The first event to be held under this new system is the XVII WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup this year, which will play the Group Stage in Europe from 11 to 26 July in Fingal-Dublin, Ireland (Group A); Valencia, Spain (Group B); and Castions di Strada and Buttrio, Italy (Group C). The finals will be staged in Italy in the summer of 2024.

Prague, Czechia, will host the U-18 Women's Softball European Championship from July 30 to August 5, 2023. 22 teams will take part in the event.

Five players are World Champions after winning gold at The World Games 2022, while 17 have already made their debut with the senior USA Softball Women’s National Team.

Through the WBSC-Mizuno partnership, that runs through to 2025, the Japan-based company is appointed as the official softball and umpire equipment supplier for all WBSC softball events, including Men’s and Women’s Softball World Cups.

The course aims to prepare the attendees for managing the field at a WBSC event, and it is tailored for aspiring WBSC International and Local/National Softball Technical Commissioners.

Of the 90 players who participated in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Softball competition, 46 played the Junior Women’s Softball World Championship in the early stages of their career, making the youth global tournament a starting point for the international career of the top players in the world.

Previous recipients of the award include Olympians Stacey Nuveman, Cat Osterman, Monica Abbott, Danielle Lawrie, Keilani Ricketts and Rachel Garcia; WBSC World Champions Ashley Hansen, Kelly Barnhill, and Junior World Champion Lauren Haeger, among others.

“I am excited for the new [World Cup] format that allows us to develop a team over a four-year cycle with the goal of another podium finish in 2025,” said Canada’s head coach.

In total, 11 of the 25 names listed have participated in WBSC World Cups, while one more is slated to make her international debut this year.

A total of 15 players on the list have participated in official WBSC international events.