Just 15 games to determine who plays for the gold.
Unlike Olympic softball tourneys in the past, this go-around is a bit different: With just six teams involved in the 2021 Olympic softball field, some changes had to be made to the format, and they're simple — and welcome — changes.
So instead of round-robin play and then a playoff, there is a single round-robin tournament that will ultimately decide the order of the seeds, with the top two teams vying for gold on July 27. Easy, peasy.
Here's how the standings shake out entering the first round of games on July 20:
MORE: What you need to know about Olympic softball in 2021
Olympic softball standings
Olympic softball standings work like a normal baseball or softball season: Each team will play each other once, with the top two squads advancing to the gold-medal game. The third- and fourth-place teams land in the bronze medal game.
| Place | Team | Games played | Wins | Losses | Runs for | Runs against | Run differential |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japan | 4 | 4 | 0 | 17 | 3 | +14 |
| 2 | United States | 4 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 1 | +6 |
| 3 | Canada | 4 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 3 | +8 |
| 4 | Mexico | 4 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 9 | -2 |
| 5 | Australia | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 17 | -13 |
| 6 | Italy | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 13 | -13 |
Last updated: July 25
Olympic softball tournament schedule, results
There isn't a traditional bracket in the 2021 softball tournament as there would be in single- or double-elimination tournaments. This year, it's a single round-robin format, with every team playing each other once, marking a departure from eight-team group play in prior Olympics.
That format makes for 15 games total, before the bronze- and gold-medal games on July 27:
Tuesday, July 20
| Matchup | TV channel | Time (ET) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia at Japan | NBC Sports | 8 p.m. | Japan 8, Australia 1 |
| Italy at USA | NBC Sports | 11 p.m. | USA 2, Italy 0 |
Wednesday, July 21
| Matchup | TV channel | Time (ET) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico at Canada | NBC Sports, CBC | 2 a.m. | Canada 4, Mexico 0 |
| USA at Canada | NBC Sports, CBC | 8 p.m. | USA 1, Canada 0 |
| Mexico at Japan | NBC Sports | 11 p.m. | Japan 3, Mexico 2 |
Thursday, July 22
| Matchup | TV channel | Time (ET) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italy at Australia | NBC Sports | 2 a.m. | Australia 1, Italy 0 |
Friday, July 23
| Matchup | TV channel | Time (ET) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia at Canada | NBC Sports | 9 p.m. | Canada 7, Australia 1 |
Saturday, July 24
| Matchup | TV channel | Time (ET) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA at Mexico | NBC Sports | 1:30 a.m. | USA 2, Mexico 0 |
| Japan at Italy | NBC Sports | 7 a.m. | Japan 5, Italy 0 |
| 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 |