The WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup will return to Australia in April 2027 in Redcliffe, Queensland, 45 minutes outside of Brisbane, returning to the country where the inaugural World Cup was played in 1965.

“We’re thrilled with the announcement of Redcliffe as host of the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Finals 2027,” said WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari. “Held one year before the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics and five years until the Brisbane 2032 Games, this tournament will highlight Australia’s strong passion for softball and the deep roots the sport has in the country’s sporting community.”

“We want to see more global sporting events call Queensland home over the next seven years to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Women’s Softball World Cup is a perfect fit,” said Queensland Minister for Sport and Racing and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tim Mander. “This is a sport with a strong Olympic history, having been included in the Games in 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2020, and it’s fantastic to see it returning at LA 2028. We all remember the impact of the Matildas in 2023 and competing on home turf in a Softball World Cup in 2027 will inspire more young women to emulate their sporting heroes on the field.”

When organizers this week revealed the initial schedule for the 2028 Olympic Summer Games, there were two notable sports listed outside of Southern California.

The softball and canoe slalom events will take place more than 1,300 miles east of Los Angeles, in Oklahoma City, under the direction of Michael Byrnes, president and general manager of the Triple-A Baseball Oklahoma City Comets.

Canoe slalom events are scheduled to take place from July 14–22 at the Riversport OKC Whitewater Center. Softball will be at Devon Park — home of the Women’s College World Series — from July 23–29. The tournament will start with a round robin preliminary round from July 23–27 before the bronze medal game on the 28th and the gold medal game on the 29th.

While Oklahoma City is only hosting two events, it will see Olympic competition every day of the 16-day 2028 Olympic Summer Games. SportsTravel caught up with OKC Mayor David Holt last week at the SEICon event in Las Vegas to discuss how his city is preparing with less than three years until the Opening Ceremony, and what the world can expect from his city in 2028.

SportsTravel: How big of a deal is it for Oklahoma City to host two Olympic sports in 2028?

Mayor Holt: It’s a testament to the investments we made in infrastructure over decades. And there’s some poetry to it too, because the softball stadium actually was seeded with surplus money from the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. But it also is a testament to partnership and communication and collaboration over several years to lead up to this point. It’s not just as simple as having the venues, although that was certainly necessary.

ST: What does hosting the Olympics mean to the community?

MH: There are two levels on what it means. The two sports have 200,000 tickets, we think, between softball and canoe slalom. And we’d like to build out a program where we could accommodate other people who maybe didn’t get a ticket, but still want to feel the energy of the Summer Olympics and have a festival at our Scissortail Park or something. Create the kind of things you tend to experience when you go to Olympic host cities. It’s worth noting that canoe slalom was nine or 10 days in Paris, and the softball tournament is a week. The Olympics are two weeks. So there will be a multi-hour Olympic event in Oklahoma City every day of the Olympics. This isn’t a one-off thing. There will be some soccer matches, for example, around the country. So it’s not like we’re the only city outside of Southern California hosting an event. But we’re the only city outside of Southern California hosting an entire sport from beginning to end. We really could welcome hundreds of thousands of people. So that’s obviously a major visitor opportunity for us. A major opportunity to leave an impression with all of those national and international visitors. Secondly, hosting Olympic events becomes a part of your brand and your identity, and it positions you as credible for other events and other spectacles down the line. It’s also about elevating our city into a new conversation. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for the whole region.

ST: Why do you think the LA28 committee chose Oklahoma City to host softball and canoe slalom?

MH: I think LA did it for any number of reasons. Most notably, sustainability — not having to invest in facilities that had no long-term future. But it also shares the Olympics with a broader spectrum of the country without really costing LA core sports. Softball is uniquely popular in our part of the country. We’re the softball capital of the world. We have the largest stadium in the world. And I think canoe slalom is something that can be introduced and positioned for this part of the country. Certainly we’ve already invested in a facility, so we would like for it to get a broader level of interest.

ST: If somebody told you 20 years ago that Oklahoma City was going to host a canoe slalom event at the Summer Olympics — before Riversport existed — what would you have thought?

