Baseball NSW congratulates our newly named New South Wales players to Team Australia who will play the 2026 Women’s Baseball World Cup!
Also named the Emeralds, the women’s national team will compete in Pool A of the tournament in Rockford, Illinois, from 22-27 July 2026.
The 20-player roster was announced by manager Jason Pospishil and the High Performance arm of Baseball Australia off the heels of the recently concluded Women’s National Championships, where our NSW women’s and youth women’s both bagged bronze medals.
Our NSW Emeralds for 2026 are:
Maddi Erwin
Ticara Geldenhuis
Maddi Heath
Mackenzie Jackson
Claire O’Sullivan
The team will compete against baseball powerhouses and emerging nations in Pool A. The Australians will play the World No. 2 USA, No. 6 Mexico, No. 8 Hong Kong, China, No. 12 Korea, as well as the winner of a playoff series between Canada and Puerto Rico.
Speaking to Baseball Australia, head coach Jason Pospishil said, “We have such a high percentage of quality two-way players, we need as much defensive versatility as possible. One of our foundations is being able to throw two pitches for strikes in any count. There was a big emphasis on pitchers who were able to do that.”
Pospishil also mentioned needing a “tournament style baseball-centred team.” He added, “We picked 20 players who we think fit into this team and give us as many good options as possible for the environment we’re about to play in.”
Moreover, their fourth-place finish in the 2023 tournament influenced the team’s roster makeup. The women’s team committed six errors in two close and costly losses, which cost them the chance to play in the finals.
Likewise, the recently concluded Australian Women’s Championships (AWC) influenced roster decisions.
“The AWC put some players in contention and allowed players to make this team that may not have been as firmly on the radar before,” Pospishil said to Baseball Australia. “What the AWC showed us is there are parts of each individual game they can work on for the next eight-to-10 weeks. We were studious on looking at players and how their skill sets measure up with the Team Australia foundations.”
As the women’s national team comes together, the expectations become grander. Team Australia is looking to win a medal at the WBC for the first time since 2014.
Prior to the tournament, the team will fly to the USA for a five-day training camp. They will practice, acclimate themselves to a new time zone, and play exhibition games. Between today and their departure, the players will each work out with their Performance Pathways Programs.
Congratulations to our Emeralds and we wish you all the best as you prepare to face off against the world’s best players!
Graphics from Baseball Australia