Suffolk woman to represent Team GB at historic Women's Baseball World Cup qualifiers
The women's team prepares for its first-ever World Cup campaign
An Ipswich librarian has been selected to represent Great Britain at the Women's Baseball World Cup qualifiers in Taiwan next month.
Oona Ylinen, a Learning and Teaching Librarian at the University of Suffolk, is among 20 players chosen for Team GB's squad as the women's side prepares to compete in the tournament for the first time in its history.
The qualifiers, which begin on 23 August, will see Great Britain face Venezuela, Japan, Cuba, the Philippines and hosts Chinese Taipei over five days, with the top three teams progressing to the 2027 Women's Baseball World Cup finals.
Speaking to us, Oona described receiving the email confirming her place in the squad as "surreal" after months of training and a lengthy selection process.
"It's just relief. It's kind of like feeling seen. You've worked so hard for this last year and seeing it culminate and be worth it... they've deemed it enough and they want you there and you have a role to play in the team."
She added:
"There's not going to be another first World Cup for us. It's just exhilarating."
A five-year journey
The women's national baseball team was established just five years ago, with around 45 players initially competing for places before the final 20-player squad was selected.
Oona helped Great Britain win its first-ever European Championship gold medal last summer and says reaching the World Cup qualifiers is another significant milestone for the team.
Despite the achievement, she admits the squad is entering unknown territory.
"Nobody in the team has ever played in a World Cup before. GB Women have never sent a team to a World Cup before, so we have no idea what the level is going to be like, what the atmosphere is going to be like, what the heat is going to be like."
An accidental introduction
Originally from Finland, Oona first discovered baseball while studying at the University of East Anglia after agreeing to accompany a half-American housemate to a local training session.
She intended to attend for just a few weeks.
Instead, she has now been playing for nearly 11 years.
"I turned up, and it was just a beautiful sunny day. You get to throw a ball as hard as you can and hit things as hard as you can.
"There's always something new to learn... you're never done."
Away from international competition, Oona plays for Essex Archers while balancing regular training sessions, strength work and cardio alongside her full-time role at the University of Suffolk.
Growing baseball in Suffolk
Oona hopes her selection can encourage more women and girls to take up baseball, saying participation has grown considerably since she first started playing.
She recalled a time when she knew almost every female baseball player in the country.
"Now you start a game and there's usually at least one girl, sometimes two or three girls on a team.
"There's more girls that are coming through. We have a development team now as well. It'd be really nice to see it just be a bit bigger."
She has also been in discussions with Ipswich Borough Council about introducing more opportunities for young people to try baseball locally, including school sessions and junior coaching programmes, although those conversations are currently on hold while she prepares for the World Cup.
"Go and have fun"
As preparations continue for Taiwan, Oona hopes her story will inspire others—particularly women and girls, to return to sport.
"If you're enjoying a sport and you want to play it, play it.
"Don't care about what other people think or what other people say about you... go and have fun."
The team flies to Taiwan in mid-August ahead of the tournament, with Great Britain aiming to qualify for the Women's Baseball World Cup finals for the first times