World No. 4 USA topped the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup Group A in Thunder Bay, Canada last year undefeated, and 17 of those 20 players will return for the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup Finals 2024 presented by CARNEXT, which takes place again at Port Arthur Stadium in Thunder Bay from 28 July to 3 August.
Sophia Broderixk, a 17-year-old high school right-handed pitcher, is the only rookie on the roster. The other two players not on the 2023 roster are Kate Blunt, a softball Junior at UCLA who played the Women's Baseball Pan American Games in 2019, and Amanda Gianelloni, who was on the roster in the last edition of the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup in 2018.
Manager Veronica Alvarez agreed that 17 returning players guarantee chemistry and team spirit. "We have only three new players, but 20 players changed because I've only improved them," Alvarez said. "The culture we have created within the players but also its literal strength. We have a lot of power on this team at the plate."
USA dominated Group B last year with a .383 batting average, five home runs, and 14 doubles. Their pitching was even better. The two-time world champions allowed only two earned runs in 29 innings, with a 0.48 ERA.
Now returning to Thunder Bay, all eyes are on the only two teams to have previously claimed the world championship title and whether world No. 1 Japan will win their seventh successive title or will USA win their first title since 2006 or at least step on the podium for the first since 2014 after finishing seventh in 2016 and fourth in 2018.
After topping Group A last year ahead of Canada and Mexico, Alvarez is not getting ahead of herself when it comes to her side's chances.
"We are not underestimating anybody; these are the best of the best teams competing for gold. We think everybody is going to bring their best to the table, and everybody has an opportunity to win a gold medal."
Major League Baseball (MLB) named Alvarez their first-ever Girls Baseball Ambassador in March. "The goal of my role as an ambassador is only to grow the sport, giving girls and women the opportunity to play it," Alvarez said. "I see [women's baseball] growing in a positive direction. In the short term, it's just more and more opportunities for the girls to play and for women to develop. I want to see it as an Olympic sport, and I want to see also a U-21 event supported by the WBSC and all the different countries."
USA Baseball confirmed that official women’s competition in USA includes WBSC-sanctioned events such as the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup and continental qualifiers. There are more opportunities for younger girls.
USA Baseball and MLB partner to offer development opportunities for girls ages 12-18. Women’s competition is also seen in events hosted by Major League Baseball, such as the MLB Breakthrough Series, Elite Development Invitational, and college athletics.
Seven players on the 2024 National Team roster play or have played college baseball in USA. Pitcher and outfielder Jillian Albayati is a sophomore at Cal State San Marcos, pitcher and infielder Jamie Baum is a two-sport athlete (basketball and baseball) at the Rose Hulman Institute of Technology, pitcher and infielder Elise Berger committed to play for Bard College. Meanwhile, pitcher and outfielder Niki Eckert and catcher Beth Greenwood played for the University of Rochester, pitcher and outfielder Olivia Pichardo became the first girl to play NCAA Division 1 baseball when she committed to Brown University in 2022 and pitcher and infielder Remi Schaber is a sophomore at Hood College.
