Davidson-Smith, Team USA Go For Gold At WBSC Women's World Cup
July 12, 2024 | Softball
CASTIONS DI STRADA, Italy – While softball may not be played at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, Mississippi State's Mia Davidson-Smith and Team USA will still be going for gold across the pond in Europe. Davidson-Smith and the Americans will open play at the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Finals in Castions di Strada, Italy, on Monday.
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World-ranked No. 1 Team USA's first game is set for 9:30 a.m. CT against Canada. The Americans will then meet Italy at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday and China at 7 a.m. on Wednesday. Following the round-robin within its group, the top two teams from each group will move on to the Super Round on Thursday, July 18 and Friday, July 19 for a chance to compete in the medal games on Saturday, July 20.
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It is Davidson-Smith's fourth national team selection. She also played with the Americans last summer competing in Ireland at the WBSC World Cup Group Stage to qualify for the finals site. She helped the Americans punch their ticket to the Finals, reaching base in every plate appearance as Team USA posted a 4-0 record in Ireland.
"Good luck, Mia, as you take the field with Team USA in the World Cup," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "Your Bulldog family is incredibly proud of all you've accomplished, and we're cheering you on every step of the way."
Seven other nations qualified for the World Cup Finals, including host No. 6 Italy, No. 2 Japan, No. 3 Puerto Rico, No. 5 Canada, No. 8 Netherlands, No. 10 Australia and No. 15 China.
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The WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Finals will be streamed via GameTime. Fans will have the option of two different services: Tournament Pass ($12.99) or Daily Pass ($7.99). Tournament Pass subscribers will have full access to all 22 games of the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup. For more information on subscriptions, click here. Fans can also follow along via live stats by following the U.S. Women's National Team on Gamechanger.
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The U.S. women will look to take home gold for the 13th time in the history of the event. In 2018, the Americans defeated Japan, 7-6, in the final game. The event has not been held since due to the inclusion of softball at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo that were contested in 2021 following the postponement due to COVID-19.
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Softball will return to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028. It will be the first time Team USA competes in Olympic softball on home soil since the sport was introduced at the 1996 Atlanta games. The Americans have won five Olympic medals and played in every gold medal game in Olympic history.
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For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
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World-ranked No. 1 Team USA's first game is set for 9:30 a.m. CT against Canada. The Americans will then meet Italy at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday and China at 7 a.m. on Wednesday. Following the round-robin within its group, the top two teams from each group will move on to the Super Round on Thursday, July 18 and Friday, July 19 for a chance to compete in the medal games on Saturday, July 20.
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It is Davidson-Smith's fourth national team selection. She also played with the Americans last summer competing in Ireland at the WBSC World Cup Group Stage to qualify for the finals site. She helped the Americans punch their ticket to the Finals, reaching base in every plate appearance as Team USA posted a 4-0 record in Ireland.
"Good luck, Mia, as you take the field with Team USA in the World Cup," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "Your Bulldog family is incredibly proud of all you've accomplished, and we're cheering you on every step of the way."
Seven other nations qualified for the World Cup Finals, including host No. 6 Italy, No. 2 Japan, No. 3 Puerto Rico, No. 5 Canada, No. 8 Netherlands, No. 10 Australia and No. 15 China.
Â
The WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Finals will be streamed via GameTime. Fans will have the option of two different services: Tournament Pass ($12.99) or Daily Pass ($7.99). Tournament Pass subscribers will have full access to all 22 games of the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup. For more information on subscriptions, click here. Fans can also follow along via live stats by following the U.S. Women's National Team on Gamechanger.
Â
The U.S. women will look to take home gold for the 13th time in the history of the event. In 2018, the Americans defeated Japan, 7-6, in the final game. The event has not been held since due to the inclusion of softball at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo that were contested in 2021 following the postponement due to COVID-19.
Â
Softball will return to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028. It will be the first time Team USA competes in Olympic softball on home soil since the sport was introduced at the 1996 Atlanta games. The Americans have won five Olympic medals and played in every gold medal game in Olympic history.
Â
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Players Mentioned
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