What's happened
Nevada’s Paseo Verde Little League falls short of the U.S. title in a 4-2 loss to Curaçao, as Curaçao dominates the international final, sweeping Japan 4-0 to claim the Little League World Series crown. Carsynn Meyer makes history as the first girl to record an RBI in the U.S. Championship game.
What's behind the headline?
- The final paired a U.S. runner-up with the international champion, highlighting Curaçao’s pitching strength and disciplined offense. - Nevada’s campaign included milestone moments like Carsynn Meyer’s RBI, signaling growing gender progress in youth sports, and the team’s sustained program strength despite the loss. - The outcome reinforces Curaçao’s postseason dominance, having gone unbeaten in the double-elimination format and overcoming an early deficit to seal the title. - This set of results could influence how youth baseball programs scout and develop players in the Mountain Region and beyond, with Nevada seeking to sustain competitive pipelines.
How we got here
Paseo Verde’s Henderson, Nev., team advanced to the LLWS final after the 2026 season’s back-to-back Nevada finalist run; Curaçao’s Willemstad squad has won multiple international titles in recent years and defeated Nevada to win the championship.
Our analysis
AP News coverage from Aug. 29-31, 2026, detailing Nevada and Curaçao’s LLWS runs, including Meyer’s RBI in the U.S. Championship and Martina's no-hitter in the international final.
Go deeper
- Will Nevada build on this experience to sustain a top youth program in the Mountain Region?
- What does Carsynn Meyer’s performance mean for girls in youth baseball going forward?
- How is Curaçao leveraging its LLWS success to grow talent for the international stage?
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