Japan to host USA for Women's Softball All-Star Series
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<p>World No. 3 Japan will host No. 1 USA for a three-game Women's Softball All-Star Series from July 4 to 8. The Japan Softball Association (JSA) and the Yomiuri Shimbun organize the event.</p>
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<p>The three games will be played in three different cities: Game One at the Vantelin Dome in Nagoya on Thursday, July 4; Game Two at the Mt. Fuji Stadium in Fujinomiya on Saturday, July 6; and the rubber match at the Yokohama Stadium on Monday, July 8.</p>
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<p>"We will return to Yokohama, the venue of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics," commented JSA President Yutaka Miyake. "The series takes off in Nagoya, the city where the WBSC Premier12 [Group B] will open in November and an area where a lot of the <a href="https://jdleague.jp/about" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="JD League (opens in a new tab)">JD League</a> activity happens."</p>
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<p>Japan's manager Reika Utsugi will count on the core of the roster that won the <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2023-xvii-womens-softball-world-cup-group-c/home">WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Group C</a> last year, including legendary pitcher Yukiko Ueno, rising pitching star Miu Goto as well as other pitchers Misaki Katsumata and Miwa Sakura, catchers Aruka Sumitani, Yume Kirishi, infielders Kyoko Ishikawa, Hitomi Kawabata and Kanna Kudo, and outfielders Risa Kawamura and Ayane Nakagawa.</p>
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<p><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="JAPAN FULL ROSTER (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.softball.or.jp/nichibei2024softball" target="_blank">JAPAN FULL ROSTER</a></p>
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<p>Head coach Kelly Kretschman selected a USA roster that includes 13 student-athletes representing nine different universities. Three players are former student-athletes, including 2022 Collegiate Player of the Year Jocelyn Alo. Taryn Kern will represent her country for the first time. USA <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="warmed up for the series (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/news/three-usa-womens-softball-national-teams-warm-up-with-wins-in-oklahoma-city" target="_blank">warmed up for the series</a> against World No. 13 Great Britain.</p>
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<p><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="USA FULL ROSTER (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.usasoftball.com/team-usa/womens-national-team-program/2024-womens-national-team/" target="_blank">USA FULL ROSTER</a></p>
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<p>The United States, however, with a different roster led by head coach Heather Tarr, and Japan will compete in the <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2024-womens-softball-world-cup-finals/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Finals (opens in a new tab)">WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Finals</a> from July 15 to 20 in Castions di Strada, Italy.</p>
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