In preparation for the The World Games 2022 women’s softball competition, world No. 1 USA, No. 2 Japan and No. 8 Australia will meet in a three-game friendly series on 4 July at South Commons Complex in Columbus, Georgia, site of the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games softball event.
The World Games 2022 softball competition is set to take place 9-13 July at Hoover Met Stadium.
The series of exhibition contests, sanctioned by WBSC, will begin with a 2 p.m. (all local time) matchup between Japan and Australia before the U.S. steps in for a double header against the two countries to cap the day. USA will take on Australia at 4:30 p.m. for its first contest before facing Japan at 7 p.m..
Following the 4 July matchups in Columbus, Ga., the three national teams will travel to Oxford, Ala. on 5-6 July, where they will play a series of games against each other and the USSSA Pride, professional team who join the Women’s Professional Fastpitch (WPF) for its inaugural season.
The USSSA Pride will kick off the action on July 5 with contests against Australia (11 a.m.) and Japan (1:30 p.m.) before the U.S. steps in for a pair of evening games against the two countries at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. respectively. The competition will continue on July 6 with a rematch between Australia and the Pride at 2 p.m. CT before the U.S. WNT caps the action in Oxford with a 4:30 p.m. CT contest against the Pride.
Back in January, USA announced their 15-athlete World Games roster, including eight veterans from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic team.
Softball Australia also revealed the athletes that will make up the Aussie Spirit National Softball Team for The World Games. Nine veterans from Australia's Tokyo 2020 Olympic squad will return for the 2022 season.
USA will open The World Games in Group A, playing against No. 3 Canada, No. 6 Chinese Taipei and No. 6 Italy. Japan and Australia share Group B with No. 4 Mexico and No. 5 Puerto Rico.
Live stats and streaming of the three-game friendly series will be announced at a later date.
