U.S. Women’s National Team Opens World Games Play in Chengdu
World Games Kick Off in Chengdu with USA Among Favorites
The World Games are set to begin on Wednesday at Xindu Better City Softball Arena in Chengdu, China. Eight teams will compete for gold, with Japan and the United States seen as the early favorites from each group.
All eight teams rank inside the world’s top 10 and are split into two groups:
Group A: No. 2 USA, No. 5 Chinese Taipei, No. 6 Netherlands, No. 10 China
Group B: No. 1 Japan, No. 3 Puerto Rico, No. 4 Canada, No. 8 Australia
Here in the United States, the U.S. Women’s National Team is led by Coach Patty Gasso, who will be making her first appearance as an international head coach. Her staff includes JT Gasso, Jen Rocha, and Kelly Kretschman. All four are among the best in the game and ready for the challenge.
The U.S. roster features 15 players, including 13 returners from the 2024 team and 12 from last year’s WBSC World Cup silver medal squad. Skylar Wallace will make her WNT debut after a season with the U.S. Women’s Elite Team, while Jayda Coleman returns for the first time since the 2019 U-19 Women’s World Cup. Tokyo Olympic silver medalists Ally Carda, Rachel Garcia, Dejah Mulipola, and Bubba Nickles join Maya Brady, Megan Faraimo, Hannah Flippen, Sahvanna Jaquish, Janae Jefferson, Tiare Jennings, Amanda Lorenz, Kelly Maxwell, and Jessi Warren. Seven of these players return to the World Games after competing in 2022: Carda, Faraimo, Flippen, Jefferson, Lorenz, Mulipola, and Nickles. Kinzie Hansen, Lexi Kilfoyl, and Aubrey Leach will serve as alternates.
Game times and opponents for Team USA are listed in the graphic below. All games will be streamed live at live.theworldgames.org, with live stats available at USASoftball.com.
I had the chance to see this group in June during their All-Star Showcase in Oklahoma City. The level of play was impressive, especially considering the players came together fresh off their professional season play. It is not often they get extended time together before a major international event.
These are some of the best softball players in the world, and they will be ready when the first pitch is thrown. As the tournament begins, take a look and listen to Coach Patty Gasso’s postgame comments along with Jayda Coleman and Aubrey Leach following that June showcase. (Photos Here)
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