helped Georgia Elite-Hoover to a top four finish in PGF Premier 16U Nationals batting .353. 100 No. 44 (Georgia) Amanda Ablan is a big-game pitcher who's been a dominant force in Georgia high school ball for the last four years.

No. 46 Michigan Finesse

Why: Nicole Bauer is 6-foot tall and throws 65 mph with good movement on her curve and drop, which is her best pitch. She led her team to a state championship with a perfect 26-0 record, 0.38 ERA and 191 K's in 146 innings with only 20 walks.

Who: Louisville Sluggers

Why: The Sluggers battled their way through bracket play at TC/USA Nationals placing second. Uncommitted outfielder/pitcher Kennedy Sullivan is impressive in the circle and at the plate. They will depend on the bats of Kayla Tow (Alabama commit) and Lauren Johnson (Kentucky commit) to get them to the JO Cup Championship.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR AT JO CUP 16U DIVISION

No. 6 EC Bullets Biele

The EC Bullets Biele are the favorites going into the JO Cup going 9-0 at IDT Boulder winning the 16U division. The EC Bullets, coached by Andrew Biele, already have No. 2 Hot 100 2019 Kelley Lynch who committed to Auburn. The Bullets bullpen is deep with a pair of 2018 Hot 100 pitchers in Logan Caymol (Tennessee commit) and Kassidy Krupit (Delaware) as well as three others from the Georgia Impact-Lewis team that finished 2nd at PGF 14U Nationals. Obviously the pitching is top-notch--coach's daughter Angelina Biele is another standout hurler--but the offense is outstanding as well with three players that run under 2.7 second home-to-first.

No. 9 Georgia Impact Lewis

Last year, the Georgia Impact organization had two 16U teams that finished high at PGF Nationals: the first-year Jeffreys team took 5th while the 2nd year Gibson squad finished 13th. This powerful organization has now combined the top players into the National team coached by Patrick Lewis and Logan Foulks. Rachel Vaughn, a 2018 commit to South Carolina will likely be in the circle. Position players to watch include 2017 outfielder Jaydra Von Behren (Georgia Tech) and 2019 first baseman/outfielder Jaiden Fields (Georgia).

No. 11 Texas Bombers

The Bombers finished thirteenth at PGF Nationals 16U and have been on a roll ever since. Scott Smith's team beat seven teams who played in the PGF Nationals last summer. Like many organizations, the Bombers are putting top players together on the team--in this case 2017 through 2020 classes--to create a "super team." The talent is deep on the team and includes Big 12 commits like infielder Kayla Garcia (2018, Texas A&M), catcher Cait Call (2019, Texas), pitcher Maddie Lindsey (2018, Baylor), pitcher Randi Carroll Phillips (2017, Texas A&M) and infielder/outfielder Kylie Naomi (Oklahoma State).

No. 15 Texas Blaze Nationals

The Texas Blaze National team is comprised of two teams: Texas Blaze White coached by Mike Prinzo and Texas Blaze Bonola coached by Jim Bonola in San Antonio. The organization combines the two squads to field its best prospects for competition in out-of-state events even though both teams have competed well individually at PGF the last two years and several years before that at ASA events. Players to watch include 2019 lefty pitcher Rylee Trlicek, who recently committed to Florida and 2018 second baseman Madi Jatzlau, a Texas A&M verbal.

No. 18 DFW Firecrackers Greenwell

The Firecrackers -- Greenwell team filled in for its 18U Gold team this fall and beat some Top 20 teams in the country while outscoring opponents 46-12. Last summer the Firecrackers finished 5th at the Colorado Super 32, 7th at TC Nationals and 17th at PGF Nationals. Jason Greenwell's team lost eight D1 players but still has five D1 commits including two going to Texas A&M: 2018 pitcher Torrey Stubblefield and 2018 outfielder Taudrea Sinnie. The team's strength is speed and four players run in the 2.6 home-to-first range and another five are 2.7-2.8. Once the bases are filled, 2020 third baseman Trinity Cannon, who is getting SEC interest, has the power to bring them home.

No. 20 Tulsa Elite

The Tulsa Elite program keeps getting better at the 16U age group and last summer finished Top 5 at the PGF Nationals. Jeff Filali's organization has three 16U teams and will combine the best players from the three to make another serious national run. In addition to the impressive performance at PGF, the Elite's '99 first year 16U team finished 13th at Colorado Fireworks Super 32 and the '00-Jacks squad took Top 10 finishes at Boulder IDT 14U and ASA/USA 14A Nationals. Some of the young talent to watch includes 2020 third baseman/pitcher Paige Knight who committed to Oklahoma and another Sooner commit in 2019 outfielder Riley Boone. Two Oklahoma State-bound standouts are a pair of 2018's: outfielder/pitcher Mary Collins and catcher Taylor Tuck.

No. 24 Atlanta Vipers Moore

The Atlanta Vipers-Moore team, led by head coach Charles Echols has brought in six new players and an assistant coach who should make an immediate impact: Jerome Walton, the former MLB player with the Cubs and Giants who was Rookie of the Year in 1989. Players to watch are Briana Butler, a 2018 pitcher/utility player committed to Duke and Charla Echols, a 2018 catcher/infielder headed to Michigan State.

No. 30 Oklahoma Exclusive

Donnie Hughes' Oklahoma Exclusive team combined with Cornelius Davis' Oklahoma Twisters team this offseason, providing the Exclusive with depth in the roster from top to bottom. The new additions from the Twisters will add to the already athletic and versatile Exclusive team that won the TCS National Championship in the Platinum division. Players to watch are standout battery pitcher Kylie Dadson and Breley Webb, both uncommitted 2018's. Another key returner is Zoe Jones, a 2018 utility player committed to Texas Tech.

No. 34 St. Louis Chaos Gill

No. 38 Wichita Mustangs

No. 41 TN Fury Platinum 2018/2019