The Truth About Olympian Cat Osterman's Marriage To Joey Ashley

Cat Osterman and Joey Ashley's love story ended before it officially began. In a 2020 Facebook post, the Olympic softball player shared that she and Ashley had first started dating in 2006. However, Osterman eventually called time on their relationship in order to focus on her career, as she recalled, "A real life 'I can't, softball' moments. The thought of seriously having to consider someone else, possibly settle down [...] it was scary & I ran, and didn't look back." The next eight years went by without any interaction.

However, everything changed in 2014 when the celebrated pro athlete sent Ashley a friend request on Facebook after repeatedly spotting him in the "People You May Know" section. After talking online for a bit, the pair agreed to meet up for a friendly gathering. Once she laid eyes on him in person, Osterman knew he was the one. Based on the Olympic gold medalist's 2018 Instagram post, it seems like Ashley felt the same way because he popped the question just 11 months after they rekindled their romance. 

The golf coach and Osterman tied the knot in 2016, and she subsequently became a stepmother to his daughter, Bracken. By then, she had announced her retirement from softball and started working as a coach for Texas State, where Ashley works as a golf coach. Speaking to The Oklahoman, the decorated Olympian revealed that in 2018, she received an invitation to try out for the U.S. softball team for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Although the prospect of returning excited her, Osterman was understandably hesitant to take the leap because of how it could have negatively impacted her husband's career. However, she soon learned she had nothing to worry about.

Elsewhere in Cat Osterman's interview with The Oklahoman, she shared that she was also worried that the time and effort required to get back into the U.S. Olympic softball team could strain her marriage to Joey Ashley, who hadn't been a part of her life during her first two tries at the iconic games. Moreover, in a chat with TeamUSA.com, the accomplished pitcher confirmed that she also had to speak to Ashley about putting their family plans on hold so that she could train for the Olympics. Fortunately, the golf coach was incredibly supportive of her dreams. 

"Thankfully he knows how much I love softball and how much I put into playing this game," Osterman shared. "It was a no-brainer. He said, 'If you want to do it, we're doing it,' and I said OK.'" In fact, her husband further eased her hesitations about her comeback, only urging her to "Just go try it and see how you feel." While the pro athlete practiced day and night for the big event, she also got some at-home training with Ashley as she often pitched to him in their driveaway. 

During a 2021 People interview, Osterman affirmed that Ashley's support didn't waver when the Tokyo Olympics were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Given all this, it's unsurprising that Osterman admitted to CBS 42 that she had an emotional reaction to learning that she had made the 2020 team: "I screamed, 'I made it,' hugged [my husband] in the kitchen and just started crying."

While speaking to Capital Districts Mom in 2021, Cat Osterman proudly shared that her stepdaughter, Bracken, fueled her to do her best during her big Olympics comeback, saying, "The idea of my stepdaughter being able to watch me train for this, has been a big motivation. I want her to see what it takes to reach your dreams." In addition to being an inspiration, Bracken has also been a literal cheerleader at her stepmother's games. 

In a January 2020 chat with Austin Monthly, the Olympian detailed how Joey Ashley and Bracken cheered her on from the sidelines at her softball games with a sign that read "I Love You." If that wasn't adorable enough already, the pro athlete also disclosed that she had cemented her love for the "Harry Potter" series by dressing Bracken up as the famous boy wizard for Halloween. Meanwhile, in a 2021 Romper interview, Osterman noted that her love of softball had been passed onto her stepdaughter, and Bracken had even joined a local Little League team as a pitcher. 

In a 2019 post on her website, the Olympian revealed that although she had a jam-packed training schedule for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she still couldn't turn down the opportunity to coach Bracken's softball team. Speaking to ESPN in 2019, Osterman disclosed that her stepdaughter didn't hesitate to speak her mind and questioned whether she wanted to make a comeback to the sport to earn more money. All the Olympian could do was chuckle and think, "Oh, child, if only you knew the reality." Suffice it to say that Osterman's net worth may be surprising to her stepdaughter.

In September 2022, Cat Osterman took to Instagram to announce that she was expecting her first child with Joey Ashley. However, instead of going for a more traditional baby announcement, the happy couple posted a sweet photo of them breaking the exciting news to Bracken. The little one could not be happier for Osterman and Ashley since she gave her stepmom a big hug and broke out in tears of joy. Then, in March 2023, the accomplished Olympian confirmed that she had given birth to their daughter, Jaycee Rae, earlier in the month through a Facebook post featuring a photo of her with Bracken, Ashley, and their newborn in the delivery room. 

In a 2023 Instagram post, the retired softball player shared that her middle name was a tribute to her friend and Texas State softball player, Randi Hennigan. The U.S. Women's Olympic Team alum and Ashley continued to chronicle Jaycee's life through Instagram posts. For Mother's Day 2025, the golf coach shared a photo of his wife carrying their infant daughter at a softball game and wrote, "Happy Mothers Day to you Catherine Osterman. With everything you juggle in life. Being a mother is the greatest of your abilities."

The celebrated pro athlete similarly gushed about her hubby for Father's Day 2024, labeling him one of "The best 2 girl dads I know!" The other one was her father, of course. Although Ashley and Osterman have a lot on their plates with raising two children while balancing their demanding schedules, they still post about each other on Instagram frequently. Suffice it to say that all the signs point towards their relationship lasting a lifetime.