The Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL) has selected four iconic cities—New York, Boston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco—to host teams for its inaugural season. The announcement was made on Tuesday, marking a significant milestone in women’s sports as the league prepares to launch in 2026.
Founded by Justine Siegal, who made history as the first woman to coach for an MLB team with the Oakland Athletics in 2015, the WPBL aims to establish a six-team circuit featuring a regular season, playoffs, and an all-star game. The league will debut with four teams, each consisting of 15 players, creating a platform for female athletes to showcase their talent in professional baseball.
The WPBL’s draft is set for next month, where the top 100 players from the league’s summer tryouts will be selected. Among these athletes are notable figures such as former Little League star Mo’ne Davis, Kelsie Whitmore of USA Baseball, and Japanese pitcher Ayami Sato. This draft signals a new chapter for women’s baseball, as it prepares to engage fans and build a competitive environment.
Neutral Venues and Strategic City Selection
All games in the WPBL’s inaugural season will be held at a neutral venue, the location of which will be announced at a later date. The selection of the four cities was based on market size and the potential for fan engagement. “Each of these cities are storied sports cities,” Siegal stated, emphasizing the league’s commitment to connecting with fans across the country.
Siegal, alongside co-founder and lawyer Keith Stein, has also enlisted experienced advisors, including World Series-winning manager Cito Gaston, to guide the league’s development. The aim is to foster a passionate atmosphere that celebrates women’s participation in sports. “You’re going to see passion. You know our women, they love the game so much,” Siegal told CBS Mornings Plus last year. “It’s an obstacle to get to play, and here we are living out our dreams. So it’s going to be just fantastic.”
The United States has a rich history in women’s baseball, with two Women’s Baseball World Cup victories. The most recent tournament saw the U.S. team finish as runners-up in the 2024 event, which took place in 2023. The team roster included Whitmore, who has played in various independent leagues, including the Atlantic League, Pacific Association, and Pioneer League.
As the WPBL prepares for its launch, it aims to inspire a new generation of female athletes and promote the growth of women’s sports on a global scale.
