*** Reports courtesy of the Women’s Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC)

USA came from behind in a very intense game to claim a 5-4 win against Japan, and secure a spot in the World Championship Final at the WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup Finals 2025.

A 233-foot homer off the bat of Aspen Boulware in the top of the seventh gave USA the game-winning run.

🇺🇸💥 Don't even look up when Aspen Boulware steps up to the plate!
WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup Finals 2025#SoftballWorldCupWU18 pic.twitter.com/e3OH9vK8XV

— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) September 30, 2025

China defeated Mexico, 7-3, and improved their record to 1-1. On Tuesday, China and Japan will face each other with the winner taking a spot in the final.

🥎✅Day 1 of the Super Round at the WBSC U-18 Women's Softball World Cup is in the books!
🧐Check out all the results!#SoftballWorldCupWU18 pic.twitter.com/A4Au3Iixjt

— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) September 30, 2025

With Monday’s win, USA (2-0) secured the top spot in the Super Round and will play as the home team in Wednesday’s World Championship Final at Devon Park.

On Tuesday, they will close Super Round play against Mexico (0-2), who are already bound for the Bronze Medal Game.

The other Super Round match-up will decide USA’s opponent in the Final.

China and Japan, both carrying 1-1 records, will square off at 4 pm with a place in the title game on the line. The winner will advance to face USA for the title game, while the loser will meet Mexico for bronze.

In the Placement Round, Canada defeated Puerto Rico, 4-3, in the day’s opener, before Czechia defeated Chinese Taipei, 6-1.

After these results, Czechia lead the Placement Round with two wins, followed by Canada and Chinese Taipei (1-1). Puerto Rico close the standings with a 0-2 record.

On Tuesday they will all close the tournament. Puerto Rico will face Chinese Taipei at 10:00 am; while Canada will take on Czechia at 1:00 pm.

📊These are the standings after the first day of action in the WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup Super Round!
🇺🇸 USA punched their ticket to the World Championship Final!#SoftballWorldCupWU18 pic.twitter.com/jMpq4EQpJ3

— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) September 30, 2025

📊Also, check out the Placement Round Standings.#SoftballWorldCupWU18 pic.twitter.com/1ZHRNDitUb

— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) September 30, 2025

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Here’s a recap and highlights of each of Monday’s games:

USA 5, Japan 4 (Super Round)

Click HERE to see the box score

Aspen Boulware blasted a 233-foot, 71-mph home run in the top of the seventh inning to complete USA’s comeback win over Japan, 5-4, and secure a spot in Wednesday’s World Championship Final.

The USA centerfielder went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, scoring three runs and driving in two.

Caroline Stanton earned the win for USA with a complete-game effort. The right-hander consistently reached 69 mph and topped out at 71, allowing four runs on three hits while striking out one and walking two. It was her second victory of the tournament.

Japan built a 4-2 lead behind starter Mayumi Fujiwara, who held the USA hitters in check with an effective mix of speeds through four innings. But a costly error in the fifth inning—shortstop Aisa Noda dropped an infield fly—opened the door for USA to tie the game.

Then Boulware’s decisive homer came off reliever Erin Sato, who was charged with the loss.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuPkyBHsxww

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China 7, Mexico 3 (Super Round)

Click HERE to see the box score

Min Lin went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored to lead China’s win over Mexico, 7-3, to open their Super Round campaign. The Asian side totaled 12 hits in the game and now is 1-1 in the Super Round standings.

Menghuan Zhou won her third consecutive game of the tournament, pitching 4.2 innings in relief, allowing six hits and three runs. Starter Yuyan Duan pitched 2.1 scoreless innings. 

The losing pitcher for Mexico was Lilianna Acosta.

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Canada 4, Puerto Rico 3 (Placement Round)

Click HERE to see the box score

A three-run home run by Raphaelle Bouchard in the bottom of the sixth lifted Canada to a come-from-behind victory over Puerto Rico in their first Placement Round game.

Bouchard homered on a 62-mph inside pitch from left-hander Olivia Ricciardi, sending it 233 feet with an exit velocity of 73 mph to give her team a decisive 4-3 lead.

Emma Frisky earned the win in relief, pitching 3.1 innings with six strikeouts while allowing just one hit.

For Puerto Rico, leadoff hitter Luna Taboas went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while Ricciardi was charged with the loss.

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Czechia 6, Chinese Taipei (Placement Round)

Click HERE to see the box score

Czechia’s catcher Krystina El Ghannam hit a 245-feet home run in the bottom of the fifth, highlighting a 6-1 win over Chinese Taipei, to take the lone lead in the Placement Round.

Nikola Skardova went the distance surrendering one run on three hits, while striking out five.

El Ghannam went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs while pinch hitter Denisa Sustrova drove in two with a single to center field in the second frame. 

For Chinese Taipei, starter Yi-Ting Chou was charged with the loss.

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China 4, Chinese Taipei 1

Click HERE to see the box score

Another masterpiece by pitcher Menghuan Zhou guided China to a 4-1 victory over Chinese Taipei, securing a place in the Super Round. The right-hander went the distance for her second complete-game win of the day, allowing five hits and one run while striking out four.

China’s offense piled up 12 hits, with eight players contributing. Yali Huang, Xintian Li, Dan Li and Jiayi Chen each recorded two hits.

Yu-Chien Huang was charged with the loss for Chinese Taipei after surrendering six hits and three runs in two innings of work.

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Mexico 9, Czechia 5

Click HERE to see the box score

In a must-win game, Mexico defeated Czechia, 9-5, to clinch second place in Group B and advance to the Super Round. A decisive six-run second inning powered the win, as Mexico collected 10 hits overall.

Analia Lopez went the distance, surrendering five runs on seven hits with two strikeouts. She earned her first victory of the tournament and closed the Opening Round with a 1.47 ERA over 14.1 innings.

Nikola Skardova took the loss for Czechia.

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2025 U-18 Women’s National Team (Players & Coaches)

COACHES