MH: Olympics aside, we are a world capital for paddle sport. We have facilities that are not replicated in very many places. They’re not one of a kind, but they’re rare. You can do flat water on the river and you can do whitewater adjacent to that on the Riversport course. So we’ve already hosted major international competitions and Olympic Trials. But yeah, it’s pretty crazy. It all started with just putting dams on the river so it had water in it. If you dig up old pictures, you’ll see a ditch with no water in it. It was a wasteland and we just wanted to have a pretty river to look at. And some philanthropy in our city, working in conjunction with rowing enthusiasts — which, who even knew those people existed until all this — turned it into a rowing destination. It required philanthropy at first to build the boathouses to really prove it out. But once they did, we got involved as a city and invested in the lights. We’re still the only course in the world with permanent lights. Having night races is a cool element that exists only in OKC and then obviously adding the whitewater component so we can do it all. We’re a world capital for paddle sports and I think it’s so new that it will probably take this Olympic event for that to really crystalize for our own residents and for this part of the country.

ST: Do you have any kind of economic impact estimate on what the Olympics will bring to Oklahoma City?

MH: Usually you hire consultants to do that kind of thing and I don’t think that’s been done yet. I think we will definitely view it as significant, but I would also argue it’s on two levels —one of them is quantifiable and one of them is not. That unquantifiable element may be just as significant, if not more so, than the quantifiable one. For example, what is the Thunder worth to us? You can go look at sales tax receipts on game nights around the arena and that’s one answer. But we have always viewed it as completely changing the identity of the city. And the fact that every time I have a conversation with an investor or a job creator or a potential resident in our city, it probably opens with the Thunder and that has a value that I can’t put a number to. That probably appeals to me even more so than the straight economic impact value of those two weeks during the Olympics, although we will quantify that and I’m sure it will justify whatever expense we have to go through. But for me, the brand of having hosted Summer Olympic events and the memory that people will have gold medals put around their necks in Oklahoma City … that’s what is most meaningful.

ST: What do you expect from the people of Oklahoma City? What is the atmosphere going to be like for all the competitors, especially Team USA, in 2028?

MH: On the softball side, it’s going to be insane. Our fans know softball. They turn out for the Women’s College World Series. The U.S. team is being coached by the OU coach, Patty Gasso. So that’s a no-brainer. That’s going to be an electric atmosphere. And obviously a very pro-USA atmosphere. Canoe slalom does not have a lot of American athletes historically. There is an American young lady, Evy Leibfarth, who won bronze in Paris. So certainly we’ll try to rally around her. She’s still very young and will certainly be expecting to compete in Oklahoma City. I think with canoe slalom though, we’re not necessarily expecting an influx of new American strength in that sport. I think we’ll be really focused on how we can deliver an event presentation — working with the International Canoe Federation and the USOPC and LA28 — that brings energy regardless of what your rooting interest is. And I have a little bit of experience with this because in Paris I attended all of the canoe slalom events, and they had 10,000 fans and they had a DJ and it was electric and it was actually reminiscent of being at a Thunder game. It was fun to watch, even if you had walked in the venue not really knowing exactly how all this works. So I think that’s what we’ll strive to achieve with canoe slalom.

Devon Park in Oklahoma City will be one of three hosts for the 2026 World Baseball Softball Confederation Women’s World Cup Group Stage, joining Lima, Peru, and Prague.

This will be the first time Oklahoma City has hosted Women’s World Cup action. Oklahoma City is the longtime host of the NCAA Women’s College World Series and the Devon Park complex has recently added an upper deck that increased capacity by 4,000 seats, a three-story press box and upgraded ticket windows and complex entrances. The venue will host softball in the 2028 Olympic Summer Games.

The city was the site for the 2024 WBSC Men’s World Cup Group C event. Devon Park is also scheduled to welcome the 2025 WBSC U-18 Women’s World Cup later this year. The 2026 WBSC Women’s World Cup will mark the fourth time the tournament returns to the United States, with previous editions held in Stratford, Connecticut (1974), Normal, Illinois (1990) and Birmingham, Alabama (2022).

With the Group Stages taking place in 2026, the upcoming event is the second to be played under the new two-stage format, where the Group Stage and the Finals are held in consecutive years. A total of 18 teams are divided into three groups of six teams each, with Lima, Oklahoma City and Prague each hosting one group. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Finals in 2027.

The 2024 Women’s Softball World Cup in Castions Di Strada, Italy, saw the United States win the silver medal.

The 2025 USA Wheelchair Softball International World Series will be held at Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, from August 14–16.

The event, hosted by the Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute, will bring more than 300 athletes and their families to Minnesota for the international competition. The USA Wheelchair Softball International World Series will take place across five softball diamonds created especially for the tournament in the mall’s North Lot.

“Bloomington Minnesota Travel and Tourism is thrilled to partner with the Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute to host the 2025 USA Wheelchair Softball International World Series at Mall of America,” said Todd Lehrke, destination sales director at Bloomington Minnesota Travel & Tourism. “Our strong partnership with Courage Kenny has allowed us to host several high-impact events over the past decade, and we can’t wait to welcome these amazing athletes to Bloomington this coming August.”

