NICKLES Bubba

General
RETURN TO UCLA
She sat out [red shirted] the 2019/20 season with the University of California, Los Angeles [UCLA] in order to tour and train with the US team, but following the postponement of the Olympic Games it was announced in May 2020 that she would return to play for UCLA in the 2020/21 season, after which she would join the US team for the Olympic Games in Tokyo. "It's truly an honour to be able to play my last collegiate season, as well as represent USA in the Olympics in the same year." (latimes.com, 07 May 2020)

KEEPING CALM
She says that she used to have trouble being in large crowds and would suffer panic attacks, which led her to visit a therapist where she learnt coping techniques that she has also applied to softball. "I think it's because I've got social anxiety issues. In the past, I had trouble being in large crowds. I would have little attacks and trouble breathing. I went to a therapist and they taught me some techniques for staying relaxed and calm, and that has helped me so much in softball too. In those game situations, I use my techniques and I realise I'm going to be okay, and I stay calm." (usatodayhss.com, 08 Jun 2016)

TRAVELLING PARENTS
Her father Ted is a teacher at Merced High in California and has coached softball, athletics and American football, while her mother Natalie is a pharmacist. Her parents have taken time off work in order to travel to almost all her games while she was playing for University of California, Los Angeles, including interstate games, and they have travelled internationally, including to Japan, to watch her play with the US team. Ted says she usually looks for them in the crowd during a game to give them a wave. "They are the first ones to tell me good job or give me a hug if I had a good game. The amount of fans changes each game, but it's nice to have that consistent support system no matter what kind of game I had." (mercedsunstar.com, 02 Jun 2019)