USA softball schedule: How to watch every 2021 Olympic team game from Tokyo

It’s been a long, long wait for Team USA softball.

After not being included in the last two Olympics, softball makes its triumphant, welcome return to sport’s biggest stage at the 2021 Tokyo Games.

While it’s been a bit of time away, Team USA looks to continue its dominance over the rest of the globe in the sport: With three gold medals and one silver, Team USA has landed on the top two steps of the podium in every Olympic games during which softball has been played.

This go-round could prove more of the same. While the U.S. is boasting nearly an entirely new roster, there are three names to keep an eye on: Haylie McCleney, Monica Abbott and Cat Osterman.

On the field, the U.S. is going to rely on McCleney’s bat to help power them through the tourney. Off it, the team will rely on Abbott and Osterman to provide a bit of veteran leadership, as they’re the only two members on Team USA remaining from that 2008 silver medal team.

The women go for gold — and global domination — once again. Here’s how you can watch:

MORE: Watch Olympic softball games live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)

How to watch USA Olympic softball

  • TV channel: NBC Sports
  • Live streams: Peacock, NBCOlympics.com, fuboTV

Most Team USA softball games will be broadcast on NBC Sports. You will also be able to stream games live on the NBC Sports app and Peacock.

Here’s when Team USA will take the diamond in the 2021 Olympics:

Date Matchup TV channel Start time (ET) Final
Tuesday, July 20 Italy vs. USA NBC Sports 11 p.m. TBD
Wednesday, July 21 USA at Canada NBC Sports 8 p.m. TBD
Saturday, July 24 USA at Mexico NBC Sports 1:30 a.m. TBD
Saturday, July 24 Australia vs. USA NBC Sports 9 p.m. TBD
Sunday, July 25 Japan vs. USA NBC Sports 9 p.m. TBD
Tuesday, July 27* Bronze medal game NBC Sports Midnight TBD
Tuesday, July 27* Gold medal game NBC Sports 7 a.m. TBD

MORE: Explaining the Olympic softball tournament

USA softball roster

Team USA returns just two players from the 2008 silver-medal winning squad: veterans Monica Abbott and Cat Osterman. Osterman is the only remaining member from the 2004 gold-medal winning squad in Athens. 

Here’s the squad that will be taking the field in Tokyo.

Player Position Olympic experience
Monica Abbott Pitcher 2008 (Silver)
Ali Aguilar Infielder N/A
Valerie Arioto Infielder N/A
Ally Carda Pitcher/Infielder N/A
Amanda Chidester Catcher N/A
Rachel Garcia Pitcher/Infield N/A
Haylie McCleney Outfielder N/A
Michelle Moultrie Outfielder N/A
Dejah Mulipola Catcher N/A
Aubree Munroe Catcher N/A
Bubba Nickles Utility N/A
Cat Osterman Pitcher 2004 (Gold), 2008 (Silver)
Janie Reed Outfielder N/A
Delaney Spaulding Infielder N/A
Kelsey Stewart Utility N/A

How does the Olympic softball tournament work?

Qualifying

In all, there are six teams which qualified for the 2021 Olympics: Japan, the United States, Italy, Mexico, Canada and Australia. Here’s how they made it in:

 Japan was an auto-qualifier for being the host country.

 The United States won the 2018 Women’s Softball World Championship, earning a qualifying bid for the Olympics.

 At an Africa/Europe qualifying event in 2019, Italy won, allowing them a bid.

— At an Americas qualifying event in 2019, Canada and Mexico emerged, earning bids for the Olympics.

— In an Asia/Oceania qualifying tournament in 2019, Australia won, allowing them an appearance for the 2021 Olympics.

Tournament

The softball tournament is fairly simple: Each team will play each other in a single round-robin tournament for 15 games total.

The top two teams vying for the gold medal in the gold medal game on July 27. The bronze medal game between the third- and fourth-place teams precedes it on July 27.

Olympic softball schedule 2021

In all, there will be 15 games to determine the standings for the gold- and bronze-medal games at the 2021 Olympics. Here’s the complete schedule for the tournament:

Tuesday, July 20

Matchup TV channel Time (ET) Result
Australia at Japan NBC Sports 8 p.m. TBD
Italy at USA NBC Sports 11 p.m. TBD

Wednesday, July 21

Matchup TV channel Time (ET) Result
Mexico at Canada NBC Sports 2 a.m. TBD
USA at Canada NBC Sports 8 p.m. TBD
Mexico at Japan NBC Sports 11 p.m. TBD

Thursday, July 22

Matchup TV channel Time (ET) Result
Italy at Australia NBC Sports 2 a.m. TBD

Friday, July 23

Matchup TV channel Time (ET) Result
Australia at Canada NBC Sports 9 p.m. TBD

Saturday, July 24

Matchup TV channel Time (ET) Result
USA at Mexico NBC Sports 1:30 a.m. TBD
Japan at Italy NBC Sports 7 a.m. TBD
Australia at USA NBC Sports 9 p.m. TBD

Sunday, July 25

Matchup TV channel Time (ET) Result
Canada at Japan NBC Sports 1:30 a.m. TBD
Italy at Mexico NBC Sports 7 a.m. TBD
Japan at USA NBC 9 p.m.  TBD

Monday, July 26

Matchup TV channel Time (ET) Result
Canada at Italy NBC Sports 1:30 a.m. TBD
Mexico at Australia NBC Sports 7 a.m. TBD

Tuesday, July 27

Matchup TV channel Time (ET) Result
Bronze Medal Game NBC Sports Midnight TBD
Gold Medal Game NBC Sports 7 a.m. TBD

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