Montana Fouts ripped her mask off, pounded her chest and screamed in jubilation. As Fouts jumped up-and-down after getting a strike-three call, the United States clinched a 2-0 gold medal win over Japan during the Softball International Cup on Monday night at Devon Park in Oklahoma City.
The near-perfect game from Fouts capped a historic three-week stretch that softball has never seen.
Before stepping into the circle for the Red, White and Blue at the International Cup, Fouts had helped lead the Utah Talons to a second-straight Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) title.
The Kentucky native was named the 2026 AUSL Pitcher of the Year, setting a single-season league record with 63 strikeouts across 61.1 innings pitched. She posted a 7-4 record with a 2.36 ERA.
For Team USA, Fouts was dominant and was named the Most Valuable Pitcher after going 2-0, scattering just one run and two hits across 11.0 innings. She struck out 16 and walked one.
“She had her rhythm, she was very focused, nothing got her rattled, nothing took her off course,” Team USA head coach Patty Gasso said after the gold medal game. “It was outstanding. Out-standing.”
The game between Team USA and Japan was another classic in their storied history. It also gave fans a sneak peek of what could come when softball returns to the Olympic stage in 2028.
Outfielder Maya Brady, who was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, said Team USA treated this tournament as a “dress rehearsal” for the 2028 Olympics, which will be played in Oklahoma City.
If carrying a perfect game into the seventh inning is a dress rehearsal, Gasso might as well name Fouts to the Olympic roster.
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The right-hander understands the task ahead and knows just how special it is to wear USA across her chest.
“I’ve had my heart broken here before, I’ve had really awesome moments in this park, and just to have another opportunity to wear USA across my chest, I’m not gonna let how I feel about [my] performances dictate what I give to [my teammates],” Fouts said.
Up next for Team USA is the Group Stage of the World Cup, which will be played Sept. 12-16 at Devon Park. The United States has already qualified for the Olympics as the host nation but would love to win the World Cup. The top two teams from Oklahoma City will play in the championship round, which is hosted by Australia in 2027.
Joining the United States in Oklahoma City will be the Netherlands, Mexico, China, New Zealand and Brazil, which is replacing South Africa, in the Group Stage.
Team USA WBSC World Cup Group Stage roster
- Maya Brady – OF
- Alyssa Brito – UTL
- Erin Coffel – INF
- Jayda Coleman – OF
- Montana Fouts – RHP
- Rachel Garcia – RHP
- Megan Grant – UTL
- Janae Jefferson – INF
- Tiare Jennings – INF
- Lexi Kilfoyl – RHP
- Kayla Kowalik – C/OF
- Aubrey Leach – UTL
- Kelly Maxwell – LHP
- Dejah Mulipola – C
- Karlyn Pickens – RHP
- Skylar Wallace – INF
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