World No. 3 Japan defeated No. 1 USA 6-1 in the final in front of a sell-out crowd of 3,200 in Castions di Strada, Italy, to win the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup 2023/2024. Earlier in the day, world No. 5 Canada beat No. 8 Netherlands, 11-7, in a dramatic 11-inning third-place game to claim bronze. 

The US pitchers had shut out Japan in the Super Round, but the Asians' lineup was impressive in the final, combining for 11 hits against Kelly Maxwell, Megan Faraimo and Ally Carda. "After the Super Round game, I told my players that I saw too many big swings and that they needed to look more for contact," said head coach Reika Utsugi. "I also told them that their best effort would be enough to win." 

He started with Miu Goto, who was replaced by veteran Yukiko Ueno after five innings. "I needed the younger pitcher to start, but I knew she might feel the pressure or get tired. Having Ueno ready made everyone feel relaxed, including Goto and myself." 

Miu Goto has pitched over 22 innings in the 2024 World Cup Finals. "I work hard every day to be well prepared. After every game, I have my routine to go into the next game in the best possible condition. I regret giving them a run in the first. When I got the third out, I told to myself that the goal was to keep them to one," she said. 

"My best weapon was control and spin on the ball, which made me effective. Playing the USA is always special. I expect to face them in the final of every major event. I was looking forward to this World Cup final against them," said Goto, who lost dramatically to the USA in the 2019 U-19 Women's Softball World Cup, helping Japan to victory in Tokyo and another silver medal at the World Games. 

The 44-year-old Yukiko Ueno, who didn't allow a single hit (just three walks), spoke through an interpreter about her feelings when she was called to start the game. "I was nervous, but not in a bad way. I was tense and it gave me a lot of energy. I'm happy about that, but I think we achieved a great result as a team. My individual performance was just a contribution to the team effort. I would like to congratulate my teammates one by one," he said.

It's Japan's fourth title and first since 2014, after finishing runners-up in 2016 and 2018 and at the 2022 World Games. "Softball is not in the 2024 Olympic programme," said Utsugi. "We are concentrating on Los Angeles 2028. This victory will encourage the entire Japanese softball community to work even harder. We have a lot of young players and this title will give them a lot of confidence." 

The US wasted no time getting to Japan's starter, Miu Goto. They loaded the bases with one out for Amanda Lorenz, who turned Goto's fourth pitch into an RBI single. Japan regained the lead in the top of the second. Eri Shimoyama reached on a leadoff single. She stole second and came home on a base hit by Yui Sakamoto. US starter Kelly Maxwell got the first out on strikes, then Ayana Karoji hit an RBI single up the middle to put Japan ahead. 

Karoji advanced to second on the throw home. Maxwell got help from Jessie Warren at third and shortstop Nicole Bates for the second and the third out of the at-bat. Ayane Nakagawa led off the third and Kyoko Ishikiwa grounded into a double play at shortstop. Faraimo gave up a two-out double to Hotaro Tsukamoto, then got out of the inning on a Shimoyama's fly to left field. 

USA's Hannah Flippen and Warren led off the bottom of the third with singles. Goto got Dejah Mulipola to ground to second for the second out on strikes. With runners on third and second, Jocelyn Alo hit a slow grounder to shortstop and Ishikawa made a nice play to end the threat. Japan added a run in the top of the fourth when Faraimo issued a one-out walk to Shiho Suto, who took second and scored on Yume Kiriishi's bloop single to centre. 

Yume Kiriishi stole second and USA intentionally walked Urara Fujimoto. Ayane Nakagawa made the most of the opportunity with an RBI single through the right side to extend Japan's lead to 4-1 and put runners on third and second. Ishikawa drove Faraimo's eighth pitch down the right field line for a two-RBI single to make it 6-1. That was all for Faraimo, who gave way to Ally Carda. In the top of the fourth, the USA got the third inning at home. 

In the bottom half of the frame, Japan handed the ball to 42-year-old legend Yukiko Ueno, who gave up a walk to Lorenz in the bottom of the sixth and back-to-back walks to McCleney and Flippen in the seventh. Warren worked the count full, then hit a comebacker that Ueno could only touch. Finally, Suto's throw barely beat Warren at first to end the game.