Team USA opened the 2026 USA Softball International Cup with a pair of victories on Thursday at Devon Park as both the U.S. Women’s Elite Team and the world-ranked No. 2 U.S. Women’s National Team (WNT) earned wins.

The Elite Team rallied past No. 5 Chinese Taipei, 6-4, in their tournament opener before the WNT capped the day with a dominant 12-0, four-inning run-rule victory over No. 11 Australia.

The USA Softball International Cup—previously known as the World Cup of Softball—returns to OKC after a six-year hiatus.

Since the event began in 2005, Team USA has compiled an all-time record of 83–7 and has won 11 of the 14 tournaments, with Japan claiming the other three titles.

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WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM

The world-ranked No. 2 U.S. Women’s National Team (WNT) opened the 2026 USA Softball International Cup in dominant fashion, defeating No. 11 Australia, 12-0, in a four-inning run-rule victory.

Lexi Kilfoyl got the start in the circle, fanning four over three scoreless innings before Rachel Garcia took over in the fourth to retire the final three batters, including two via strikeout — with the duo allowing just two hits in the shutout win

Offensively, Maya Brady led Team USA with a perfect 2-for-2 performance, launching a home run and driving in four runs. Janae Jefferson (1-for-1), Dejah Mulipola (2-for-2) and Skylar Wallace (2-for-2) also went deep as the Eagles totaled nine hits and 11 RBI in the win.

Team USA wasted no time getting on the board, plating four runs in the opening frame, thanks to an RBI-single from Brady, a two-run shot from Wallace and a sac-fly from Megan Grant to cap the inning with a 4-0 lead.

Jefferson extended the lead with a two-run homer in the second, while Mulipola and Brady each launched home runs in the third to push the score to 12-0. Garcia then shut the door in the fourth to seal the run-rule victory.

Team USA returns to Devon Park on Friday with the U.S. Women’s Elite Team taking on American Samoa at 4 p.m. CT, followed by the U.S. WNT facing Canada at 7 p.m. CT.

Pool play concludes Saturday as the WNT takes on China at 4 p.m. CT before the Women’s Elite Team closes out the day against Japan at 7 p.m. CT.

Here are some of the key stats from the big win over Australia….

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WOMEN’S ELITE TEAM

A resilient comeback and timely offense propelled the U.S. Women’s Elite Team to victory tonight against Chinese Taipei in the opening day of the 2026 USA Softball International Cup, walking away with a 6-4 win in eight innings.

The U.S. Elite Team held a 3-2 advantage heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, but a deep homer to left field sent two Chinese Taipei players across home plate for the 4-3 lead.

A double from Morgan Zerkle brought Bubba Nickles-Camarena in for one run, tying things up 4-4 in the top of the seventh.

Heading into extra innings, the U.S. Elite Team was up to bat first, landing a fly ball into Chinese Taipei’s hands for the first out of the eighth.

The Eagles didn’t falter though as Ana Gold stepped up to the plate with Zerkle on third, sending the ball to deep center field for a home run and the 6-4 lead.

In the bottom of the eighth, pitcher Ally Carda solidified the win with a solid defense behind her. The Eagles rounded out the game with a pop out, ground out and fly out to secure the victory.

The U.S. Women’s Elite Team finished the game with 10 hits, six runs and zero errors compared to Chinese Taipei’s 7 hits and four runs.

Gold led the Eagles with three hits, 3 RBIs and two runs with Sahvanna Jaquish and Zerkle also notching two hits each with Zerkle adding two RBIs and two runs.

In the circle, Megan Faraimo wrapped up the game with 67 pitches and 41 strikes for five strike outs in 3.2 innings pitched, followed by Keilani Rickets who had 38 pitches and 21 strikes with one strike out in 1.2 innings.

Carda rounded out USA’s pitching group with 32 total pitches, 21 strikes and two strikeouts.

Click HERE for all schedules and results

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Participating Countries:

Group A: No. 1 Japan (1-0), U.S. Women’s Elite Team (1-0), No. 5 Chinese Taipei (0-1), No. 42 American Samoa (0-1)

Group B: No. 2 United States (1-0), No. 4 Canada (1-0), No. 8 China (0-1), No. 11 Australia (0-1)