Women’s Softball World Cup brings international competition to Oklahoma City

Some of the world’s top softball teams will take the field at Devon Park as Oklahoma City hosts a group stage of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Women’s Softball World Cup. 

Competition is set for Sept. 12-16, bringing six national teams to the Softball Capital of the World for five days of international play. Oklahoma City is one of three cities worldwide selected to stage group competition, joining Prague, Czech Republic, and Lima, Peru. 

The United States will compete alongside Brazil, China, Mexico, the Netherlands and New Zealand, with two spots in the 2027 Women’s Softball World Cup Finals in Brisbane, Australia, on the line. 

The six teams will face each other in round-robin play Sept. 12-15, with the results determining seeding for the Sept. 16 playoff round. Two teams will leave Oklahoma City having automatically advanced to the 2027 World Cup Finals. Teams that do not secure one of those spots may also have an opportunity to advance through the tournament’s wild-card process. 

For Oklahoma City, the tournament adds another major international competition to a growing list of events staged at Devon Park. The venue is home to the NCAA Women’s College World Series and regularly welcomes USA Softball national championships and international events, further cementing Oklahoma City’s place at the center of the sport. 

The World Cup also carries additional significance as Oklahoma City prepares for the LA28 Olympic Games. Softball will return to the Olympic program in 2028, with competitions staged at Devon Park. The 2026-27 Women’s Softball World Cup is the first qualifying event on the road to LA28, with the eventual world champion earning the first available spot in the Olympic tournament. 

Team USA’s roster offers plenty of familiar faces for Oklahoma softball fans. Former University of Oklahoma standouts Alyssa Brito, Jayda Coleman, Tiare Jennings and Kelly Maxwell are among the athletes selected to represent the United States. Former Oklahoma State pitcher Lexi Kilfoyl is also on the roster, while University of Oklahoma head coach Patty Gasso leads the national team. 

The U.S., ranked No. 2 in the world, opens competition against No. 7 Mexico at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 12. Team USA will face Brazil and the Netherlands on Sept. 13, New Zealand on Sept. 14 and China on Sept. 15 before the playoffs begin Sept. 16. 

The Oklahoma City group is the final stop of the 2026 World Cup Group Stage, meaning the field advancing to the 2027 Finals will be set at Devon Park. 

Tickets, schedules and additional tournament information are available through WBSC.org.