When Thunder Bay hosts the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup Finals presented by CARNEXT in one month's time from 28 July to 3 August, it will be a homecoming of sorts.
Canada has hosted the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup twice (the inaugural edition in 2004 and 2012) in its regular format, matching Japan, which has hosted the 2008 and 2014 editions. In 2023, Canada and Japan hosted the two groups in the first edition played under the new WBSC two-stage format.
When the IX WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup Finals open 30 days from today, Canada will become the country hosting the event the most often.
Edmonton, Alberta, hosted the Women's Baseball World Cup in 2004 and 2012. Canada won bronze in both cases. finishing behind USA and Japan in 2004 and behind Japan and USA in 2012.
Thunder Bay, Ontario, after hosting a successful Group A in 2023, will be home to the 2024 Finals.
Despite being a relatively small city (around 110,000 inhabitants), Thunder Bay, only one hour north from the USA border on Lake Superior, has a long history as a WBSC host. It began in July 2010 with the XXIV U-18 Baseball World Cup and continued in September 2017 when the U-18 Baseball World Cup returned for its XXVIII edition.
"We are delighted and extremely proud to be hosting the 2024 WBSC IX Women’s Baseball World Cup Finals,” said Thunder Bay Mayor Ken Boshcoff. "Thunder Bay is earning a reputation as one of the finest hosts of international baseball competitions. This will be the third world baseball championship in the last 15 years held in our community. We are confident that the athletes, coaches and spectators will enjoy their experience and that their performances will be a source of inspiration to young girls everywhere."
"Thunder Bay is earning a reputation as one of the finest hosts of international baseball competitions."
Thunder Bay Mayor Ken Boshcoff
Chinese Taipei won in Thunder Bay in 2010 and the United States became U-18 Baseball World Champions in 2017. Canada missed the podium in both editions.
The U-18 Baseball World Cup left a valuable legacy to Thunder Bay. During the 2017 edition, the Thunder Bay International Airport broke its all-time monthly passenger record. International fans and teams concentrated their arrivals in late August, ahead of the September 1 start of the event, helping to generate an historic high in monthly volume (81,003 passengers)
The Women's Baseball World Cup Finals presented by CARNEXT will take place at the Port Arthur Stadium in Thunder Bay with world No. 1 Japan, No. 2 Chinese Taipei, No. 3 Venezuela, No.4 USA, No. 5 Mexico and No. 7 Canada competing in a round-robin through August 1.
After a rest day, the top two finishers will play for the Women's Baseball World Title, while the third and fourth-place teams will play for a bronze medal.
The medal games are scheduled for Saturday, 3 August.
Defeating Chinese Taipei in the final on September 1, 2018, Japan earned the last Women's Baseball World Cup title.
