Japan go undefeated to claim Australia Softball Cup in Brisbane
World No. 1 Japan went undefeated to win the 2026 Softball Australia Cup, defeating No. 11 Australia 4–1 in the final at Downey Park in Brisbane, Australia.
The three-day tournament - which was live streamed worldwide, with Australia’s number one sports steaming service Kayo Sports securing broadcast rights in Australia and WBSC's OTT channel GameTime streaming the tournament globally (excluding Australia) via its YouTube channel - saw a total of 13 international games played with No. 23 New Zealand completing the field of teams.
Japan, who beat Australia 3-0 the last time these two sides met at the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Finals 2024, completed a perfect run in Brisbane, winning all nine games they played, including eight round-robin games and the championship final. Australia advanced to the final after winning all four of their games against New Zealand, setting up a title clash with the reigning world champions.
Japan took control early in the final, jumping ahead in the top of the first inning with an RBI double by Mayu Okawa and a two-run home run by Saori Yamauchi. They never looked back.
Australia's lone run of the game was scored on an infield hit by Tamieka Whitefield in the top of the third inning. Japan added an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth, as Natsumi Fujimori drove in Kanna Kudo to score the final run of the competition.
Mio Sakamoto started in the circle for Japan, pitching three innings and allowing two hits and one run. Olympic gold medallist Miu Goto relieved her and threw four shutout innings, giving up two hits while striking out three.
Kendra Lamb was charged with the loss for Australia.
Yamauchi was named the 2026 Softball Australia Cup MVP, batting .316 for the tournament with three home runs, nine runs scored and 12 RBIs.
Brisbane has been the place to be for softball fans in the Australian summer, with two series against Chinese Taipei and USA, the visit of the New Zealand U-18 Women's National Softball Team, and the Softball Australia Cup all taking place ahead of Redcliffe hosting the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Finals in 2027.
Evolving from the successful Australia Pacific Cup, the new format of the Softball Australia Cup continued the tradition of elite international competition while establishing a clear pathway towards the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Finals 2027, the LA28 Olympic Games, and beyond. The event marked Japan’s first appearance on Australian soil since 2020, as part of their preparations for the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup 2026/2027 cycle.
On Wednesday, 28 January, 82 junior athletes hit the field at Downey Park for a Junior Softball Clinic with catching, batting and fielding drills led by players from the Aussie Spirit, Japan, and the New Zealand White Sox on the sidelines of the Softball Australia Cup.
Three Olympians inducted into the Softball Australia Hall of Fame
Softball Australia has proudly welcomed three legends of the game, Stacey Porter, Justine Smethurst, and Chelsea Forkin, into the Softball Australia Hall of Fame, recognising careers defined by excellence, leadership, and enduring service to the sport.
The formal presentations were conducted at the 2026 Softball Australia Cup tri-series in Brisbane, Queensland, ahead of the grand final match between Japan and the Aussie Spirit on Sunday, providing a fitting stage to honour three icons of the game.
Stacey Porter
Stacey’s career with the Aussie Spirit is nothing short of remarkable. Spanning two decades, from 2002 to 2021, she has represented Australia on the world stage an astonishing 446 times, a world record that speaks not only to talent, but to resilience, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.
At the pinnacle of international sport, Stacey, who is a WBSC Athletes Representative for Softball on the WBSC Executive Board, competed in three Olympic Games - Athens 2004, where she helped secure a silver medal; Beijing 2008, earning a bronze and Tokyo 2020 - a testament to her longevity and elite performance across generations
Her consistency at the highest level is further reflected in her participation in six World Cups — in 2006, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018 — an achievement few athletes in any sport can claim.
Justine Smethurst
Justine’s journey with the Aussie Spirit spanned across 16 years, from 2005 to 2021, an extraordinary testament to her dedication to the game and to Australian softball. During that time, she represented her country in 115 international games, competing consistently at the highest level across multiple generations of the national programme.
She stood on the Olympic stage at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, where she played a pivotal role in securing a bronze medal for Australia, and represented the nation at four World Cups — 2010, 2012, 2016, and 2018.
Chelsea Forkin
Chelsea represented the Aussie Spirit from 2007 to 2021, amassing 179 international appearances across a 14-year career at the highest level. She competed at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and represented Australia at five World Cups — 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018 — consistently contributing on the world stage across multiple cycles.
Uniquely, Chelsea’s pathway to softball began through baseball, where she was already an accomplished international athlete. Her transition to softball was seamless and historic, joining Leigh Godfrey as one of only two Australians to represent the country at the open international level in both baseball and softball, a rare and remarkable achievement that speaks to her exceptional skill set and sporting intelligence.