WBSC U-18 Women's Softball World Cup Finals 2025 Day 4: Japan beat China, set up World Championship Final against USA
USA and Japan will meet on Wednesday at 14:00 in the WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup final at Devon Park. It will be the 12th time the two nations face off for the world title in this category, with USA holding six victories and Japan five in their previous 11 finals.
Earlier in the day, China and Mexico will battle for the bronze medal at 11:00.
Shion Yamamoto threw six scoreless innings with six strikeouts to lead Japan to a 5-0 win over China, securing a spot in Wednesday’s World Championship Final against USA. In the last game of the Super Round, USA defeated Mexico, 10-2, and remain undefeated in the competition. Hudson had a stellar night, going 4-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBIs.
Wednesday’s final will mark the 12th time Japan and USA face each other for the title in the WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup. In their previous 11 finals, USA have claimed six victories, while Japan have won five.
From 1991 to 2019, these two softball powerhouses contested 10 consecutive finals. In Lima 2021, however, USA faced Chinese Taipei, winning their eighth world championship 1-0, as Japan did not participate due to the pandemic.
USA are aiming to secure a record-setting fifth consecutive world championship in this category. They currently boast a 47-game winning streak, having gone undefeated to claim the last four world titles.
Both teams have already secured medals in this tournament. USA remain the only nation to reach the podium in every edition of the U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup, with 14 medals to their name—eight gold, five silver, and one bronze—and are now poised for a 15th. Japan will also be celebrating their 14th podium finish; the only edition they missed was 2021.
Meanwhile, China and Mexico will face off for the bronze medal. China have medaled three times in the tournament, including one gold, one silver, and one bronze. Mexico are seeking their first-ever medal in a women’s softball world cup.
In the Placement Round, Puerto Rico defeated Chinese Taipei, 7-6, and Canada beat Czechia, 12-1 in five innings. Canada finished fifth in the World Cup, followed by Czechia in sixth, Puerto Rico in seventh and Chinese Taipei in eighth.
Standings WBSC U-18 Women's Softball World Cup 2025 - Finals
| # | Team | W | L | T | PCT | GB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | USA | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0 |
| 2 |  | CHN | 2 | 1 | 0 | .667 | 1 |
| 3 |  | TPE | 1 | 2 | 0 | .333 | 2 |
| 4 |  | CAN | 0 | 3 | 0 | .000 | 3 |
| # | Team | W | L | T | PCT | GB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | JPN | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0 |
| 2 |  | MEX | 1 | 2 | 0 | .333 | 2 |
| 3 |  | CZE | 1 | 2 | 0 | .333 | 2 |
| 4 |  | PUR | 1 | 2 | 0 | .333 | 2 |
| # | Team | W | L | T | PCT | GB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | CAN | 2 | 1 | 0 | .667 | 0 |
| 2 | | CZE | 2 | 1 | 0 | .667 | 0 |
| 3 | | PUR | 1 | 2 | 0 | .333 | 1 |
| 4 | | TPE | 1 | 2 | 0 | .333 | 1 |
| # | Team | W | L | T | PCT | GB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | USA | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0 |
| 2 | | JPN | 2 | 1 | 0 | .667 | 1 |
| 3 | | CHN | 1 | 2 | 0 | .333 | 2 |
| 4 | | MEX | 0 | 3 | 0 | .000 | 3 |
China 0-5 Japan - Super Round - Boxscore
Japan blanked China, 5-0, behind six scoreless innings and six strikeouts from Shion Yamamoto to advance to Wednesday’s World Championship Final against USA.
Rino Shimazu went 3-for-3 with a run and an RBI, while Mayuha Ishikawa and Mayumi Fujiwara added two hits apiece.
Yuyan Duan took the loss for China, allowing five runs on 10 hits over six innings.
Mexico 2-10 USA - Super Round - Boxscore
USA defeated Mexico, 10-2 in six innings, to wrap up the Super Round of the tournament. The four-time defending champions ended the game in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run home run by McLaine Hudson, who sent the ball 233 feet over the left field fence. Hudson had a stellar night, going 4-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBIs.
Juliana Hutchens continued her strong form, finishing 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored, as the host team combined for 12 hits.
From the circle, Emma Smith earned the win after allowing two runs on two hits and two walks, while striking out four. Madelyn Doty started the game with three scoreless innings.
For Mexico, right fielder Danna Viera drove in both runs with a 2-for-3 performance. Starter Citaly Valencia was charged with the loss after working 5.1 innings.
Puerto Rico 7-6 Chinese Taipei - Placement Round - Boxscore
In a roller-coaster contest, Puerto Rico outlasted Chinese Taipei, 7-6, to secure their second win of the tournament. Nia Melendez delivered the decisive blow with a go-ahead RBI single in the top of the seventh inning.
Leila Bolden powered the offense, going a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI, while Alejandra Sanchez added two RBIs. In the circle, Brooke Simmons turned in a strong outing, working 6.1 innings and allowing just one run on four hits, striking out six and walking four.
Canada 12-1 Czechia - Placement Round - Boxscore
Cece Brown went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs, and Avery Tucker scored four in Canada's 12-1 win over Czechia in five innings. First baseman Abigail Findlay drove in three while hitting 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Canada combined for 14 hits in the game.
Rylee Ruppel grabbed the win in 3.1 innings of work, giving up one run and a hit, walking two against two strikeouts.
Pinch hitter Denisa Sustrova went 1-for-1 with one RBI. Lucie Vecerova was charged with the loss in Czechia.
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