OTTAWA - Canada will open play at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) IX Women’s Baseball World Cup Finals, presented by CARNEXT, against Mexico on July 28th at Port Arthur Stadium in Thunder Bay, Ontario before taking on Japan, USA, Venezuela and Chinese Taipei in the event that is set to take place from July 28 to August 3.
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"The ninth edition of the premier event in international women's baseball will reach its climax this year in Thunder Bay and we look forward to seeing the best teams in international women's baseball contest for the honour of becoming world champion," WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari said. "It will be the first ever Finals stage for the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup and after last year's successful Group stage at Thunder Bay, I expect another successful event, celebrating the best of our sport and our wonderful athletes."
Canada earned their spot in the Finals after finishing second place with a 4-1 record last August in Thunder Bay at the Group A Stage qualifier with victories over Mexico, Hong Kong, Australia, and South Korea.
During the Finals, the six teams will play a single round robin, with the top two teams in the standings playing for the title of World Champion on August 3. Third and fourth place finishers will play for the bronze medal with August 2 serving as a rain day.
Japan has won the last six editions of the Women's Baseball World Cup including the last time the event was held in 2018 where Canada captured the bronze medal with an extra innings win over host USA.
All-time, Canada has captured six Women’s Baseball World Cup medals including bronze in 2004, 2006, 2012 and 2018 along with silver in 2008 and 2016.
Canada hosted the inaugural Women's Baseball World Cup in 2004 and the fifth edition (2012) in Edmonton, Alberta, and will do so for the third time in history in Thunder Bay in 2024.
No stranger to hosting international baseball, the Thunder Bay International Baseball Association (TBIBA) will add the 2024 Women’s Baseball World Cup to a list that includes the 2010 and 2017 WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cups along with the 2022 Canada/USA Women’s Friendship Series and the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup Group A Stage 2023.
“We are very pleased to be able to welcome back Team Canada, Mexico, and USA to Thunder Bay. We also welcome for the first time Team Japan, Chinese Taipei, and Venezuela," said Nick Melchiore, head of the Thunder Bay International Baseball Association (TBIBA). "This will mark the third time Thunder Bay has hosted a Baseball World Cup and the first time being a women’s event. We look forward to showcasing Thunder Bay’s natural beauty and hospitality to the world."
Prior to the World Cup Finals, Baseball Canada will hold a selection camp in Ottawa from July 3-7 where athletes will compete for one of 20 spots on the final roster. The team will then travel to Thunder Bay for a training camp from July 23-27 where they will hold daily workouts and play exhibition games.
For more information on the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup Finals, visit the tournament website here.
Keep up to date with the Women’s National Team by following @BaseballCANWNT on Twitter.
