This post was updated July 14 at 9:57 p.m.

The imminent arrival of the 2024 Paris Olympics seems to have cast a shadow over other premier sporting events.

While softball will be absent in Paris, elite international softball competitions are still being held around the world. The U.S. Women’s Elite Team – ranked No. 1 in the world – traveled to No. 2 Japan for the 2024 Japan All-Star Series, falling in each of its three contests against the host team.

In the three-game series held across three different Japanese cities from July 4 to 8, fans across continents bore witness to global softball superstars.

For the U.S., this includes rising junior utility Megan Grant.

“Every time you just get to wear the three letters across your chest, it’s always more than just yourself,” Grant said. “I didn’t even think playing for the national team was going to be a part of my story when I first started playing softball. I’m grateful, and I’m just so blessed.”

The U.S. Women’s Elite Team fell 1-0 in the first game of the series in Nagoya. Pitcher Kelly Maxwell pitched into the seventh inning and picked up 11 strikeouts, but her efforts were not enough as two singles and a defensive miscue led to a walk-off win for Japan.

The U.S. fell 9-5 in Fujinomiya and 8-1 in Yokohama, coming up short in games two and three, respectively.

Despite the USA knocking 10 hits including 14 total bases, Japan tore a fourth-inning 5-5 tie with four runs in the last three innings of game two, pushing the hosts to victory.

The familiarity and chemistry among Japan’s roster – something that was fortified during Japan’s victory in the 2023 Women’s Softball Asia Cup – may have given it the edge in its three-game sweep of a U.S. roster yet to find its synergy.

“They have been together for a lot longer than we have,” Grant said. “A lot of us have just met each other, and so we’re still getting acclimated and everything.”

Although the Americans failed to take home a win in the series, the squad learned from a blend of different coaches and players. Grant said players acted as sponges in the team’s first international outing.

“Getting to know these players as people and knowing all the different personalities – it’s a plus part of USA softball,” Grant said. “I’m so appreciative of every single girl here. It’s a good type of different.”

The San Bruno, California, local contributed two walks, one hit and one RBI throughout the three-game series against Japan.

While performing well and winning often takes precedence, Grant said cultivating enthusiasm for the game is imperative to increasing its visibility and support before softball’s return in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“We do what we do for the growth of softball, and it’s just not going to be about me, but it’s going to be about the future of softball,” Grant said. “We’re always looking to grow, and I think internationally is a great way to have the game grow.”