USA advance to WBSC Women’s World Cup Final, will play the Canada-Japan winner

From the Official WBSC website:

USA edged Japan 2-0 and remain undefeated. They will defend their World Title in the final on Saturday. Canada beat the Netherlands 6-3 on Larissa Franklin’s three-run walk-off home run and will face Japan on Friday, July 19. The winner will play against USA. China beat Australia and Puerto Rico proved too good for hosts Italy in the Placement Round games.

World No. 1 USA and No. 5 Canada won on Day 1 of the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Finals 2024 Super Round in Castions di Starda, Italy on Thursday. Defending champions USA defeated Olympic gold medallists Japan, while Canada came from behind to walk off the Netherlands.

With the win, USA advanced to Saturday’s World Championship Final, despite what ever the result against the Netherlands on the final day of Super Round play on Friday. The winner between Canada and Japan on Friday will join USA in the final.

“Our goal is to win a gold medal, and we look forward to continuing to be challenged by the best of the best here at this tournament,” commented US slugger Jessie Warren. “It will be whoever God intends it to be.”

“I competed in four World Cups,” said Canada’s Larissa Franklyn, “and I believe these Finals are the most competitive I have seen. One through eight, they are all great teams.”

The loser of the Canada v Japan game will face the Netherlands for the bronze medal.

The medal games are scheduled for Saturday, July 20, at 17:00 and 20:00 (local time).

Meanwhile, China and Puerto Rico started the Placement Round with extra-inning wins over Australia and Italy respectively.