Softball

Softball made its Olympic debut when the U.S. last hosted the summer Games at Atlanta 1996, and in 2028, it will return to the Olympic lineup after its most recent appearance at Tokyo 2020. A widely popular sport in the U.S., the country's Softball capital, Oklahoma City, will welcome the world's best Softball athletes in 2028. Played between two teams of nine, this bat-and-ball sport is equal parts mental and physical. Over seven innings, teams alternate between batting and fielding with the goal of scoring runs by hitting a ball thrown underhand and running around four bases arranged in a diamond shape. The batting side must use lightning-fast reactions to connect the bat with balls thrown up to 75mph, while the fielding side counters with targeted throws and tightly coordinated field play. Each position is highly specialized, demanding elite skill and focus, as athletes work together during each inning to rack up runs or collect three outs. Softball is the female counterpart to Baseball in the Olympic Games and is played on a smaller field with a larger ball.