From Montlake to the World Stage: Morgan Reimer Competing With Team Canada
January 06, 2026 | Softball
Last summer gave Morgan Reimer more than she expected.
Washington's sophomore pitcher stepped away from Montlake and onto the international stage to continue her softball journey. The right-hander temporarily traded in her purple and gold jersey for red and white as she joined team Canada for multiple international tournaments from June to August.
"It was really amazing," said Reimer. "I don't even have all of the words to describe it. It was some of the most fun I've ever had playing softball."
Reimer was selected for the national team following a week-long camp where roughly 30 athletes competed for limited roster spots.
"I was really excited to know I had made the roster and that I would get the chance to continue playing softball throughout the summer," Reimer commented. "I was able to start chasing my dream of going to the Olympics one day."
This wasn't her first experience with Team Canada. Reimer competed at the 2023 Pan American Championships when she was 17. However, this summer was different for the sophomore.
With a year of college softball under her belt, her sense of confidence became stronger, especially heading on to the international stage.
"Who I am as a player has changed more than I expected," Reimer said. " My confidence has grown and I know that I am capable of pitching against good teams. "
That confidence carried across three major tournaments. Canada secured first place at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Pan American Championship, collected a silver medal at the Canada Cup and placed fourth at the World Games.
In these tournaments, the team traveled to Colombia, Canada and China, allowing Reimer to collect experiences from many parts of the world, helping her grow as a player.
"Some teams can be really strong, and then there's some that are still developing and don't have quite as strong of a team yet," Reimer commented. "But in college, everyone has access to similar resources."
The energy playing at the national level varied just as much as the competition.
In Colombia, crowds were often loud and energetic.
In China, they were quieter.
At home, she had cheers from friends and family, motivating her to play well.
Reimer commented on how she's dealt with the pressure and competing in such wildly different environments.
"I try to stay pretty even, not let myself get too high or low emotionally," Reimer said. "I've learned not to ride the crowds."
One moment stood out to Reimer in particular during her reflection on the summer. At the World Games, Canada faced Japan – who is widely regarded as one of the best teams in the world – and came away with the win.
"Beating Japan was definitely a big moment," Reimer said. "Knowing that we're capable of that is really huge for us and gives us a lot of momentum moving forward over the next couple of years and as we move into the Olympics."
With Canada facing one of the toughest lineups in the world, Reimer played a pivotal role in the matchup, turning in her best performance of the season on the game's biggest stage.
The right-hander delivered a gem in just over five innings, posting a 1.31 ERA while allowing only one hit, one run and two walks. She forced 10 groundouts and finished the outing with a WHIP of 0.59, giving Canada a statement win.
"I felt all the energy from my teammates," Reimer said. "They believed in me and trusted that I could get it done."
Reimer credits her teammates for other lessons off the field. Some of those lessons came into play following one of Canada's difficult moments.
After a loss to Venezuela at the Pan American Championship, the team found itself in a tough situation.
"We had a team meeting after the game and held ourselves accountable for the loss and how we need to be better moving forward," Reimer reflected.
Team Canada responded, rebounding with a dominant win over Puerto Rico to win the gold medal.
"That was a cool experience to see," Reimer said. "Everyone stepped up and said, 'We need to be better,' and it worked."
These experiences have helped shape Reimer's return to Montlake this spring. After her standout freshman season that included NFCA All-Mountain Region Third Team honors and a team-leading 16 wins, she returns with a new perspective and higher expectations.
"With Canada, the mentality is that we're competing to be one of the best teams in the world. At UW, we have a goal of making it to Oklahoma City and being the one holding the trophy at the end."
Washington head coach Heather Tarr believes the summer experience will translate directly to Reimer's collegiate growth.
"The experience for all players who compete in the summer brings value to their competitiveness in the collegiate game," Tarr said. "I am incredibly proud of Morgan and what she has committed to in terms of being a national team player for Team Canada. I am proud of what she was able to accomplish this summer and how much she has grown not only as a player, but as a person. We are excited to help support her and her Olympic journey."
As the Huskies enter a new season with heightened expectations, Reimer and the Husky squad are starting to notice a shift in the locker room.
"Last year, we thought, 'Wow, we're all here together. What a dream come true. Let's just go play softball and see how good we can be,'" Reimer commented. "We know what we're doing this year. I'm excited to have high expectations from within, from our coaches, and from our fans, because we're capable of meeting them."
