USA land in Brisbane for Down Under Series against Australia

World No. 2 USA has arrived in Brisbane, Australia, ahead of the 2025 USA Down Under Series, set for Dec. 31, 2025 – Jan. 3, 2026, where they will face No. 10 Australia in a four-game series at Redlands Softball Park. 

The trip marks the Red, White and Blue’s first visit “down under” since the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, where USA captured gold.

Matchups between the two nations have long been fan favourites, highlighted by their clash at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, which drew the largest crowd in Olympic softball history with 9,209 fans at Blacktown Park 25 years ago. In that 13-inning thriller, Australia edged Team USA, 2-1, in one of the most memorable games in Olympic history. The contest also marked a historic performance by Team USA legend Lisa Fernandez, who set an Olympic record with 25 strikeouts.

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2025 USA Down Under Series:

• Game 1: Wednesday, December 31 at 2 p.m. AEST
• Game 2: Thursday, January 1 at 2 p.m. AEST
• Game 3: Friday, January 2 at 2 p.m. AEST
• Game 4: Saturday, January 3 at 11 a.m. AEST

Click here to view the event info, rosters and schedule.

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The USA Down Under Series also marks the 60th anniversary of the inaugural 1965 World Cup in Melbourne, where Australia edged Team USA, 1-0, in the finals. Looking ahead, the Eagles aim to return to Australia in 2027 for the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Finals, with sights set on securing their spot at the 2026 Group Stage event in Oklahoma City at Devon Park.

Leading Team USA in Australia will be head coach Patty Gasso (Oklahoma) who is in the midst of her first season with the Red, White, and Blue. Most recently, Gasso and the U.S. coaching staff led the Eagles to a gold medal finish at The World Games 2025, where USA went undefeated with a 5-0 record. Alongside Gasso in Australia will be John Bargfeldt, Trisha Ford and Lincoln Martin.

Fans can follow all the action on Softball Australia TV, with daily passes available for $7.99 AUD and event passes for $29.99 AUD.

In November, Brisbane hosted an International Friendly Series between Chinese Taipei and Australia, with the home team capturing the six-game series, 4-2. From 29 January to 1 February 2026, Brisbane will stage the inaugural Softball Australia Cup, featuring world No. 1 Japan, Australia, and No. 26 New Zealand.