13 Years Later: Abbott Reignites Japan-USA Softball Rivalry

• Team USA is favored at -200 to win the softball event at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
• Team Japan has the second shortest odds at +200 and was the last country to win the event when it was in the Olympics in 2008.
• Monica Abbott, Team USA starting pitcher, was on the 2008 roster who lost to Japan and is looking to redeem the loss.

TOKYO – The Tokyo Summer Olympic Games softball event has an added dose of drama for sports betting fans.

Team USA, led by star pitcher Monica Abbott, lost the gold to Team Japan in 2008, the last time softball was an Olympic event. Team USA is currently favored to redeem themselves by those betting on the Olympic Games.

This is a major rivalry as Team USA and Team Japan have met in the World Championship every year since 2002, with the USA having a 5-2 record over Japan. Team USA has won most recently at the 2018 World Championship.

Abbott Makes Team USA Heavy Favorites

Team USA is listed as big favorites at legal sports betting and Monica Abbott is a big reason for this.

Abbott competed in the 2008 Olympic Games where the USA lost to Japan in the finals 1-3. Since then Abbott has led the Red Terriers in the Japan Softball League to 6 consecutive championship seasons and is a 5 time MVP winner.

Additionally, Abbott is a 5-time National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) MVP, has 4 World Cup of Softball championships, 3 Canada Cup titles, and was the starting pitcher during the 2018 World Championship where Team USA beat Japan.

Still, this is the last time the teams have played one another.

Abbott led the USA to a 7-0 record for their qualifiers, the best record in Group A. With Abbott at the helm, it is no surprise that sportsbooks reflect Team USA as heavily favored to win their first game of the Olympics against Team Italy.

Team USA and Abbott may be leagues ahead of the competition, but that does not mean they can simply ignore their rival in Japan.

Japan, Team USA’s Biggest Threat

Team Japan will be led by Yukiko Ueno as the starting pitcher. Ueno was the pitcher who led the 2008 Japan team to the gold medal at the Summer Olympic Games, the only time Team USA had ever lost the softball event.

“People will have very high expectations for Japan so there will be tremendous pressure on us,” said Ueno “My determination hasn’t changed a bit. I’m ready.”

Japan finished its qualifiers with a 7-0 record as well, giving them the best record in Group B. Sportsbooks have this as a two-horse race between the rival countries.

What Team Japan also has working in their favor is the setting, as players do not need to travel far to compete in this Olympics.

While home field is not in their favor due to the lack of fans in the stands, the comfortability of playing in your home country will surely give them an edge. Like the USA, Japan is heavily favored to win their first game of the Olympics.

Due to the Olympic Softball structure running a point system with each team playing each team, this will likely end with both Team USA and Team Japan playing one another twice including the finals. According to sportsbooks, the USA will be able to redeem itself then.

The Olympic Games Softball events kick off at 8 pm EST on Tuesday.

News tags: Ali Aguilar | Cat Osterman | Monica Abbott | Summer Olympic Games | Team Japan | Team USA | Tokyo | Tokyo Olympics | Valerie Arioto | Yukiko Ueno