USA have finished on top of the WBSC/KONAMI Women's Softball World Ranking for the third consecutive year, with the release of the end-of-the-year standings. With 4,301 points, the US hold a comfortable 1,402 lead over No. 2 Japan, which ended 2023 with 2,899 points.
The podium is completed by Puerto Rico, only 84 points behind Japan with a total of 2,815. This is the highest position ever in the ranking for the Caribbean team.
In terms of number of points earned in 2023, Puerto Rico lead all the countries with a total of 1,514 points, allowing them to jump from No. 5 in January to No. 3 at the end of the year. USA and Japan collected the second- and third-most number of points in 2023, with 1,446 and 1,415 points respectively.
Meanwhile, the Philippines have been the most improved nation, climbing 17 positions from No. 31 at the beginning of the year to No. 14 at the end. Cuba moved ahead from No. 27 to No. 11, for a 16-place improvement.
The end-of-the-year WBSC Women's Softball World Ranking doesn't show many changes from the last release back on 11 November, with no position changes in the top-30.
With the conclusion of the administrative process, points from the Bolivarian Games have been added, resulting in the return of two countries to the ranking: Panama at No. 58 and Bolivia at No. 60. The Dominican Republic (No. 33), Team WBSC (No. 34) and Colombia (No. 39) have also moved up thanks to the Bolivarian Games results, while Peru and Venezuela earned points from this tournament but remain as No. 16 and No. 17 respectively.
A total of 65 countries remain at the WBSC/KONAMI Women's Softball World Ranking. The points calculation includes results of international tournaments over a four year period.
The WBSC/KONAMI Women's Softball World Ranking will serve as a qualifier for The World Games Chengdu 2025. The top six nations in the ranking at 31st December 2024 will earn an automatic berth in The World Games 2025.
The World Games 2025 will be hosted in Chengdu, China, a city of 20 million people located in the south-west of the country. The multi-sports competition will take place from 7 to 17 August.
On 18 December, the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) and Konami Digital Entertainment Inc. (KONAMI) extended their global partnership to incorporate the WBSC World Rankings naming rights.
