Who is Stella Weaver? Meet the 22nd girl to play in Little League World Series starring for Tennessee

Girls have played in the Little League World Series since Victoria Roche broke the glass ceiling in 1984, but the occurrence has become much more routine in recent years.

Maddy Freking, Ella Bruning and Falynn Randall have each made a name for themselves in recent tournaments, and another girl is set to join the fray this year: Stella Weaver.

Playing for the Tennessee squad, Weaver has earned a reputation as a flamethrower but can hit a home run or two as well. Like many of the young athletes on this stage, she’s lived and breathed baseball as long as she can remember. Now, she has a chance to make her mark in front of a national audience.

MORE: Updated Little League World Series bracket, scores

Here’s what you need to know about Weaver as she joins a historic group of girls to play in the Little League World Series.

Who is Stella Weaver?

Weaver is a 12-year-old standout on Tennessee’s Nolensville team, which qualified for the Little League World Series. At 5-8, she’s the tallest player on the team, and she uses her height to her advantage with an overpowering fastball.

She pitched a complete game in the Southeast Regional, shutting out Alabama and striking out seven batters. Decked out in Nolensville’s Vanderbilt-style uniform, Weaver looked every bit as dominant as a player for the Commodores’ powerhouse program.

🔥 7Ks
💪 Complete-game
🏁 Win

Stella Weaver stepped up. #GirlsWithGame #LLWS pic.twitter.com/hikn9rQJwS

— Little League (@LittleLeague) August 3, 2023

Weaver told The Tennessean that she has been treated no differently than anyone else despite being in such a unique position. “They just treat me the same,” she said, explaining that she is naturally quiet and lets her performance do the talking.

Her performance does speak for itself. Weaver throws nearly 70 MPH, not far off from what Mo’ne Davis threw during the 2014 Little League World Series, and coach Randy Huth calls her arm talent “special.” 

MORE: Where is LLWS legend Mo’ne Davis now?

Weaver’s fascination with baseball began at a young age, which is no surprise considering she’s still young along with the rest of her teammates. According to The Tennessean, she would wear a full baseball uniform to school in kindergarten, and she settled on baseball full-time after trying her hand at a few different sports.

So far, it certainly looks like Weaver made the right decision. She’s one of less than two dozen girls to appear in the Little League World Series, and she just might be Tennessee’s secret weapon in the loaded United States bracket.

How many girls have played in the Little League World Series?

Even some of the most distant observers of the Little League World Series know the name Mo’ne Davis. She took the tournament by storm during her appearance in 2014 and became an overnight sensation. Davis is far from the only girl to play in the Little League World Series, though.

Weaver will be the 22nd girl to make an appearance, joining an exclusive but growing club of groundbreaking athletes. This is the fourth consecutive tournament with a female player, accounting for 2020’s cancellation.

Here’s a complete list of girls who have played in the Little League World Series, from 1984 to 2023.

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