ESPN to showcase World Cup of Softball

US sports broadcaster ESPN has sealed a rights deal with USA Softball to show coverage of the annual World Cup of Softball.

The length of the multi-year deal was not disclosed.

The tournament features Team USA and rival national teams.

The agreement will start with this year’s event, which will run from July 5-9 at USA Softball’s Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City in the US.

The 2017 World Cup of Softball is the first major international event for women’s national teams since the announcement of the sport’s return to the summer Olympic Games.