Wheelchair softball is played on a hard surface with a 16-inch ball to allow players to maintain control of their wheelchair without using a glove. Players with mobility impairments have competed in the sport for over 50 years.

The World Series is part of a broader push for adaptive sporting events developed by Bloomington Minnesota Travel & Tourism. Over the past 10 years, Bloomington has hosted events such as the Courage Kenny Classic Wheelchair Basketball Tournament, the United States Power Soccer Association Presidents Cup Conference Championships and the Adaptive Sports USA Games.

Game Day USA, which specializes in amateur baseball and softball event production and management, celebrated Opening Day for its 20th anniversary season on April 4 its preseason championships on the new synthetic turf fields at Crown Point Sports Complex in Indiana.

“Opening Day always creates a sense of anticipation and excitement, but this year is particularly special,” said Rich Janor, founder and president of Game Day USA. “As we reflect back on 20 years, we are filled with gratitude for the administrators, coaches, parents, athletes, team members, partners, officials and fans for their trust and loyalty in our brand.”

Game Day USA, based in Naperville, Illinois, has expanded its tournament offerings around the country since its inception. The 2025 schedule includes events as far east as Charleston, South Carolina, and as far west as Mesa and Tucson, Arizona. Game Day USA hosts events as far north as Michigan and as far south as Florida.

Over the years, Game Day USA’s leadership team has worked alongside brands including Disney, Under Armour, USA Baseball and the Savannah Bananas. Game Day USA has also partnered with numerous Major League Baseball organizations, including the Minnesota Twins, Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago White Sox, Houston Astros, Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles.

As part of its 20th anniversary, Game Day USA has announced the launch of a website to support its growth. The website provides enhanced social media integration, a new registration system and several other features.

Perfect Game has announced the appointment of Mary Williams, a former softball player from East Carolina University, as a managing partner.

Perfect Game SEC Softball provides tournaments that foster player development and showcase young athletes. Williams will lead the growth and development of softball tournaments while bringing nearly 3,500 teams with her.

“I couldn’t be more excited to join Perfect Game and contribute to the growth of youth and showcase softball teams,” Williams said. “I am dedicated to creating opportunities for athletes to thrive and I can’t wait to collaborate with the team to establish premier softball tournaments under the Perfect Game banner.”

Williams has worked travel tournaments for the past 10 years, assisting with over 25,000 teams. In 2015, Williams was named N.C. Gatorade Softball Player of the Year during her senior season at Cape Fear High School.

“We are thrilled to welcome Mary to our family,” said Dominick Ferraro, managing partner for Perfect Game SEC. “Her dedication, passion and proven success in softball tournament hosting will be pivotal in growing Perfect Game softball and creating outstanding opportunities for athletes across the southeast.”

Athletes Unlimited Softball’s inaugural league season will start June 7 with plans to be in 10 cities and potentially more to be announced.

Four teams — the Bandits, Blaze, Talons and Volts — will play 24 games each between June 7 and July 23. Each team will travel to up to six markets throughout the summer, culminating with the top two teams competing in a best-of-three championship series July 26–28 at the University of Alabama’s Rhoads Stadium.

The season will start with the Bandits and Talons playing a three-game series in Rosemont, Illinois, while the Blaze and Volts play a three-game series in Wichita, Kansas. Other series will be in Sulphur, Louisiana; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Omaha, Nebraska; Salt Lake City; Round Rock, Texas; Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Raleigh, North Carolina, and Greenville, North Carolina.

“We were truly overwhelmed by the number of cities with world-class venues and a history of supporting softball interested in being part of the historic first season of the AUSL,” said Kim Ng, AUSL senior advisor. “We are looking forward to launching a new era for the sport, and everyone involved with the AUSL — including players, coaches and staff — is excited to do so in front of so many passionate softball fans across the country.”

While the AUSL will be a touring property in its first year, the teams will each be assigned to a single city when the league becomes city-based in 2026. Each team drafted their first 12 players on January 29. All four teams have since signed one additional player and will fill out the remainder of their 16-player rosters with the incoming class of NCAA talent who will finish their eligibility in May.

