History of the USA Softball Women's National Team
at the ISF Women's World Championships
(1965-2006)
at the ISF Women's World Championships
(1965-2006)
The USA Softball Women’s National Team has participated in 11 ISF Women’s World Championships and has finished out of the medals only once, the 1982 World Championships in Chinese Taipei. It took Australia, Chinese Taipei and an outbreak of stomach flu to make it happen.
The USA Softball Women’s National Team program has brought home a total of eight gold medals including the last six consecutive making them perhaps the most successful team sport on the Olympic program over the last three decades. They have also collected two silver World Championship medals
Linking the words dynasty and softball may make some uncomfortable. If so, perhaps these facts will reinforce that notion.
In World Championship play, the USA has amassed a lifetime record of 106-10 (.914). The USA offense has outscored its opponents collectively 650-45. Out of the 106 wins, 88 have been by shutout.
The USA’s introduction to international play came at the 1965 World Championships in Melbourne, Australia. Ironically, the USA lost the first game it ever played 1-0 to home team Australia. Despite the early loss, the USA rallied to earn a rematch against the Aussies in the title game. In the final game, USA’s 18-year old pitcher Donna Lopiano battled valiantly for six innings before delivering a wild pitch that sailed over her catcher’s head and scored what turned out to be the winning run.
In 1970 in Osaka, Japan, the World Championship field doubled to ten teams. An error in the final game again proved costly for the USA as they dropped a 1-0 heartbreaker to host team Japan.
USA pitcher Nancy Welborn had been outstanding throughout, setting world records for most wins (6) and most innings pitched (50). Ironically, the person most responsible for getting the team to the finals also gave up the winning run on an errant throw to first.
The first two World Championships curiously were won by the host nation and the 1974 championships were no different. This time, however, the tournament was held on USA soil.
The USA was untouchable, posting nine consecutive shutouts and outscoring its opponents 75-0. USA pitcher Joan Joyce set records for most strikeouts (76); lowest ERA (0.00); consecutive scoreless innings (36); most no-hit, no-run games (3) and most perfect games (2). The team’s batting average was .356 and featured five .400 plus performances.
In 1978, USA pitchers Kathy Arendsen and Barbara Reinalda were dominating, winning eight of nine games by shutout.
The program’s only non-medal performance came in 1982 in Chinese Taipei. Despite a 6-0 romp through the round robin, the USA dropped two games to Chinese Taipei and a final game 1-0 loss to Australia.
The team’s excursion into a local cuisine proved costly as most of the team spent the final days shuffling between the field and stadium facilities.
By 1986, the dominance was in full force and the USA has since strung together six World Championship gold medals in-a-row in Auckland, New Zealand, Normal, IL, St. John’s, New Foundland, Canada, Fujinomiya, Japan, Saskatoon, Canada and Beijing, China to make its ascension to the top spot in international softball complete.
In 1998, the USA continued its dominance in World Championship play by capturing its fourth consecutive World title and the top seed for the 2000 Games.
At the 2002 ISF Women’s World Championships in Saskatoon, Canada, the U.S. served notice that it was the team to beat at the 2004 Olympics after capturing its fifth consecutive World Championship and its seventh overall. The U.S. defeated Japan 1-0 in the gold medal game to win the championship and also secure the top seed at the upcoming Olympics. With the win the USA improved to 11-1 overall against Japan in World Championship competition. Lisa Fernandez pitched a three hit shutout to pick up her 12th career win in World Championship competition which is a U.S. record.
For the third consecutive time the USA Softball Women’s National Team captured the top seed entering the Olympic Games after winning the 2006 ISF Women’s World Championship in Beijing, China. It was the sixth consecutive gold medal in World Championship competition and repositioned the Red, White and Blue as the most dominate team in the World.
Although the U.S. suffered its first loss since the 1998 World Championships at the 2006 World Championships, their performance was still dominating. The U.S. cruised to a 10-1 record while outscoring their opponents 71-7 in 11 games. The win at the 2006 World Championships secures the top seed at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.
The USA Softball Women’s National Team program has brought home a total of eight gold medals including the last six consecutive making them perhaps the most successful team sport on the Olympic program over the last three decades. They have also collected two silver World Championship medals
Linking the words dynasty and softball may make some uncomfortable. If so, perhaps these facts will reinforce that notion.
In World Championship play, the USA has amassed a lifetime record of 106-10 (.914). The USA offense has outscored its opponents collectively 650-45. Out of the 106 wins, 88 have been by shutout.
The USA’s introduction to international play came at the 1965 World Championships in Melbourne, Australia. Ironically, the USA lost the first game it ever played 1-0 to home team Australia. Despite the early loss, the USA rallied to earn a rematch against the Aussies in the title game. In the final game, USA’s 18-year old pitcher Donna Lopiano battled valiantly for six innings before delivering a wild pitch that sailed over her catcher’s head and scored what turned out to be the winning run.
In 1970 in Osaka, Japan, the World Championship field doubled to ten teams. An error in the final game again proved costly for the USA as they dropped a 1-0 heartbreaker to host team Japan.
USA pitcher Nancy Welborn had been outstanding throughout, setting world records for most wins (6) and most innings pitched (50). Ironically, the person most responsible for getting the team to the finals also gave up the winning run on an errant throw to first.
The first two World Championships curiously were won by the host nation and the 1974 championships were no different. This time, however, the tournament was held on USA soil.
The USA was untouchable, posting nine consecutive shutouts and outscoring its opponents 75-0. USA pitcher Joan Joyce set records for most strikeouts (76); lowest ERA (0.00); consecutive scoreless innings (36); most no-hit, no-run games (3) and most perfect games (2). The team’s batting average was .356 and featured five .400 plus performances.
In 1978, USA pitchers Kathy Arendsen and Barbara Reinalda were dominating, winning eight of nine games by shutout.
The program’s only non-medal performance came in 1982 in Chinese Taipei. Despite a 6-0 romp through the round robin, the USA dropped two games to Chinese Taipei and a final game 1-0 loss to Australia.
The team’s excursion into a local cuisine proved costly as most of the team spent the final days shuffling between the field and stadium facilities.
By 1986, the dominance was in full force and the USA has since strung together six World Championship gold medals in-a-row in Auckland, New Zealand, Normal, IL, St. John’s, New Foundland, Canada, Fujinomiya, Japan, Saskatoon, Canada and Beijing, China to make its ascension to the top spot in international softball complete.
In 1998, the USA continued its dominance in World Championship play by capturing its fourth consecutive World title and the top seed for the 2000 Games.
At the 2002 ISF Women’s World Championships in Saskatoon, Canada, the U.S. served notice that it was the team to beat at the 2004 Olympics after capturing its fifth consecutive World Championship and its seventh overall. The U.S. defeated Japan 1-0 in the gold medal game to win the championship and also secure the top seed at the upcoming Olympics. With the win the USA improved to 11-1 overall against Japan in World Championship competition. Lisa Fernandez pitched a three hit shutout to pick up her 12th career win in World Championship competition which is a U.S. record.
For the third consecutive time the USA Softball Women’s National Team captured the top seed entering the Olympic Games after winning the 2006 ISF Women’s World Championship in Beijing, China. It was the sixth consecutive gold medal in World Championship competition and repositioned the Red, White and Blue as the most dominate team in the World.
Although the U.S. suffered its first loss since the 1998 World Championships at the 2006 World Championships, their performance was still dominating. The U.S. cruised to a 10-1 record while outscoring their opponents 71-7 in 11 games. The win at the 2006 World Championships secures the top seed at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.
