03/09/2023 2 Minute Read

10 Days to Go: Three former medallists highlight IX WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup Group B

Japan are six-time Women's Baseball World Champions and will host the event for the third time. They have participated in all the editions along with Chinese Taipei, the finalists of the 2018 World Cup. Venezuela (and USA, Canada, and Australia from Group A) have also made the podium at least once. France will make their debut.

The six-team IX Women's Baseball World Cup Group B-presented by CARNEXT, will open in Miyoshi City, Japan, on Wednesday, 13 September, and run through Sunday, 17 September.

The tournament will be highlighted by three teams that have made the podium at least once, namely Japan, Chinese Taipei and Venezuela (USA, Canada, and Australia have also podiumed from Group A) and the debut of France.

Japan and Chinese Taipei have participated in all eight editions of the event (along with Australia, Canada and USA from Group A), with six-time Women's Baseball World Champions Japan hosting the event for the third time, following the 2008 and 2014 editions.

Japan

WBWC Appearances: 8
Highest Finish: World Champion six times (2008 Matsuyama JPN, 2010 Maracay VEN, 2012 Edmonton CAN, 2014 Miyazaki JPN, 2016 Busan KOR, 2018 Viera USA)
2018 Finish: World Champion
World Ranking: 1

The six-time defending champions Japan are the clear favourites of Group B. They finished second in the two previous editions they did not win. All the players on Madonna Japan's roster participated in the 18th Japanese Club Championship.

Chinese Taipei

WBWC Appearances: 8
Highest Finish: 2nd (2018 Viera USA)
2018 Finish: 2nd
World Ranking: 2

Chinese Taipei lost the 2018 final against Japan. They were also the runners-up to Japan at the WBSC Asia Qualifier in June. Ming-Huei Huang replaced 2018 silver medallist Yung-Hsin Hsu as manager.

Venezuela

WBWC Appearances: 5
Highest Finish: 3rd (2016 Busan KOR)
2018 Finish: 5th
World Ranking: 5

Besides Japan, Venezuela are the only team from Group B previously hosting the Women's Baseball World Cup. Maracay was the host city of the fourth edition in 2010. They earned their spot as the first-place team in the WBSC Americas qualifying tournament. Venezuela has a Women's Baseball League.

Cuba

WBWC Appearances: 5
Highest Finish: 6th twice (2006 Taipei City TPE, 2010 Maracay VEN)
2018 Finish: 8th
World Ranking: 7

Women started playing baseball in Cuba in the 1940s, and in the 1960s, the Cuban Women's Federation (FMC, Federación de Mujeres Cubanas) attempted to boost interest. The women's baseball programme took off only in 2003. Last year was rich in activity. Cuba finished fourth in the WBSC Americas Qualifier.

Puerto Rico

WBWC Appearances: 2
Highest Finish: 9th (2018 Viera USA)
2018 Finish: 9th
World Ranking: 9

Puerto Rico has a fast-growing women's baseball programme, which includes a women's baseball version of the Superior Double-A League. Puerto Rico swept Cuba in a friendly series played in Havana in May. Manager Carlos Ferrer announced the 20-player roster on 14 August.

France

WBWC Appearances: none
Highest Finish: N/A
2022 Finish: N/A
World Ranking: 16

France is a relatively young women's baseball programme, but they became the first national team to qualify when they secured their second consecutive European Championship in August 2022.

The top three finishers will advance to the World Championship finals, scheduled in the summer of 2024 in Thunder Bay, Canada. They will compete against World No. 3 Canada, No. 4 USA and No. 12 Mexico, who earned their spots from the Group A tournament earlier this year