USA and five nations compete in WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup group stage in Oklahoma City; Top two advance to 2027 Finals.
Players to watch at the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Group Oklahoma City - World Baseball Softball Confederation
Players to watch at the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Group Oklahoma City
The WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Group Stage 2026 concludes in Oklahoma City, USA, from 12 to 16 September, with six national teams competing at Devon Park for the final places in next year’s Finals in Redcliffe, Australia .
World No. 2 USA, No. 5 Netherlands, No. 7 China, No. 8 Mexico, No. 17 Brazil and No. 26 New Zealand will play a five-day tournament featuring a single round robin followed by the Play-Offs. The top two teams will qualify directly for the Finals 2027, while the final Wild Card will also be determined following the conclusion of the group.
Ahead of the opening game, here are six players to watch in Oklahoma City.
Brazil: Gabby Coffey - @gabbycoffey20
Gabrielle Coffey will bring a combination of international and US collegiate experience to a young Brazilian team returning to the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup after a 10-year absence.
The 23-year-old catcher and infielder has represented Brazil since her teenage years. Coffey, whose father was born in Brazil, made her WBSC World Cup debut at the U-19 Women’s Softball World Cup 2019 in Irvine, USA, where she went 5-for-15 with a triple and two RBIs. She later represented Brazil at the Junior Pan American Games 2021 in Cali, Colombia.
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Born in the USA, Coffey developed through the American softball system and spent two seasons at NCAA Division I programme Mississippi State before transferring to Stephen F. Austin. She appeared in 31 games, including 24 starts, for the Lumberjacks in 2025, recording 15 hits, three home runs and 12 RBIs.
Coffey has since made the transition from Brazil’s junior programme to the senior national team. She was part of the Brazilian roster at the 2025 Pan American Championship, where Brazil finished sixth. Now, seven years after representing Brazil at the U-19 World Cup, she will have the opportunity to take the field at the senior global event for the first time.
Catcher Ren Min enters Group Oklahoma City after emerging as one of China’s leading offensive players during an impressive 2025 international season.
Ren was named one of two Most Valuable Players at the Women’s Softball Asia Cup 2025 in Xi’an, where China finished second behind world No. 1 Japan. She was also selected as the designated hitter on the Asia Women’s Softball All-Star Team.
One of her biggest performances came in China’s final round-robin game against Chinese Taipei. With both teams entering the contest with identical 7-1 records and a place in the final at stake, Ren hit two home runs to lead China to an 8-4 victory and secure a meeting with Japan for the Asian title.
🇨🇳Min Ren sent Xindu Better City Softball Arena into a frenzy 🏟️!! 🎥 Copyright by IWGA
The World Games #TWG2025 #WomensSoftball pic.twitter.com
She continued to provide power later that year at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu. Ren accounted for China’s only hit in an 8-1 defeat against Chinese Taipei, sending it over the fence for a solo home run.
The 27-year-old will again be a key presence in the middle of China’s line-up in Oklahoma City. With China pursuing another appearance in the World Cup Finals, Ren’s ability to produce against high-level pitching could prove important over the five-day tournament.
Mexico: Suzy Brookshire - @suezebee
Suzannah Brookshire returns to the international stage as one of the most experienced players on the Mexican roster and the only remaining member of the team that made history at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games .
The 28-year-old outfielder was part of Mexico’s first Olympic softball team, which reached the bronze medal game in Tokyo and ultimately finished fourth. Brookshire played an important role during the tournament, including driving in Mexico’s opening run and scoring another in the 4-1 win over Australia that sent the team into the bronze medal game. She connected Mexico’s first-ever hit in the Olympic softball history, against Canada.
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Her connection with Mexico’s Olympic history began before Tokyo. Brookshire was also part of the national team that earned the country’s first Olympic softball berth at the WBSC Americas Qualifier in 2019. Her bases-loaded walk against Canada tied a decisive game that Mexico eventually won 2-1 on its way to qualification.
Earlier this year, she played in the professional Mexican Softball League with El Águila de Veracruz in the Mexican Softball League.
Five years after helping Mexico make their Olympic debut, Brookshire now has an opportunity to contribute to another important chapter. Mexico enters Oklahoma City seeking a ticket to the World Cup Finals while continuing their path towards the LA28 Olympic Games.
Netherlands: Lisa Hop - @ _lisahop
Right-handed pitcher Lisa Hop has established herself as an important part of a Netherlands team that has become a consistent contender at the highest level of international softball.
Hop was part of the Dutch roster that finished fourth at the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Finals 2024 in Italy, matching the country’s best finish in the competition. She posted a 3.39 ERA while striking out nine in 10.1 innings.
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She returned to the national team for the Women’s Softball European Championship 2025, where the Netherlands reached the final before losing 4-3 to Italy. The 27-year-old was one of the leading pitchers of the tournament. Hop posted a 0.68 ERA over 20.2 innings, second-best among pitchers who worked at least 15 innings, and held opposing hitters to a .099 batting average.
Hop also has an unusual background away from international softball. The Maassluis native moved to the USA to play NCAA softball at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where she studied aerospace engineering. A two-way player during her collegiate career, she combined pitching with appearances in the infield and outfield.
Now back on one of softball’s biggest international stages, Hop gives the Netherlands an experienced left-handed option in the circle as the European powerhouse targets another appearance in the World Cup Finals.
Few players in Oklahoma City can match the international experience of New Zealand’s Lara Andrews.
Andrews made her senior international debut as a teenager and has spent two decades representing the New Zealand White Sox. In 2025, she reached 100 international caps, adding another milestone to a career that has included multiple World Cup appearances and leadership roles with the national team.
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Her influence extends beyond the diamond. Dr Andrews works at Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington, as a lecturer in physical activity and wellbeing, combining her international sporting career with work in education and health.
At 37, Andrews will provide experience and leadership to a young New Zealand roster in Oklahoma City. In this year’s WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup, the White Sox are giving one of the country’s longest-serving internationals another opportunity on the global stage.
USA: Montana Fouts - @mfouts14
Montana Fouts arrives in Oklahoma City following a standout professional season in which she was named the 2026 Athletes Unlimited Softball League Pitcher of the Year.
The 26-year-old right-hander led the league with seven wins and 63 strikeouts, while posting a 2.36 ERA and limiting opponents to a .200 batting average. She also set an AUSL single-game record with 12 strikeouts. Fouts finished the professional season by helping the Utah Talons win their second consecutive AUSL championship.
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Her form continued with the USA Women’s National Team at the International Cup in Oklahoma City in August . Fouts was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Pitcher after working 11.1 innings with 16 strikeouts. In the gold medal game against world No. 1 Japan, she threw a one-hit shutout, retiring 21 of the 22 batters she faced.
Fouts already owns two WBSC world titles. She helped USA win the WBSC U-19 Women’s Softball World Cup 2019 , posting a 0.00 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 13.1 innings, before being part of the senior national team that won the world title at The World Games 2022 in Birmingham . She did not allow an earned run in either competition.
Categories: Slideshow news , Softball , WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Group Oklahoma City 2026 , Women’s Softball , Women’s Softball World Cup
From established Olympians to players coming off standout 2026 seasons, six athletes could play key roles as USA, Netherlands, China, Mexico, New Zealand and Brazil compete for places in the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Finals 2027.