However, her college career is over and Nuveman is focused on international competition. A 2000 Sydney gold medalist, Nuveman remains hungry for another gold medal and help to continue USA dominance

Q1: What are your expectations for the World Championships?

STACEY NUVEMAN: We're definitely [looking at gold]. USA Softball has built a reputation of winning and that's what we tend to do. The competition has continually gotten more competitive and the countries around the world are getting better and better and we're hoping to do the same. It's definitely not a guarantee by any means but we're working hard and doing what we need to do to ensure that we play our best and hopefully take nothing less than gold.

Q2: Has there been a big transition for you moving from college softball to international softball?

STACEY NUVEMAN: It's a whole new ballgame. When you are representing your country, it takes on a whole new meaning. When I'm wearing my UCLA uniform, I'm extremely proud to represent my university. But, there's no comparison when you're talking about representing your university and representing the nation that you love and you live for. The implications of competing for the USA are obviously much greater and at the same time, the competition is much stiffer.

Q3: Do you think your greatest contribution to the team is your power, or is there another aspect of your game that you feel is unique?

STACEY NUVEMAN: Power is a bonus, but I think my role as a catcher, working with the pitcher in that kind of setting, is more of a unique attribute. I had the opportunity to be on the Olympic team in 2000 and I had a whole summer to get to know the world's best pitchers. When you get into battle, a lot of times it comes down to the pitcher's confidence and their ability to adjust to the umpire. My job is to keep them under control and to help them, whether it's giving them pointers or giving them confidence. Those are the kinds of things that I've learned that pitchers need - that role of sports psychologist, pitching coach, and rah-rah cheerleader.

Q4: Does it ever get old catching perfect games and no-hitters when they happen fairly frequently?

STACEY NUVEMAN: No at all. When the pitcher's on, there's no greater feeling. That's why I love this position. To call pitches to set up batters, and to get them guessing is fun. I laugh and smile to myself, thinking, "Oh we've got this girl set up." You can tell when batters are getting frustrated and when you've got them playing into your hands, it's awesome. I'll catch perfect games and no-hitters all-day. Even though I'm not the one delivering the pitch, I feel pretty much a whole part of the picture.

Q5: Can you share with us a funny or strange travel story?

STACEY NUVEMAN: We were in Texas and some people took us to this place where they made cowboy boots. And everybody got a pair of cowboy boots. Someone bet me 50 bucks that I wouldn't wear them with our travel outfit in the airport. Needless to say, it turned into a major ordeal. I had these cowboy boots, I had a bandana, they dressed me up, and I had to walk through the airport and sing cowboy songs. We get to Sydney and were staying in the Olympic Village. The baseball team, which Tommy Lasorda was the manager, was a couple houses down from where we stayed. At one point, someone came up and told me that Tommy Lasorda wanted to talk to me. I was all nervous walking down there and I didn't notice everyone watching me and following me as I walked. Well, one of the girls had blown up a picture of me in my cowboy outfit and posted them all over the Olympic Village with little phrases like, "howdy y'all." Finally they were able to embarrass me.

Q6: Next fall, when you're out of college, are you looking forward to going full time with the national team or will you miss college?

STACEY NUVEMAN: It's definitely a little bit of both. I had a very long and fun and exciting career at UCLA that I wouldn't change for the world. At the same time, there comes a time in your life when you're ready to move on and you're ready to go to that next phase and no doubt I was ready. I got my money's worth at UCLA, I won a national championship and I played in a couple of other championship games. But I'm definitely ready to make that next move.

Q7: Do you have a memorable softball moment in your career?

STACEY NUVEMAN: I think the obvious one is winning the gold medal in 2000. At this point in my life, I can't imagine it being topped. Particularly in the fashion we won. We had to battle back and we had to beat the three teams that defeated us earlier in the Olympics. That is what competitive athletics is all about. We talk about setting up the imaginary scenarios of full count and two outs, that was it, we lived that.

Q8: What was your most memorable home run?

STACEY NUVEMAN: For me, I hit a home run against China that put us into the medal round. From an individual standpoint, when people ask me what's your most memorable home run, without question. To hit a home run in an extra-inning ball game, particularly when we were struggling offensive.

Q9: With your experience in providing color commentary for UCLA athletics, do you wish to pursue a career in this field?

STACEY NUVEMAN: That's definitely an interest of mine. I feel like in the sport of softball, or any other sport, it's really good to have people that understand the sport. When you have a top-level competitor in that sport talking about the game, they have credibility - they've been there and done that. Michele Smith has done a lot of stuff with the World Series. When you hear her talk about the game, you know she's been there and she's not just getting this off a website or an interview. She's lived it, and that's something I could bring to the table.

Q10: What are your favorite movies?

STACEY NUVEMAN: My favorite overall movie, and this will sound very demented and kind of odd, is Silence of the Lambs. I say that because the suspense and the acting were awesome. As far as sports movies, I grew up in a family that were diehard University of Michigan fans, so when I say my favorite sports movie, my family will cringe. But, my favorite sports movie is Rudy. I just think the movie is the heart of competitive sports.

Q11: If you could choose one superpower, what would it be?

STACEY NUVEMAN: I would say time-travel. To go back to different generations. That would be pretty cool. To be able to go back to the 70's or 60's, just to kind of see what things were like. It would be pretty cool to go back Austin Powers-style and hang out wherever you felt like it.