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Women's Pro Baseball League

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Women's Pro Baseball League
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2026 Women's Pro Baseball League season
The letters "WPBL" written in red. Part of the "W" is constructed with a baseball bat, and two stars are placed above it.
ClassificationIndependent
SportWomen's baseball
First season2026
Owners
No. of teams4
CountryUnited States
Most recent
champion
Los Angeles Queens (1st title)
Most titlesLos Angeles Queens (1)
WebsiteOfficial website

The Women’s Pro Baseball League (WPBL) is an American professional women's baseball league. Co-founded by Justine Siegal and Keith Stein, the league began its first season on August 1, 2026 with four teams representing four cities across the United States: the Boston Hunters, New York Heights, Los Angeles Queens, and San Francisco Firebells. Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois, serves as a neutral venue for all games played during the inaugural season.[1]

The league was founded in 2024 with an aim to elevate the visibility and proliferation of women's baseball by establishing a path to professionalism for college and amateur players. It is the fifth American professional women's baseball league, after the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (1943–1954), National Girls Baseball League (1944–1954), International Girls Baseball League (1952–1953), and Ladies League Baseball (1997–1998). It has no association with Major League Baseball. Maybelle Blair, Cito Gaston, Digit Murphy, and Ayami Sato assisted in the league's initial development. The league's competitions, played during the summer, consist of a regular season and a postseason. Games last seven innings. Teams consist of 15–17 players and batters may use aluminum bats. The league broadcast its games on ESPN Select in the U.S. and YouTube internationally.

History

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The WPBL was co-founded in 2024 by former Major League Baseball (MLB) coach Justine Siegal and Keith Stein, owner of the Canadian Baseball League's Toronto Maple Leafs.[2][3] An advocate for gender equality in sports, Siegal previously founded Baseball for All, a nonprofit organization that promotes girls' participation in baseball.[4][5] The commercial success and stability of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) inspired Siegal and Stein to create a professional league for women's baseball,[3][4] and hired Japan national team pitcher Ayami Sato and former Toronto Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston as special advisers to help develop it.[3][6] The league's primary aim is to increase the visibility and proliferation of women's baseball by establishing a pathway to professionalism, as no high school or college in the U.S. offers girls' or women's baseball programs,[7] and while over 1,300 girls played on high school baseball teams in the 2023–24 academic year, only nine women played on NCAA college baseball teams in 2024.[8][9] The league also intends to capitalize on market research conducted by the MLB, which found that 46% of MLB fans were women, and 53% of women considered themselves MLB fans.[10] The league's startup costs were reportedly between $5–30 million.[11]

Interior of a baseball stadium
The WPBL's first tryouts were held at Nationals Park (pictured) in Washington, D.C., in August 2025.

The WPBL announced its establishment via a press release in October 2024.[12][13] Player registrations opened shortly afterwards, and within 24 hours, over 400 players from the U.S., Canada, Japan, and the United Kingdom registered their interest in playing in the league.[8][9] After a week, registrations grew to over 700 players.[13] The league's launch also cultivated significant public interest: a Hart Research poll conducted in April 2025 found interest in the WPBL (19%) to be on par with the WNBA (21%) and NCAA women's college basketball (21%).[14]

In August 2025, the league held tryouts at the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy and Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., to determine 130 eligible draftees.[15][16][17] Over 600 players registered to try out,[18][19] including Mo'ne Davis, whose return to baseball after five years attracted media attention.[19][20][21] The inaugural four teams of the WPBL were announced in late October,[22] and the first draft was conducted virtually in November 2025.[23] Kelsie Whitmore was the first draft pick; she was selected by the San Francisco Firebells. Davis was the tenth pick, selected by the Los Angeles Queens.[24] The draft was conducted centrally by the league's baseball operations department, with the future managers of the teams not involved in selecting players.[25]

In March 2026, the league held a two-day spring training camp in Fort Myers, Florida at JetBlue Park, the Boston Red Sox's spring training stadium. Players from each of the league's four teams played a seven-inning exhibition game.[26] The league also held preseason events in Brockton, Massachusetts, and Stockton, California.[27] The team names were announced as the Boston Hunters, Los Angeles Queens, New York Heights, and San Francisco Firebells on July 8.[28] The league began play on August 1.[29]

