DURHAM, N.C. - USA Baseball announced on Friday the identification process for the Women's National Team that will compete in the 2018 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Women's Baseball World Cup in Viera, Florida.
The national team identification process will begin with the Women's National Open from June 8-10 at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina. In compliance with the international age determinate rule, the event is open to women who are 16 years of age or older by December 31, 2018.
"We are excited to be fielding a Women's National Team again in 2018 for the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup," said Ashley Bratcher, Senior Director of Baseball Operations at USA Baseball. "Since our last international event in 2016 we have been planning and preparing for 2018 by introducing new players to our program through our National Team Development Program and we are eager to begin the national team selection process with the Women's National Open in June."
The USA Baseball coaching staff will select 40 athletes from the Women's National Open to compete at the 2018 National Team Trials. Trials will take place immediately following the completion of the Women's National Open - from June 11-14 - at the National Training Complex.
The final roster will be announced on Monday, June 18.
The 2018 Women's National Team will train in Florida from August 11-15 before competing in the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup from August 17-26 at the USSSA Space Coast Complex in Viera, Florida.
"We are thrilled that the WBSC awarded the 2018 Women's Baseball World Cup to the United States," said Paul Seiler, Executive Director and CEO of USA Baseball. "We cannot wait to not only showcase women's baseball in our country, but also for our Women's National Team to compete for a gold medal on our home soil for the first time."
Team USA is a two-time World Champion in the women's discipline, winning the gold medal at the Women's Baseball World Cup in 2004 and 2006.
Registration for the 2018 Women's National Open is now open. Athletes can register for the event by clicking here or visiting the Women's National Team page at USABaseball.com.
For more information on the Women's National Team and the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup, follow @USABaseballWNT, @USABaseball and @WBSC on Twitter.