A new professional baseball league has launched, and this one finally allows women to follow their dreams of playing baseball on the professional level.
The Women’s Pro Baseball League began its inaugural season on Aug. 1, 2026. The new league was co-founded by former Major League Baseball coach, Justine Siegal, and the owner of the Canadian Baseball League’s Toronto Maple Leaves, Keith Stein.
There are four teams competing within the WPBL’s first season: the Boston Hunters, Los Angeles Queens, New York Heights, and the San Francisco Fireballs. All four teams compete at the Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois. The league is structured with 30 regular season games, with each game lasting seven innings, along with playoff games to follow the regular season.
The formation of the WPBL has been a significant growth within the world of baseball.
The WPBL’s inaugural season marks the first time in 70 years that professional women’s baseball has returned to the U.S., a gap that has not been fulfilled since the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League ended in 1954. Before the formation of the WPBL, women’s baseball in the U.S. lacked a clear professional destination, whereas men had the MLB, women did not have this between 1954 and 2026. Many women relied on travel teams, tournaments, and independent events for the chance to play the sport they love. Now, the WPBL has formed and offers a structured, competitive, and visible platform for women in the world of baseball.
The WPBL has adopted the phrase, “more than a league – it’s a movement,” with its goal of expanding the visibility and sustainability of women’s baseball. The league was founded by former MLB figures, along with support from international baseball icons. The league also debuted with a global reach, having not only players from the U.S., but also players from Japan, Canada, Mexico, South Korea, and more. The WPBL also acts as a form of visibility for the sport, and encourages young girls to play and even possibly pursue a career in baseball.
The WPBL is not just a new professional platform for women’s baseball, but an important step towards restoring the visibility, career opportunities, and global growth for the sport.