Organization and ownership

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The WPBL is owned by co-founders Justine Siegal and Keith Stein. Jeffrey Gardner is the league's director of baseball operations.Assia Grazioli-Venier served as the league's chair when it launched and is an investor.[30][31][25] The league has no association with Major League Baseball,[13] though MLB commissioner Rob Manfred provided a video message for the league's draft.[32][27] A seven-member advisory board deliberates with Siegal and Stein on league decisions. It initially consisted of Laura Gentile, Kate Childs Graham, Leslie Heaphy, Nona Lee, Digit Murphy, Ayami Sato, and Kat Williams.[33][34] In 2026, a lawsuit filed by a board member Mina Kim stated the league's board of directors consisted of Stein, Mark Prosterman, Andreas Kloppenborg, Tamara Holmes, and Kara Roll.[25][35]

Former Peoria Redwings pitcher Maybelle Blair also serves as its honorary chair.[33][34] U.S. national team captain Alex Hugo leads the league's player development and recruiting efforts.[36] Dave Stewart is also an advisor.[25]

The four teams in the league are centrally owned by the WPBL and have no separate front office staff, such as a general manager. Siegel said in August 2026 that as the league grows, it intends to allow ownership of individual franchises. She also said all players are signed to one-season contracts and that the league is planning to hold another season in the future.[25]

In July, board member Mina Kim sued the league to get access to some financial records. Her lawsuit also alleged potential financial discrepancies tied to Stein.[35]

Season and game format

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Competition in the WPBL consists of a regular season, starting in August,[37] followed by postseason playoffs that will determine the league's champion.[38][39] Each team will play two to three games a week, scheduled between Wednesdays and Sundays.[39] WPBL games are seven innings, and players have their choice of batting with wood, composite or aluminum bats.[40][41]

Teams

[edit]
Map
About OpenStreetMaps
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900km
559miles
Springfield
Springfield
San Francisco Firebells
San Francisco Firebells
New York Heights
New York Heights
Los Angeles Queens
Los Angeles Queens
Boston Hunters
Boston Hunters
Teams
2026 host city

The WPBL commenced play in 2026 with four teams based in Boston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco.[15][22] The league has planned an expansion to six[42] or eight[8] clubs. The league's 2026 season is held at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois.[1][43] Teams have a $95,000 salary cap.[44][45]

Players earn $300–$500 per game[27] and are provided with accommodation, meals on game days, and a share of revenue from sponsors atop their regular salary, which is expected to be "comparable" to those in minor leagues.[38][36][45] Teams have a 15-player active roster with two inactive players.[25] Approximately half of the players drafted were not offered contracts with the teams, and some players said they received little communication from the league following the draft.[27]

Team City Manager Founded Inaugural season
Boston Hunters Boston, Massachusetts Jemile Weeks[46] 2025 2026
Los Angeles Queens Los Angeles, California Eric Young Sr. 2025 2026
New York Heights New York City, New York Rachelle Henley 2025 2026
San Francisco Firebells San Francisco, California Matt Williams 2025 2026

Broadcasting

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For the 2026 season, ESPN is streaming all games on ESPN Select in the United States. Eleven regular season games will also be simulcast on Scripps Sports Network.[47][5][48] Games are available on YouTube outside the United States.[49] The agreement with ESPN was announced two days before the start of the 2026 season, which made it difficult for bars and restaurants to legally broadcast games.[27] Fremantle produces the league's broadcasts, shoulder programming, and documentaries on the league and its clubs.[31][50]

