OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (June 26, 2024) – USA Softball’s Women’s Elite Team and Women’s National Team (WNT) have arrived at the Softball Capital of the World this evening for a five-day joint team camp as they prepare for their respective upcoming events this summer.
Both teams will conclude their camp with two exhibition games over the weekend as part of a USA Softball triple-header on Saturday and Sunday, June 29-30. The Women’s Elite Team will compete against Great Britain, while the Women’s National Team will face the local professional softball team, the Oklahoma City Spark. Games will be held at OGE Energy Field at Devon Park. Tickets are now available through the Oklahoma City Spark website here. One-time purchase grants access to all games on the same day.
WNT Prepares to Defend WBSC Title
The Women’s National Team gears up in search of their fourth-straight gold medal in the WBSC World Cup Finals. Head Coach Heather Tarr is aiming for her second consecutive gold medal, having led the Eagles to a top-podium finish in the same event in 2022. The WBSC World Cup Finals will take place in Castions di Strada, Italy, from July 15-21 at the Campo Comunale da Softball.
Click here to view the WBSC World Cup Finals Event details.
Women’s Elite Team Looks to Clinch First Japan All-Star Series
Two-time Olympian Kelly Kretschman is ready to lead the Women’s Elite Team to the Japan All-Star Series. This will be the seventh year of the series that began in 2016, with no series played in 2020-21 due to Olympic preparation. The Eagles will aim for their first series win in the event. The two best programs in the world will go head-to-head in three different cities in Japan on July 4, 6, and 8.
Click here to view the Japan All-Star Series Event details.
Coach Tarr Comments
What are you looking forward to most for this camp?
“I’m looking forward to all of the athletes, coaches, and staff being together in one place as this is our first-ever training camp that includes multiple teams. We are excited to train together. This week will provide our women the best practice and game environment we can get to be prepared to win gold in Italy at the World Cup.”
What is the main takeaway you want this team to have from camp and heading into summer competition?
“The recent news of LA28 deciding the softball venue is in Oklahoma City also gives us a lot of forward-thinking as to how this opportunity benefits our team. This is the home of USA Softball, and we cannot think of a better place to begin our quest this summer for a World Cup Gold Medal than here, with this group of women.”
Exhibition Games Information
The full schedule, roster, stats, and streaming info can be found by clicking here.
Women’s Elite Team
- Saturday, June 29 vs. Great Britain – 4 p.m.
- Sunday, June 30 vs. Great Britain – 11 a.m.
Women’s National Team
- Saturday, June 29 vs. OKC Spark – 7 p.m.
- Sunday, June 30 vs. OKC Spark – 5 p.m.
*All games are based on US-Central Time.
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Media Inquiries
Any press interested in attending the camp or exhibition games, please contact Michelle Murch, Director of Communications: mmurch@usasoftball.com.
About USA Softball
USA Softball (USAS) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization headquartered in Oklahoma City, Okla., and is designated as the National Governing Body (NGB) of Softball in the United States and a member of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. One of the nation’s largest sports organizations, USAS sanctions competition through a network of Local Associations, including all 50 states and select metro associations. USAS is dedicated to providing people of all ages the opportunity to play the game they love at a variety of levels by offering recreational, league, tournament, and competitive play for fast pitch, slow pitch, and modified pitch. USAS annually conducts thousands of tournaments throughout the country, including over 100 National Championships. The USAS umpire program is among the nation’s largest and is widely known as the best-trained umpires in the game.
As the NGB for the sport of softball, USAS is responsible for training, equipping, and promoting the six USA Softball National Teams that compete in events such as the Olympics, Pan American Games, World Championships, and other international and domestic events. For more information on USAS, including its founding and history as the Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA), please visit www.USASoftball.com.