The Women’s Pro Baseball League (WPBL) started its debut season strong with a sold-out first game at historic Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois, on August 1.
The WPBL delivered a weekend packed with plenty of activities for fans to commemorate the first women’s professional baseball league in more than 70 years. Attendees were delighted to be a part of bobble head giveaways featuring the WPBL’s No. 1 overall pick, Kelsie Whitmore of the San Francisco Firebells, and Mo’ne Davis of the Los Angeles Queens. The pregame celebrations also included DJ sets for fans to enjoy.
The league’s first season is expected to run through the end of September, including a regular season and playoffs. The league’s debut season is highlighting its four teams: the New York Heights, San Francisco Firebells, Los Angeles Queens, and Boston Hunters. What’s worth noting most about this league is that the WPBL is the only professional women’s baseball league in the United States.
The Women’s Pro Baseball League was co-founded by historic baseball pioneer Justine Siegal, the first woman to pitch batting practice in Major League Baseball and the first woman to coach a professional men’s baseball team.
“Today marks a historic milestone for professional baseball, and all of women’s professional sports, as we introduce four team identities that honor the legacies of specific women who chose to forge new paths for themselves and generations of women who followed,” said Justine Siegal.
At the pregame ceremony on August 1, the WPBL honored and celebrated women’s baseball legends and the inaugural league members, celebrating the past and future of women’s pro baseball.
The WPBL will proudly be honoring legendary female icons who have broken barriers, inspired generations, and helped shape culture, sports, and society throughout the inaugural season at each game.
Opening weekend was on fire with Team USA’s powerhouse duo Denae Benites and Kylee Lahners of the New York Heights taking on a star-studded Los Angeles Queens lineup featuring baseball superstar Mo’ne Davis, Team USA’s Ashton Lansdell, and Japanese legend Ayami Sato.
For the second game of the opening weekend, the WPBL’s overall pick, Kelsie Whitmore of the San Francisco Firebells, battled it out with Boston Hunter’s international sensations, including Korean pitcher Hyeonah Kim and Canadian national team star Alli Schroder.
The WPBL has partnered with major national and regional brands for its inaugural season, including founding partners: Capelli Sport, Dick’s Sporting Goods, ESPN, Horace Mann, Hugh & Grace, iHeart, New Era, PROLOOK, and Scripps Sports Network.
Other official league partners include Easton /Rawlings, Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) St. John’s Hospital, IMPACT Performance Apparel, Marucci, Oakley, Olivia Travel, Visit Springfield, Illinois, and YMCA.
All-Star, Diamond, Hakusoh, Hyperice, Jaeger Sports, Pocket Radar, and Stuff Plus serve as the official equipment provider partners.
Fans can find a schedule for the WPBL’s inaugural season and purchase tickets on their official website. Fans can also subscribe to the League’s official YouTube channel to watch game highlights, interviews with players, and press conferences. For fans who can’t make it to games in person, ESPN and Scripps Sports Network will serve as the league’s primary media home throughout the season.
This article is in partnership with Listen in With KNN.
Photos provided by the WPBL.
Digital and Editorial Summer intern for Listen in with KNN.