See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 Reynolds, Geno (November 17, 2025). "Robin Roberts Stadium named official venue of the WPBL 2026 season". NewsChannel 20. Sinclair Broadcast Group. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  2. ↑ Milholm, Joelle (December 10, 2024). "Ever-present and relegated to the sidelines, women's baseball is finally being seen". Breakaway. Archived from the original on December 11, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 "New professional women's baseball league to launch in 2026". Sportsnet. October 29, 2024. Archived from the original on August 3, 2026. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  4. 1 2 Young, Ryan (October 29, 2024). "New women's professional baseball league set to launch in 2026: 'Our time is now'". Yahoo Sports. Archived from the original on October 30, 2024. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  5. 1 2 Hoornstra, Jon Paul (October 29, 2024). "Can the WPBL be the next big thing in women's sports?". The Big Lead. Archived from the original on November 1, 2024. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  6. ↑ Anderson, R.J. (October 30, 2024). "New Women's Pro Baseball League to launch in 2026: 'We have been waiting over 70 years'". CBS Sports. Archived from the original on October 30, 2024. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  7. ↑ Li, David K. (November 3, 2024). "Women's professional baseball is ready for its moment. But first it needs to find players". NBC News. Archived from the original on November 28, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
  8. 1 2 3 Thames, Alanis (November 13, 2024). "Women's baseball players could soon have a league of their own again". Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 13, 2024. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  9. 1 2 Soriano, Daniel (November 15, 2024). "'A League of their own': Women's baseball finally returns to the field". Inside the Games. Archived from the original on November 17, 2024. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  10. ↑ Keyser, Hannah (January 17, 2025). "Can a Professional Women's Baseball League Launch in Softball's Shadow?". Front Office Sports. Archived from the original on January 18, 2025. Retrieved January 25, 2025. "According to MLB, 46% of the league's fans are women, and 53% of women consider themselves MLB fans. "Seems like a perfect time to start a women's pro baseball league." [...] And then next summer, a six-team league will play a 40-game season.
  11. ↑ Elsesser, Kim (July 2, 2025). "First Women's Professional Baseball League In 70 Years Announces Tryouts". Forbes. Archived from the original on July 20, 2025. Retrieved July 20, 2025. When discussing the WPBL startup costs [...] Although he wouldn't reveal the first-year costs, he says they're between $5 and $30 million.
  12. ↑ Hinkson, Kamila (October 30, 2024). "New Women's Pro Baseball League to launch in 2026: 'We have been waiting over 70 years'". The Athletic. Archived from the original on October 30, 2024. Retrieved November 16, 2024. A professional womens baseball league aims to begin competition in the U.S. in 2026, according to a news release issued Tuesday.
  13. 1 2 3 Oler, Kiri (January 6, 2025). "What the Upstart WPBL Should Learn From Other Women's Sports Leagues". FanGraphs. Archived from the original on January 7, 2025. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
  14. ↑ Pelit, Asli (May 5, 2025). "Women's Pro Baseball League strikes media deal with Fremantle". The Athletic. Archived from the original on July 19, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2025. According to a consumer polling conducted by Hart Research, 19 percent of respondents said they were "very" or "somewhat" interested in the league, putting the WPBL on par with results related to the WNBA (21 percent) and women's college basketball (21 percent).
  15. 1 2 Fee-Platt, Jordy (October 21, 2025). "Women's pro baseball is here — and New York, Los Angeles get the first teams". The Athletic. The New York Times Company. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  16. ↑ Thames, Alanis (July 3, 2025). "Women's Pro Baseball League to hold tryouts at Nationals Park as it aims for 2026 debut". Associated Press. Archived from the original on July 19, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  17. ↑ Lab, Dee (July 3, 2025). "Women's Professional Baseball League sets inaugural tryouts". Just Women's Sports. Archived from the original on July 19, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  18. ↑ Hinkson, Kamila (July 3, 2025). "Women's Pro Baseball League to hold first-ever tryouts in August". The Athletic. Archived from the original on July 19, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2025. More than 600 people registered to take part.
  19. 1 2 Coffey, Alex (July 18, 2025). "Mo'ne Davis will make her return to baseball in a tryout for a women's pro league launching in 2026: 'I'm just not done playing at all'". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on July 19, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2025. Davis, 24, will be one of more than 600 players to try out for the Women's Professional Baseball League, which will launch six franchises next year. She hasn't played baseball since 2020.
