How Olympic dreams played part in Aspen Boulware signing early with Gamecocks
There were plenty of reasons Aspen Boulware chose to reclassify and skip her senior season at Gray Collegiate.
One of them included a chance to possibly represent her country with Team USA softball in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Softball will be returning to the Olympics in 2028, and Boulware would have just finished her sophomore year at the University of South Carolina.
“I thank the school and (Gray principal Brian Newsome) for providing me with the opportunity to graduate early,” Boulware said Wednesday. “Ultimately, 2028 and the Olympics is my ultimate goal, so that gives me the best opportunity to do that.”
Boulware has experience playing for Team USA. She just played for Team USA’s U-18 squad in the World Softball Confederation Women’s World Cup Finals from Sept. 27-Oct. 2 and was the youngest member of the team. She hit .588 (second highest on the team) with seven RBIs in the tournament and earned All-World Team honors.
Boulware signed her letter of intent with the Gamecocks on Wednesday, the first day of the fall signing period. She was joined by teammates McKenzi Bradley (Francis Marion) and Grace Porter (Lees-McRae); basketball player Levi Ball (Kennesaw State); volleyball player Courtney Burgess (Virginia Tech); state champion swimmer Aaron Willis (Gardner-Webb); and soccer players Victoria and Vanessa Coleman (SC State).
Boulware is part of USC’s eight-member fall signing class that is ranked No. 9 in the nation by both Softball America and D1Softball.com. The Gray Collegiate standout is highest-ranked member of the Gamecocks’ recruiting class.
Boulware announced her commitment to USC in early October and announced her decision to reclassify a few weeks later. The decision to reclassify was made later in the recruiting process when she started taking visits.
The Gamecocks beat out better-known programs such as Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Florida, Florida State and Georgia. FSU has been a big part of the Boulware family, with mother Jessica being an All-American softball player and her father Michael playing football there before playing in the NFL. Jessica said there was no intention to steer her daughter to play at her alma mater and said the moment Aspen called USC coach Ashley Chastain Woodard was one of the more memorable moments in her daughter’s career.
“Me and Michael said we are always ‘Team Aspen.’ So wherever she goes, that will be our team,” Jessica Boulware said. “The schools that it came down for Aspen, there wasn’t a bad choice. She picked South Carolina, and we couldn’t be happier with her being 30 minutes down the road. We are going to continue to support her and be there for her like we have always been in the past.”
Aspen Boulware admitted Wednesday that the Gamecocks weren’t on the radar with the old coaching staff but that changed when Chastain Woodard was hired in July 2024. She went to a camp there, and the Gamecocks started moving up on her list of schools.
The Gamecocks went 42-15 in Chastain Woodard’s first season last year and hosted an NCAA Tournament regional and super regional.
“It shows the impact coach Ashley had on the program,” Aspen said. “She came out here in one year and did amazing. I am just super excited to play for her and be a part of the impact she has made on the whole South Carolina program.”
Boulware plays shortstop at Gray Collegiate but has played in the outfield for Team USA. She was the top-ranked player in the Class of 2027 before reclassifying and now is No. 7 in 2026, according to On3/Rivals.
Boulware began playing softball when she was 6 years old, her mother said. Jessica Boulware made her hit left-handed (even though she throws right-handed), a move that has paid off and her power numbers prove it.
Last season, Boulware hit .573 with 22 home runs, 44 RBIs, eight triples, 26 stolen bases and 67 runs scored in helping the War Eagles to a school-record 32 wins and the Class 4A state championship. It was Gray’s third state title in four seasons but first in Class 4A.
Boulware, who was intentionally walked 34 times last year, also was named SC Gatorade Softball Player of the Year.
“I’m really excited to see how far we go this year and see if we can three-peat,” Aspen Boulware said.
This story was originally published November 12, 2025 at 3:27 PM.
