wicked wristah

For the first time in over 70 years we will have women playing professional baseball in the United States.

The All American Girls Professional Baseball League’s last game was almost 71 years ago. The United States has not had professional women’s baseball since before ORGAN TRANSPLANTS. That’s a long ass time yall.

One major problem with the AAGPBL is that it lacked diversity. WPBL is already working on it.

These two amazing women are on the advisory board.

"Justine Siegal, the first woman coach employed by a Major League Baseball team, is attempting to make more history -- this time by creating an American professional baseball league specifically for women. Siegal is one of the co-founders of the Women's Pro Baseball League (WPBL), which aims to begin play during the summer of 2026.

Siegel and co-founder/lawyer Keith Stein have enlisted a few other notable names as special advisors... Those include World Series-winning manager Cito Gaston and Japanese pitcher Ayami Sato, a five-time Women's Baseball World Cup champion. (Sato is also part of Japan Women's Baseball League.)

The WPBL is hoping to land a national television deal ahead of its inaugural season. The league intends to have a full season, as well as playoffs and a championship round. At present, the goal is to field six teams at launch, with those clubs located "predominantly" in the Northeast region of the United States. 

"The Women's Pro Baseball League is here for all the girls and women who dream of a place to showcase their talents and play the game they love," Siegal said as part of the WPBL's press release announcing its formation. "We have been waiting over 70 years for a professional baseball league we can call our own. Our time is now."

Stein, for his part, added: "We believe that the success of other women's professional leagues such as the WNBA and NWSL demonstrates the incredible interest and support for women's sport."

The United States has won two Women's Baseball World Cups, and most recently finished as the runners-up in the 2024 event (that was played in 2023). The U.S. team roster included, among others, pitcher/outfielder Kelsie Whitmore. Whitmore has been a trailblazer in her own right, appearing in games with various independent leagues, including the Atlantic League, Pacific Association, and, as of this year, the Pioneer League."

NOTE: The inaugural season to be played at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois. Times listed in Central Time. Info taken directly from the graphics posted 4/30/26 to the WPBL Instagram, subject to change.

The teams are: The Boston Hunters, the Los Angeles Queens, the New York Heights, and the San Francisco Firebells.

Streaming will be available on the league's YouTube channel

OPENING WEEKEND

8/01 - 5:00pm - LA @ NY

8/02 - 6:30pm - SF @ BOS

WEEK TWO

8/05 - 6:30pm - BOS @ LA

8/06 - 6:30pm - NY @ SF

8/07 - 6:30pm - SF @ LA

8/08 - 1:00pm - BOS @ NY

8/08 - 6:30pm - LA @ SF

8/09 - 6:30pm - NY @ BOS

WEEK THREE

8/12 - 6:30pm - LA @ SF

8/13 - 6:30pm - BOS @ NY

8/14 - 6:30pm - LA @ SF

8/15 - 1:00pm - SF @ NY

8/15 - 6:30pm - LA @ BOS

8/16 - 6:30pm - BOS @ NY

WEEK FOUR

8/19 - 6:30pm - NY @ SF

8/20 - 6:30pm - NY @ BOS

8/21 - 6:30pm - SF @ LA

8/22 - 1:00pm - SF @ BOS

8/22 - 6:30pm - NY @ LA

8/23 - 6:30pm - LA @ BOS

WEEK FIVE

8/26 - 6:30pm - BOS @ LA

8/27 - 6:30pm - LA @ NY

8/28 - 6:30pm - BOS @ SF

8/29 - 6:30pm - NY @ LA

8/30 - 6:30pm - NY @ SF

WEEK SIX

9/02 - 6:30pm - SF @ BOS

9/03 - 6:30pm - NY @ LA

9/04 - 6:30pm - SF @ NY

9/05 - 6:30pm - LA @ BOS

9/06 - 6:30pm - BOS @ SF

PLAYOFFS

* - If needed

9/09 - Semifinal A, Game 1

9/10 - Semifinal B, Game 1

9/11 - Semifinal A, Game 2

9/12 - Semifinal B, Game 2

9/13 - Semifinal A, Game 3*

9/14 - Semifinal B, Game 3*

9/16 - Championship, Game 1

9/17 - Championship, Game 2

9/19 - Championship, Game 3

9/20 - Championship, Game 4*

Itching for WPBL to start. August 1st, 2026 seems far away, but some recap for the uninitiated:

The Women's Professional Baseball League is about to start in the US. It is hosted in Springfield, IL, USA as a neutral site for the current 4 teams:

Boston (merch-green) - roster

New York (merch-teal) - roster

San Francisco (merch-purple) - roster

Los Angeles (merch-blue) - roster

Some highlights of the teams:

Details from back at tryouts last year:

Kelsie Whitmore of Savannah Bananas fame (first woman to play) will be playing for San Francisco. She was the first round first pick in the 2025 draft.

Danae Benites of the Loco Beach Coconuts will be playing for New York

There are 15 players over 30

The draft pulled players from a variety of countries:

Outside the US we have Canada, Mexico, South Korea, Japan, Australia, France, Venezuela, UK, and while it is under US occupation I wanna highlight it on its own: Puerto Rico.

There are a number of out queer players

Boston (5)

Paloma Benach (LHP - DC, USA)

Nadia Diaz (3B - NY, USA)

Stephanie Everett (LF - MD, USA)

Zoe Hicks (3B - CA)

Raine Padgham (RHP - BC, CA)

New York (4)

Denae Benites (Catcher - NV, USA)

Elodie Ciamarro (Catcher - Quebec, CA)

Beth Greenwood (Catcher - USA)

London Studer (1B - OH, USA)

San Francisco (6)

Kelsie Whitmore (RHP - CA, USA)

Jordan Eyester (CF - MI, USA)

Amanda Gianelloni (2B - LA, USA)

Liz Gilder (LHP - BC, CA)

Arwen McCullough (RHP - CA, USA)

Micaela Minner (1B - OH, USA, she's 40 btw! 😍)

Los Angeles (3)

Ashton Lansdell (3B - GA, USA)

Jamie Mackay (Catcher - CA, USA)

Luisa Hernandez (3B - Jalisco, MX)

From Commissioner Justine Siegal PhD:

"Across the USA and around the world, women have always played baseball. From backyard games with older siblings, to rec leagues across the country, women have found ways to play the sport they love. Baseball is America’s pastime, but the professional game hasn’t evolved to reflect the diversity of those who play, watch and love this sport. That’s about to change. A long time dream is coming into focus: a professional women’s baseball league for a new generation. The Women’s Pro Baseball League is here. We’re creating a stage where elite women’s baseball players have a place to shine, and establishing a pipeline for every girl who dreams of competing at the highest level one day. A league of their own, for the first time since the AAGPBL of the 1940s. This league is just one part of a larger cultural shift. Women in sports are finally getting the recognition they deserve. We’re at the beginning of a new chapter and it’s time for our athletes to write their story. 

What started as an idea is now a reality. We’re less than five months away from the WPBL’s opening day on August 1st, 2026 and already so much has happened. The world has taken notice of what we’re doing, and hundreds of thousands of people have tuned in to follow along. People just like you. Thank you for supporting this league. For supporting women in baseball. You’re a part of this. A part of history. The next chapter begins this August. We hope you’ll join us in making history."

The Boston Hunters

The New York Heights

Los Angeles Queens