AUSL 2025 Schedule

June 7–9, June 17–23: Wichita, Kansas — Wilkins Stadium at Wichita State University
June 7–10, July 7–9, July 22–23: Rosemont, Illinois — The Stadium at Parkway Bank Sports Complex
June 12–14: Sulphur, Louisiana — McMurry Park at Lake Charles
June 13–15: Chattanooga, Tennessee — Jim Frost Stadium at Warner Park
July 11–13: Omaha, Nebraska — Connie Claussen Field at University of Nebraska at Omaha
July 16–19: Salt Lake City — Dumke Family Softball Stadium at the University of Utah
July 17–20: Round Rock, Texas — Dell Diamond
July 22–23, July 26–28: Tuscaloosa, Alabama — Rhoads Stadium at the University of Alabama
TBA: Raleigh, North Carolina — Ting Stadium at Holly Springs
TBA: Greenville, North Carolina — Max R. Joyner Family Stadium at East Carolina University

Perfect Game has acquired Triangle Top Gun Sports LLC, a youth organization in the Carolinas, while also announcing a partnership with Cincy Flames, a high school-age baseball tournament organization which will now fall under the Perfect Game banner.

Triangle Top Gun Sports runs approximately 4,000 youth teams annually in AA (D3) and AAA (D2) baseball across North and South Carolina.

“Wes Gregory has built an outstanding reputation in North Carolina, providing high-quality competition and developmental opportunities for young baseball players,” said Dominick Ferraro, managing partner of Perfect Game SEC. “We are excited to welcome their teams, coaches, and families into the Perfect Game family and continue to enhance the youth baseball experience in the region.”

The Cincy Flames organization works with over 750 teams annually across the United States. Over the past 12 years, the Cincy Flames tournaments have been the largest supplier of hotel room nights in the Greater Cincinnati area, drawing thousands of players, families and baseball fans to the region each year.

“This partnership with Perfect Game aligns with our mission to provide the highest level of competition and exposure for high school players,” said Jay Basil, owner of the Cincy Flames. “Perfect Game has set the standard for what defines youth athletics, and we play on the best high school and college venues in the country, so we are excited to bring our events under their nationally recognized brand.”

USA Softball has announced the election of eight new members to its board of directors through 2026.

Tony Gowell was elected Region 1 Vice President, joined by new Region 9 Vice President Rick Hansen. The elected at-large member is Beverly Wiley, while Jari Askins is an independent member. Four new athlete representatives join the board — Aubrey Leach, Blaine Milheim, Zac Shaw and Mike Lewis.

“I am humbled and honored to be a member of the USA Softball Board of Directors,” said Askins. “The rapid growth in softball participation and support will become even more exciting as we prepare for the Olympics.”

Leach was named All-SEC second team while playing at the University of Tennessee and was a member of the USA squad that won gold at the 2023 Pan American Games. Milheim and Shaw both played for Team USA in the 2024 World Baseball Softball Confederation Men’s World Cup Stage and for the 2022 Pan American Championship team. Lewis was selected to Team USA’s Men’s National Team in 2021 and has been on the Virginia Tech softball coaching staff since 2020. He was recently promoted to associate head coach.

“I’m excited to get this opportunity to work with USA Softball in another role outside of the field,” said Shaw. “It’s also exciting knowing how much good this organization does for so many people and the opportunities it provides.”

The national governing body is overseen by a 24-member board of directors, which includes a president, president-elect and an immediate past president, along with 10 regional vice presidents. Additionally, there are eight athlete representatives elected by the athletes, one at-large director and one independent director — both elected by the board — and one affiliated organization director chosen by the affiliated organizations.

Cooperstown All Star Village will host a softball tournament for the first time as part of the All-Ripken Softball Games Powered by Under Armour.

The event will take place from August 29 to September 1 featuring 10U, 12U and 14U players from across the country. Adding more softball to the Ripken portfolio has been a focus since the organization entered into a strategic partnership with Unrivaled Sports in 2023.

“For years, Cooperstown has been synonymous with baseball excellence and now we’re honored to bring that same level of prestige and opportunity to softball,” said Dan Hooper, general manager of Cooperstown All Star Village. “This is a milestone moment for the sport and we can’t wait to welcome the first generation of softball players to this legendary venue.”

The All-Ripken Softball Games will feature skills evaluations, position-specific training and competitive tournament play, culminating in an All-Ripken Games champion. Players must be nominated by coaches, peers or scouts to participate.

In addition to the inaugural Cooperstown event, the All-Ripken Softball Games will host tournaments in Ohio and Louisiana as part of its expanded 2025 schedule. Ohio’s Sports Force Parks at Cedar Point Sports Center will host All-Ripken Softball Games from August 21–24, while Broussard Sports Complex in Lafayette, Louisiana, will have softball action from September 11–14.