Softball Makes a Strong Case for Future Olympics

Softball has made a strong case for its continued inclusion in the Olympic Games, highlighted by its confirmed return for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics after being omitted from the 2024 Paris Games. Its inclusion in the 2028 Olympics is attributed to its popularity in the United States, according to USA Today. 

Softball’s appeal is underpinned by several factors:

• Global Reach and Participation: The sport is governed by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), which has 211 National Federation and Associate Members in 139 countries and territories. Approximately 65 million people play baseball and softball across over 140 countries and territories. Softball participation has grown significantly in the US, with over 8.6 million participants in 2023.
• Strong Viewership and Attendance: The Women’s College World Series (WCWS) has set records for viewership and attendance, with the 2025 WCWS averaging 1.3 million viewers and Game 3 drawing 2.4 million viewers, ESPN’s most-watched NCAA softball game ever. The 2025 WCWS also recorded the most attendees ever with 119,778 fans at Oklahoma City’s Devon Field, the site for the 2028 Olympic softball competition.
• Historical Olympic Presence and Success: Softball was introduced as an Olympic sport in 1996 and was on the program until 2008, and again in 2020 (held in 2021). 

Gender Equity and Development: Softball’s inclusion aligns with the Olympic movement’s goals of gender equity, as it is a prominent women’s team sport. Organizations like Little League Softball work to grow the game at the grassroots level, particularly among girls aged 4 to 16, according to Little League Softball. 

Australia is preparing to host the 2027 Women’s Softball World Cup finals, which will serve as a qualifying event for the 2028 Olympics and is seen as a stepping stone towards getting the sport included in the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games. Softball Australia is actively campaigning for its inclusion, emphasizing its global appeal and its history of generating significant interest.