US Women Start New Era at World Games

The US Women National Softball Team opens the 2025 World Games in Chengdu under new coach Patty Gasso.

US Women Start New Era at World Games

The US Women National Softball Team opens the 2025 World Games in Chengdu with Chinese Taipei. The game is scheduled for Tuesday evening local time, 10 p.m. ET in the United States, and will be streamed live with live stats. The event marks Patty Gasso's first major assignment since taking the helm of the national team and is part of a schedule that includes matches against the Netherlands and China in the early group stages. The roster features a mix of college standouts from UCLA, Florida, Oklahoma, and a number of other programs, signaling a depth strategy aimed at building team chemistry on a world stage.

As the team navigates Group B alongside Japan, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Australia, the World Games will test both execution and cohesion. The schedule underscores the pace of a tournament that blends high skill with international diversity, while the presence of a new coach and a college-heavy lineup points to a transitional moment for the program as it plots a course toward its next goals.

The move to a young, college-heavy roster under a proven championship coach signals a deliberate shift toward building depth and speed. It suggests the team is prioritizing versatile players who can adapt to multiple roles in the circle and in the field, a hallmark of Patty Gasso's approach at Oklahoma.

The World Games also tests the national program beyond pure results. Late night ET start times and varying streaming availability can influence domestic viewership, yet the event provides international exposure and real time feedback on coaching, roster balance, and adaptability. How this group handles the pressure of a tight group and potential cross continental travel will reveal early signs of the program's trajectory and its readiness for bigger stages.

Highlights

The world watches as a new chapter unfolds on the softball diamond