Australia announce roster for WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup Group Rockford
World No. 10 Australia announced their 20-player roster for the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup Group Rockford 2026.
Manager Jason Pospishil selected a young roster. The average age is 25.8 years, but 11 players are 25 or under.
Among the 20 Emeralds, 11 participated in the 2023 Group Stage, and nine are National Team rookies.
"We have such a high percentage of quality two-way players, we need as much defensive versatility as possible," Jason Pospishil said. "One of our foundations is being able to throw two pitches for strikes in any count. There was a big emphasis on pitchers who were able to do that. One of the other pillars is that we are a tournament-style baseball-centred team. We picked 20 players who we think fit into this team and give us as many good options as possible for the environment we're about to play in."
Catcher Jamie Bastian, catcher Chloe Atkinson, infielder and right-handed pitcher Bronwyn Gell, outfielder and left-handed pitcher Molly Paddison, outfielder Elodie O'Sullivan, utility Riordan Bradley, right-handed pitcher Brittney Baker, right-handed pitcher Mackenzie Jackson and right-handed pitcher Jess Johnson are the nine players who return to the roster after not being included in the 2023 roster.
Gell has appeared in five World Cups, but hasn't been on a roster since 2016 while O'Sullivan last competed for Australia in the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup 2018.
Atkinson is an emerging 18-year-old superstar while Bastian starred for Victoria at the Women's Baseball Australian Nationals.
After not making the 2023 roster and becoming a mother, Jess Johnson made the team at 37. O'Sullivan played for Tokai Nexus in Japan.
Australia suffered a pair of tough losses in the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup Group A 2023 in Thunder Bay, Canada, failing to advance to the finals, after finishing fourth in the six-team group.
"It would be very naïve of me not to take into consideration the lessons we learned three years ago," Pospishil added. "That's played a big part in the ability to be better defensively, throw more strikes, and foster a positive winning culture.
"We have a great mix of ages here. We have a few young players on this team, three teenagers [Atkinson, Molly Paddison and Leah Cornish], and players who have clubhouse leadership in veteran leadership. I think that's a really good mix."
Baseball Australia will announce Pospishil's staff next month.
The Women's Baseball World Cup Group Stage 2026
Australia will compete in Rockford (Illinois, USA) from July 22 to 27 and will face No. 2 USA, No. 3 Canada, No. 6 Mexico, No. 8 Hong Kong-China, and No. 12 Korea.
Tainan (TPE) will host the other group from August 23 to 27 which will feature No. 1 Japan, No. 5 Venezuela, No. 6 Chinese Taipei, No. 7 Cuba, No. 21 Philippines, No. 28 Great Britain.
Finals 2027
The top three finishers from each group will advance to the Finals, which Rockford will host from July 19 to 25, 2027.
Categories: Baseball , Oceania , Women's Baseball , Women's Baseball World Cup
