Australia women's national baseball team
Australia's top women's baseball team, ranked 3rd globally.
The Australian women’s national baseball team, known as the Emeralds, represents the country in international women’s baseball. It is run by the Australian Baseball Federation, a member of the Baseball Confederation of Oceania (BCO). Australia is the only nation in Oceania with a formal ranking from the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) and sits third in the world among women’s baseball teams. The squad was first assembled in 2001, drawn from that year’s National Women’s Championships in Sydney. The Emeralds take part in the IBAF Women’s Baseball World Cup, held every two years.
They have appeared in all eight editions of the Women’s Baseball World Cup, with their most recent finish being seventh place in 2018. The next scheduled tournament was the 2020 Women’s Baseball World Cup.
The IBAF introduced a ranking system in August 2009 to compare nations in international competition. Points are awarded based on final positions in World Cup tournaments, using results from the previous three events. Points are weighted so that more recent tournaments carry greater influence, and older results drop off over time.
Australia is one of five nations to have competed in every Women’s Baseball World Cup. Their best result came in 2010, when they finished second. Before that, they placed fourth in each of the earlier tournaments, with medals going to Canada, Japan, and the United States. At least one Australian player has been selected for the All-Star team at every World Cup: Chelsea Forkin and Katie Gaynor (2004), Simone Wearne, Shae Lillywhite, and Amy McCann (2006), Angela Catford (2008), Laura Neads, Christina Kreppold, and Kim McMillan (2010), and Tahnee Lovering and Tammy McMillan (2016).
- nationality
- Australia
- nickname
- Emeralds
- governing_body
- Australian Baseball Federation
- world_ranking
- 3rd ranked women's baseball team in the world
- first_squad_selected
- 2001
- best_world_cup_result
- 2nd place (2010)
- participated_in_all_world_cups
- Yes (all eight as of 2018)
Lore & Background
The Emeralds were formed in 2001, drawing the first squad from the National Women’s Championships held in Sydney that year. They are the only team from Oceania ranked by the IBAF and have competed in every Women's Baseball World Cup since the tournament's inception. Their best finish came in 2010, when they placed 2nd. The team has also had players named to All-Star teams at multiple World Cups, including Chelsea Forkin, Katie Gaynor, Simone Wearne, Shae Lillywhite, Amy McCann, Angela Catford, Laura Neads, Christina Kreppold, Kim McMillan, Tahnee Lovering, and Tammy McMillan.
Reader's Guide
The Australian women's national baseball team, the Emeralds, have been a consistent presence in international women's baseball since 2001. As the only ranked team from Oceania, they represent the region in global competition. Their participation in all eight Women's Baseball World Cups through 2018 demonstrates their sustained commitment to the sport. The team's highest achievement was a silver medal in 2010, and they have regularly contributed players to World Cup All-Star teams. The 2020 World Cup was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with no roster named. The Emeralds' existence and performance have helped raise the profile of women's baseball in Australia and Oceania.
Did You Know?
- The Emeralds are the only team in Oceania formally ranked by the International Baseball Federation.
- The team's best World Cup result was 2nd place in 2010.
- At least one Australian has been named to the All-Star team at every Women's Baseball World Cup through 2016.
- The 2020 Women's Baseball World Cup was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with no roster named.
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