01 April 2026
Women's Preview: Western Australia a legitimate shot at Gold in both the Women's and Youth Women's division
The Australian Women’s and Youth Women’s Championships begin April 12.
Eric Balnar is previewing both teams ahead of the tournament.
Follow along the action, read all previews, and grab the schedule at www.baseball.com.au/awc2026.
Here is your guide to Western Australia.
WOMEN’S PREVIEW: Western Australia going for gold
Western Australia enter the 2026 Australian Women’s Championship as one of the most complete teams in the field, building off a bronze medal finish last year and adding a wave of high-end talent.
For those who haven’t followed the women’s game closely, this is a roster loaded with players who have already proven themselves on national and international stages.
There’s also four players who are signed to Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL) contracts.
It starts with Caitlin Eynon, one of the premier two-way players in the country. The 22-year-old claimed both the Golden Arm and a Golden Glove in 2025, showcasing her ability to dominate on the mound while also anchoring the infield at shortstop. Already capped with the Emeralds at the 2023 World Cup and selected in the WPBL draft, Eynon is entering what looks like the peak of her career.
Alongside her is Chloe Atkinson, who broke out in a big way last year. Atkinson took home the Golden Bat in 2025 with standout offensive production and has since been drafted into the WPBL. In 2025, Atkinson Chloe co-led the tournament with 16 hits. She hit .615 with a homer, 8 RBI, a tournament leading seven extra base hits, and an OPS of over 1.500.
“She has come off three straight monster national championships and is knocking down the door of national team selection,” head coach Kurt Russell said of Atkinson.
What may elevate this group even further is the return of key talent after some time away.
Elodie O’Sullivan is back in WA colours for the first time since the 2023 championship-winning side. Since then, she has spent two seasons playing professionally in Japan. O’Sullivan has World Cup experience as an Emerald.
Leah Cornish also returns to the national stage. After debuting for Team Australia as a 16-year-old in 2023, she steps back into the AWC environment with additional experience from playing in Canada. Cornish won the 2023 Golden Bat Award.
O’Sullivan and Cornish are both part of the WPBL draft class, pushing WA’s total to five players with professional opportunities.
“I think Leah Cornish is a rare talent. Couple that with her work ethic and you’ve got a combination you no doubt want in your team,” said Elodie O’Sullivan.
There is also a significant addition in Bianca Ramsey, who makes the move west after being a cornerstone of South Australia’s lineup in recent seasons. The outfielder is coming off two tournaments with huge batting numbers.
“This team is elite. We have a really good roster this year and are keen to show everyone what we have,” said Ramsey.
Depth continues throughout the roster.
Peyton Newman returns after time in Canada, while Madison White is one to watch after progressing from last year’s youth silver medal side into the open ranks.
“It’s Madison’s debut year for Women’s and she has been working very hard at training with her pitching and other roles and has been a great teammate. I am excited to see her perform,” pitcher Ava Tyson said.
On the pitching side, WA will lean on a mix of experience and volume. Meghan Haggart, a member of the 2023 Emeralds, is likely to lead the staff, while Tyson enters her third championship ready to take on more responsibility in key innings.
“I have been working on the efficiency of my pitching… I have been seeing results with multiple games having a low pitch count for the innings thrown,” Tyson said.
That flexibility is important because this is not a staff built around one arm.
“We have pitching depth,” said Russell. “We are showing up with 13 available arms. We will have the ability to offer a variety of looks at the opposition.”
If there is one clear identity for this WA side, it is offence.
“Offence, this team bangs. Will be a very exciting team to follow because this offence will do damage,” Russell said.
That confidence is shared within the group.
“Our team isn’t just confined to one strength, we are strong over all categories,” White said.
Defensively, they may be just as strong. With versatility across the roster and players comfortable in multiple roles, WA have the ability to adjust on the fly without losing structure.
“We have so many versatile people that can be thrown in the deep end and still perform,” Ramsey said.
There is also a clear sense of purpose.
“We had our rebuild phase and now we are coming for gold,” said Tyson.
Russell echoed that ambition.
“Gold Medal, we are not showing up to be happy with minor placings this year.”
If the pitching holds and the depth delivers across a full tournament, Western Australia have the tools to do exactly that.
YOUITH WOMEN’S PREVIEW: Can WA take the next step and become Golden?
Western Australia’s youth program has been building to this moment.
A bronze medal in 2024 was followed by a silver in 2025. Now, the question is simple. Can they take the final step?
There is turnover in this group, with several key contributors from last year’s silver medal side moving on, but the foundation remains strong.
Losses include star players Maddison White and Shenaye Lett, but head coach Gus Golding isn’t focused on what is no longer here.
“While we’ve lost some experienced and powerful players from the 2025 roster who are difficult to replace like for like, the girls coming into the team bring a range of exciting strengths,” said Gus Golding.
Rather than trying to replicate last year’s roster, WA have leaned into a slightly different look.
“As a coaching group we’ve looked closely at the makeup of the squad and made some adjustments to how we play to better suit the new dynamic,” he said.
Even with those changes, there is still top-end talent leading the group.
Jemma Golding enters her final year of eligibility as one of the most electric players in the competition. After two standout campaigns at AYWC level, she remains a central figure in WA’s lineup and one of the most impactful players in the tournament.
She is not alone.
Jemma Golding and Lilly Duckworth have already taken important steps into the open women’s environment, competing in the WA Women’s Elite Series alongside established national players.
“To step into that environment at their age and more than hold their own should give them a lot of confidence in their capabilities,” Golding said.
One of the most intriguing additions is Summer Hiscock, who will make her AYWC debut. Baseball Australia followers may already know her name after dominant performances with the Central Firebirds at the 2024 Little League Championships and 2025 Intermediate League Championships.
Golding did not hesitate when discussing her potential.
“She’s actually a year younger again but presents as a textbook baseballer. Her fundamentals, game awareness and work ethic are outstanding,” he said of Hiscock.
WA’s strength, however, may not sit with one or two names.
“It gets rolled out all the time but I truly think our strength is the evenness of our group. In this tournament format, depth is everything,” said the senior Golding.
That depth has been evident throughout the selection process and into the preparation phase, where competition for spots was fierce.
“The competition for spots was incredibly tight and in the end it came down to heart, who wanted it more,” Golding said.
Players like Isla Kalebic and Sienna Seiler are examples of that internal competition driving improvement. Both forced their way into the squad through strong trial performances, with Kalebic in particular standing out for how she responded to feedback and raised her level over the past 12 months.
Preparation has been deliberate.
WA have come through a 10-week training block leading into the tournament, focusing less on basic repetition and more on cohesion, clarity of roles, and game-speed execution.
“By the time we get to the tournament the plan is everyone really clear on how they contribute to the team’s success,” Golding said.
That clarity has translated into a connected group.
“Connected. The girls have a blast at training… we’ve seen that camaraderie reach a new level over the last few weeks,” said Gus Golding.
And on the field, communication has taken a clear step forward.
“Everyone is now confident to direct plays and back each other up,” he said.
There is also an understanding of the challenge ahead.
“At AYWC, the landscape shifts significantly every twelve months… there is always an element of the unknown at this competition,” Golding said.
Still, the goal remains clear.
“Our primary goal is to build on foundation of the last few years and go one better.”
If the depth performs, and the new pieces integrate quickly, Western Australia have every chance to turn steady progression into a championship.
READ MORE PREVIEWS VIA OUR TOURNAMENT HUB: www.baseball.com.au/awc2026.
