The 2021 Little League World Series (August 19-29) in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, was a unique 74th edition, as it was restricted to US-based teams only due to the COVID-19 pandemic—the first time since 1975 that no international squads competed. Taylor North Little League of Taylor, Michigan, emerged victorious, defeating West Side Little League of Hamilton, Ohio, 5-2 in the championship, securing Michigan's first title since 1959. Because of the Delta variant, tickets were not sold to the public, with only invited friends, family, and supporters allowed, and the event notably featured Ella Bruning of Abilene, Texas, as one of the few girls to ever play in the series. The final was a rematch of the Great Lakes regional, and Michigan finished with a stellar 16-1 record, their sole loss coming to Hawaii in the double-elimination bracket. The accompanying MLB Little League Classic on August 22 saw the Cleveland Indians beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-0, marking the first time that game featured two American League teams.