  20. ↑ Andres, Patrick (July 18, 2025). "Mo'ne Davis, Little League Star of 2010s, to Try Out for Women's Pro Baseball League". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on July 19, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  21. ↑ Leahy, Sean (July 19, 2025). "Mo'ne Davis returning to baseball to try out for Women's Professional Baseball League". Yahoo! Sports. Archived from the original on July 19, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  22. 1 2 Thames, Alanis (October 21, 2025). "Women's Pro Baseball League selects New York, Boston, LA, and San Francisco for inaugural season". Associated Press. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  23. ↑ Lacques, Gabe (November 20, 2025). "WPBL draft: Kelsie Whitmore goes No. 1; Mo'Ne Davis to LA". USA Today. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Kelsie Whitmore goes No. 1 in Women's Pro Baseball League draft". ESPN. The Associated Press. November 20, 2025. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Corcoran, Cliff (August 25, 2026). "Behind the curtain of the WPBL". The IX Sports. Retrieved August 27, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Women's Pro Baseball League shows on-field product at Red Sox spring site before inaugural season". AP News. March 20, 2026. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 Eisen, Jen Ramos; de la Cretaz, Frankie (August 19, 2026). "The New Women's Pro Baseball League Offers Hope—And Frustrations". Defector Media. Retrieved August 27, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Introducing the First Four - Inspired by Legends". Women's Pro Baseball League. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
  29. ↑ Cohen, Jay (August 2, 2026). "'It Means Everything': Women's Professional Baseball League Makes Thrilling Debut". HuffPost.
  30. ↑ Pelit 2025, "...global women's sports investor Assia Grazioli-Venier has joined the league as chair."
  31. 1 2 Williams, Austin (July 2, 2025). "Batter up! Women's Professional Baseball League announces tryout dates, location". LiveNow from Fox. Archived from the original on July 20, 2025. Retrieved July 20, 2025. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; July 2, 2025 suggested (help)
  32. ↑ Women's Pro Baseball League (November 20, 2025). WPBL Draft 2025. Retrieved August 27, 2026 – via YouTube.
  33. 1 2 Thames, Alanis (December 4, 2024). "New women's baseball league names 97-year-old AAGPBL alum honorary chair on advisory board". Associated Press. Archived from the original on December 9, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
  34. 1 2 "Legendary women's baseball icon Maybelle Blair joins Women's Pro Baseball League". Women's Pro Baseball League. December 3, 2024. Archived from the original on January 15, 2025. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
  35. 1 2 Horney, Ben (August 24, 2026). "WPBL Board Member Demands Records Over 'Mounting Red Flags'". Yahoo Sports. Front Office Sports. Retrieved August 27, 2026.
  36. 1 2 LaFountain, Michele (March 31, 2025). "Justine Siegal will go to bat for women in pro baseball once more". ESPN. Archived from the original on July 19, 2025. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  37. ↑ Shenk, Larry (December 18, 2025). "Women's Pro Baseball League to debut in 2026". MLB.com. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  38. 1 2 Elsesser 2025, "Each of the WPBL's teams will have a player salary budget of $95,000 to cover their 25-player rosters. The league will also provide housing during the season and offer players a share of sponsorship revenue. The regular season games will span four weeks, followed by an all-star showcase and two weeks of playoffs."
  39. 1 2 Mazzeo, Mike (July 2, 2025). "Women's Professional Baseball League to cap tryouts for inaugural season at Nationals Park". Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal. Archived from the original on July 8, 2025. Retrieved July 20, 2025. ...a four-day spring training and a seven-week season, which includes an All-Star Game. Games will be played Thursday-Sunday, and teams will play two games per week during the regular season.
  40. ↑ Mazzeo 2025, "Rules will include seven-inning games and the league will feature aluminum bats."
  41. ↑ Auty, Katelyn M. (November 14, 2024). "Women's Pro Baseball League set to debut in 2026". The Snapper. Archived from the original on July 20, 2025. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  42. ↑ Dawud, Sabreen (September 22, 2025). "For the first time in decades, women baseball players have a league of their own". The 19th. Washington, D.C. Retrieved November 1, 2025.
  43. ↑ Cohen, Jay (August 2, 2026). "Women's Pro Baseball League has strong contingent of international players for inaugural season". AP News. Retrieved August 3, 2026.
  44. ↑ Oler, Kiri (November 21, 2025). "The WPBL Has Teams and Players Now". FanGraphs. Retrieved August 27, 2026.
  45. 1 2 Mazzeo 2025, "Teams will feature 15-player rosters. Roster salaries for each WPBL team will be around $95,000 for the seven-week season. The league will also provide room and board, as well as meals on gamedays. A portion of league sponsorship revenue will be earmarked toward player compensation."
  46. ↑ Mentz, Zach (August 14, 2026). "World Series champ Keith Foulke fired as WPBL manager after 3 games". mlive. Retrieved August 27, 2026.
  47. ↑ Shirey, Grayson (July 30, 2026). "ESPN secures media rights to Women's Pro Baseball League, bringing full season and playoffs to ESPN starting August 1". ESPN Press Room. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
  48. ↑ "Women's baseball league prepares for '26 launch". Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal. October 29, 2024. Archived from the original on November 9, 2024. Retrieved October 30, 2024. It plans on securing a national broadcast deal for its inaugural season.
  49. ↑ "Where to Watch the 2026 WPBL Inaugural Season". Women's Pro Baseball League. Retrieved August 27, 2026.
  50. ↑ Pelit 2025, "Fremantle will manage everything from producing and distributing game broadcasts to creating original content [...] The company will also develop shoulder programming and documentaries."
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