WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Finals 2024: Australia aiming for podium finish

World No. 10 Australia, one of the most successful teams in the history of the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup, have their hearts set on a first podium finish since earning a bronze medal in Haarlem, Netherlands in 2014 but coach Laing Harrow admits it won't be easy with his side coming off two fourth place finishes and a 10th in the past three editions and facing stiff opposition at the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Finals 2024, which take place from July 15-20.

The Aussie Spirit will open the Finals 2024 campaign on July 15 facing the Olympic champions and world No. 3 Japan. In the opening round, Australia will also face No. 8 Netherlands (July 16) and No. 2 Puerto Rico (July 17).

"Our opposition is a very high standard," Harrow told the WBSC. "We have had very competitive games against them over the last couple of years. We will have to bring our best against them to move onto the Super Round."

Born in Canada in 1970, Harrow moved to Australia in 1986, when Softball Canberra hired his late father, future Hall of Famer Bob, as a coach. Laing represented Australia in three Men's Softball World Cups. He also represented the country in ice hockey. He was the head coach of the Men's Softball National Team, winning the World Title in 2022. He took the helm of the Aussie Spirit in 2018. Softball Australia inducted him into the Hall of Fame.

Australia's roster for the Women's Softball World Cup Finals will have a lot in common with the team, which finish fifth at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

"We have seven Olympians in this World Cup team," commented Harrow. "We will be aiming for a medal with the makeup of this team. Over the last couple of years, we have had an opportunity to look at new players in our program. It is very exciting for us to see our younger players make their way into the Aussie Spirit team. This team gives us a lot of options both defensively and offensively."

There are 13,517 female softball players in Australia. The peak domestic competition is the National Championship, which is scheduled between December and January in different categories (U-16, U-18, U-23, Open, and Over 35).

Harrow picked his final roster in April and will start the Women's World Cup Finals warm-up by participating in the Canada Cup from 28 June. It will be a chance to compete against world No. 4 Chinese Taipei, No. 5 Canada, No. 7 Mexico, No. 9 Czechia, No. 15 Philippines, No. 33 New Zealand and No. 36 Hong Kong, China.

The Aussie Spirit, which will also participate in a friendly tournament in the Lombardia Region in Italy (details to be revealed later), are one of the most decorated countries in the history of the sport. One of only four nations to win the Women's Softball World Cup (Australia won the inaugural edition of the tournament in 1966), they are third in the tournament's historic medal table with eight: one World Title, one silver medal and six bronze medals. However, 2024 marks 10 years since their last medal in this competition, when they earned bronze in Haarlem, Netherlands, in 2014. Australia have participated in every Women's Softball World Cup in the past.

Australia is also a super power in the Olympic softball, being one of four teams with perfect participation in the five Olympic competitions and winning a medal in the first four events: silver in Athens 2004, and bronze in Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000 and Beijing 2008.

Australia earned their spot in the Finals, finishing second in Group A last year behind the defending World Champions and world No. 1 USA. They posted a 5-2 record, scoring 27 runs and allowing only six over 46.1 innings. Pitching and defence seem to be the team's strengths.

"Our defence played exceptional against USA and Chinese Taipei. Our battery was very consistent throughout the tournament in some very tough conditions. We will be looking for our offence to create more opportunities to score runs and take some pressure off our pitchers."

Gametime will provide live coverage of the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Finals 2024 where season passes are now available.