Jessica Mendoza facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jessica Mendoza

Mendoza at the 2024 MLB Little League Classic
Personal information
Full name	Jessica Ofelia Mendoza
Born	(1980-11-11) November 11, 1980 (age 44) Camarillo, California, U.S.
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Spouse(s)	Adam Burks ​ (m. 2006)​
Sport
Country	USA
Sport	Softball
Position	Outfielder
College team	Stanford University
Medal record Women's softball Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 2004 Athens Team competition Silver 2008 Beijing Team competition Pan American Games Gold 2003 Santo Domingo Team competition Gold 2007 Rio de Janeiro Team competition

Jessica Ofelia Mendoza (born November 11, 1980) is an American sportscaster and former softball player. She is known for her amazing skills as an outfielder in softball. Jessica was a four-time All-American player in college. She also won two medals at the Olympic Games.

Mendoza played college softball at Stanford University from 1999 to 2002. She was also a key member of the United States women's national softball team from 2004 to 2010. She helped Team USA win a gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Later, she earned a silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

After her playing career, Jessica became a well-known sports analyst for ESPN. She has covered Major League Baseball and the Los Angeles Dodgers. She was even a commentator on Sunday Night Baseball for several years. Fans and experts have named her one of the greatest college softball players ever.

Early Life and Sports Beginnings

Jessica Mendoza grew up in Camarillo, California. She went to Adolfo Camarillo High School. In 1998, the Los Angeles Times newspaper named her their Player of the Year. She was also chosen as Camarillo High School's Female Athlete of the Year twice. Besides softball, Jessica was a talented basketball player. She was the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for her high school basketball team in her junior and senior years.

Jessica Mendoza's Softball Journey

College Success at Stanford

Jessica Mendoza played college softball for the Stanford Cardinal team. She quickly became a star player. In her first year, 1999, she was named a First Team All-American. She also earned the title of Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year. She set new records for batting average and runs batted in (RBIs) at Stanford.

As a sophomore, Jessica continued to shine. She was again named a First Team All-American. She also became the Pac-10 Player of the Year. She set a new school record for batting average, hitting an amazing .474. She also broke records for hits, home runs, and stolen bases.

Mendoza helped lead Stanford to their first-ever appearance in the Women's College World Series in 2001. This is a huge achievement in college softball. For her final season, she earned her fourth straight First Team All-American honor. This made her one of only a few players to achieve this. Jessica graduated from Stanford with a master's degree.

Playing for Team USA

Mendoza playing in 2008

In 2004, Jessica Mendoza joined Team USA as a starting outfielder. She played in the Athens Olympic Games. Team USA won the gold medal, showing their dominance in the sport.

Jessica returned to Team USA for the Beijing Olympic Games. She was a top player for the team. This time, Team USA won the silver medal. They lost a close game to Japan in the final.

Before the Olympics, Jessica also won gold medals at the Pan American Games in 2003 and 2007. She was named the USA Softball "Female Athlete of the Year" in 2006. She also helped Team USA win the ISF Women's World Championship.

Professional Softball Career

In 2005, Jessica Mendoza started playing professionally in the National Pro Fastpitch league. She played for the Arizona Heat. She had a fantastic rookie year, hitting .491. After taking time off for maternity leave and playing for Team USA, she joined the USSSA Pride.

With the USSSA Pride, Jessica helped her team reach the Cowles Cup championship twice. They won the title in 2010. She was a key player, known for her strong hitting and fielding.

In June 2024, it was announced that Jessica would advise the new Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL). This league is set to start in 2025.

Broadcasting Career

Working with ESPN

After her playing career, Jessica Mendoza became a successful sports broadcaster for ESPN. She is well-known for her work as a color analyst on Sunday Night Baseball. This made her one of the first women to hold such a role in Major League Baseball. She also analyzes games for the Women's College World Series.

On August 24, 2015, Jessica made history. She became the first female commentator for a Major League Baseball game on ESPN. Just six days later, she filled in for a commentator on Sunday Night Baseball. She was also the first female commentator in MLB postseason TV history.

In 2016, ESPN announced that Jessica would join the Sunday Night Baseball team full-time. She continued to break barriers in sports broadcasting. In October 2020, she became the first female World Series analyst on national radio. In 2021, she was part of the broadcast team for NBC during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Joining the Los Angeles Dodgers

In March 2022, Jessica Mendoza joined the Spectrum SportsNet LA network. She now provides commentary for Los Angeles Dodgers games. This role allows her to share her deep knowledge of baseball with fans.

Personal Life

Jessica Mendoza is the daughter of Karen and Gil Mendoza. Her father played football in college. Jessica is married to Adam Burks, and they have two sons. She is a second-generation Mexican-American.

Jessica is also involved in important organizations. She is a trustee and former president of the Women's Sports Foundation. She also serves as an athletic ambassador for Team Darfur. She is a board member of the National Education Association.

Images for kids

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  Mendoza at the 2024 MLB Little League Classic

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  Mendoza in 2008