Women's Pro Baseball League

Last updated

Women's Pro Baseball League
Upcoming season or competition:
Baseball current event.svg 2026 WPBL season
Women's Pro Baseball League.svg
Sport Women's baseball
First season2026 (planned)
Owners
No. of teams4 (2026)
CountryUnited States
Confederation WBSC Americas

The Women's Pro Baseball League (WPBL) is a future professional women's baseball league in the United States. Co-founded by Justine Siegal and Keith Stein, the league is planned to commence play in 2026, with six teams based in the Northeastern United States competing. It will be the fifth American professional women's baseball league, after the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (1943–1954), National Girls Baseball League (1944–1955), International Girls Baseball League (1952–1953), and Ladies League Baseball (1997–1998).

Contents

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 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 summer, will consist of a four-week regular season and two-week postseason, partitioned by an all-star game. Games will last seven innings, and be played with aluminium bats. Teams will consist of 15–25 players, and be restricted to a total salary cap of US$95,000. The league intends to broadcast its games on a national network, instead of on regional sports networks.

History

The Women's Pro Baseball League was co-founded in 2024 by former Major League Baseball (MLB) coach Justine Siegal, and owner of the Intercounty Baseball League's Toronto Maple Leafs, Keith Stein. [1] [2] An advocate for gender equality in sports, Siegal previously founded Baseball for All, a 501(c)(3) organization that promotes girls' participation in baseball. [3] [4] The commercial success and stability of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and National Women's Soccer League inspired Siegal and Stein to create a professional league for women's baseball, [2] [3] and hired Japan national team pitcher Ayami Sato and former Toronto Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston as special advisers to help develop it. [2] [5] The league's primary aim is to increase the visibility and proliferation of women's baseball by establishing a pathway to professionalism – no high school or college in the U.S. offers girls' baseball programs, [6] 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. [7] [8] 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. [9] The league's startup cost was reportedly between $5–30 million. [10]

The WPBL's first tryouts will be held at Nationals Park (pictured) in Washington, D.C., in August 2025. Lo Res-10.jpg
The WPBL's first tryouts will be held at Nationals Park (pictured) in Washington, D.C., in August 2025.

The WPBL's establishment was announced to the public via a press release in October 2024. [11] [12] 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. [7] [8] After a week, registrations grew to over 700 players. [12] 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%). [13] The inaugural WPBL draft is planned to be conducted in October. [14] [15] Tryouts to determine the 150 draftees will be held in August at the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy and Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. [14] [15] [16] Over 600 players registered to take part in the tryouts, [17] [18] including Mo'ne Davis, whose return to baseball after five years attracted notable media attention. [18] [19] [20]

Format

Competition in the Women's Pro Baseball League will consist of a four-week regular season, starting in May, followed by an all-star game, and then a two-week postseason tournament that will determine the league's champion. [21] [22] Each team will play two games a week, scheduled between Thursdays and Sundays. [22] WPBL games will last seven innings, and be played with aluminium bats. [23] [24]

Organization

The Women's Pro Baseball League is owned by its co-founders Justine Siegal and Keith Stein. Assia Grazioli-Venier serves as the league's chair. [25] [26] The league has no association with Major League Baseball – a decision made to preserve both its independence and its women-led organizational structure. [12] A seven-member advisory board deliberates with Siegal and Stein on decisions regarding the league. It currently consists of Laura Gentile, Kate Childs Graham, Leslie Heaphy, Nona Lee, Digit Murphy, Ayami Sato, and Kat Williams. Former Peoria Redwings pitcher Maybelle Blair also serves as its honorary chair. [27] [28] U.S. national team captain Alex Hugo leads the league's player development and recruiting efforts. [29]

Teams

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New York City
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Boston
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Los Angeles
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San Francisco
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Locations of the first four teams announced by the league

The Women's Pro Baseball League aims to commence play with six independently owned clubs, mostly based in the Northeastern United States. [5] [29] An expansion to eight clubs is expected to occur afterward. [7] The league's games will be played in two college and/or minor league ballparks with a capacity of 2,500–5,000. [24] [30] Players will be provided with accommodation, meals on gamedays, and a share of revenue from sponsors atop their regular salary, which is expected to be "comparable" to those in minor leagues. [21] [29] [31] Squads can be 15–25 players in size, though a total salary cap of US$95,000 will be enforced by the league. [21] [31] In October 2025, it was announced that the first four teams will be in Boston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. [32] [33]

Broadcasting

The Women's Pro Baseball League intends on striking a national broadcasting deal, as opposed to deals with regional sports networks. [4] [34] Fremantle will produce the league's broadcasts, shoulder programming, and documentaries on the league and its clubs. [26] [35]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 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.
  2. 1 2 3 "New professional women's baseball league to launch in 2026". Sportsnet . October 29, 2024. Archived from the original on October 29, 2024. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  3. 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 29, 2024. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  4. 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 October 30, 2024. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  5. 1 2 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.
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. 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 16, 2024. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  8. 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 16, 2024. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  9. ↑ 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 17, 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.
  10. ↑ 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.
  11. ↑ 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 November 4, 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.
  12. 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.
  13. ↑ 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).
  14. 1 2 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.
  15. 1 2 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.
  16. ↑ Gelpieryn, Aubrey Violeta (July 2, 2025). "Women's Pro Baseball League announces tryout dates in Washington, D.C." CBS Mornings . Archived from the original on July 19, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  17. ↑ 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.
  18. 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.
  19. ↑ 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.
  20. ↑ 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.
  21. 1 2 3 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."
  22. 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 20, 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.
  23. ↑ Mazzeo 2025 , "Rules will include seven-inning games and the league will feature aluminum bats."
  24. 1 2 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.
  25. ↑ Pelit 2025 , "...global women's sports investor Assia Grazioli-Venier has joined the league as chair."
  26. 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.
  27. ↑ 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.
  28. ↑ "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.
  29. 1 2 3 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.
  30. ↑ Mazzeo 2025 , "There will be six teams in the league, though there will only be one or two venues (2,000-5,000 capacity range),
  31. 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."
  32. ↑ 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.
  33. ↑ 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.
  34. ↑ "Women's baseball league prepares for '26 launch" . Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal . October 29, 2024. Archived from the original on October 30, 2024. Retrieved October 30, 2024. It plans on securing a national broadcast deal for its inaugural season.
  35. ↑ 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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