Monday night's USA vs Japan softball final belonged to Montana Fouts. The Team USA ace shut out Japan 2-0 at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, coming within three outs of perfection to clinch the 2026 USA Softball International Cup title.
Fouts was untouchable through six full innings, setting down 18 straight batters before a leadoff single in the seventh spoiled her perfect-game bid.
By then, however, it didn't matter. She racked up seven strikeouts across 88 pitches as the US defense held firm behind her, including a full-extension grab by Skylar Wallace in right field in the first.
The offense, meanwhile, provided just enough.
Montana Fouts & Maya Brady Shine in Softball International Cup Final
Jayda Coleman singled and scored in the second inning for the early 1-0 lead. Then in the fifth, Janae Jefferson ripped a double against reliever Yukiko Ueno. Finally, Maya Brady drove her in with a base hit up the middle to make it 2-0.
Japan starter Miu Goto held the US to one run across her four innings before 44-year-old Ueno entered in relief. Neither pitcher could keep the US lineup quiet long enough for Japan's bats to catch up.
The US reclaimed the upper hand in the global softball rivalry, and Fouts was the reason why. Fresh off pitching the Utah Talons to an AUSL title, she delivered again when it mattered most.
