Women’s Pro Baseball League Launches with Historic Inaugural Season

When Alli Schroder watched the 1992 film ‘A League of Their Own’ about the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL), she saw her aspirations reflected on screen. ‘It was motivating as a kid,’ Schroder said, considering the lack of opportunity to play professional baseball in her youth. That vision is now reality with the start of the Women’s Pro Baseball League (WPBL).

The inaugural season kicks off Saturday, rain permitting, with Denae Benites and the New York Heights taking on Mo’ne Davis and the Los Angeles Queens. The Boston Hunters and San Francisco Firebells play on Sunday. This new league marks another significant chapter in the history of women’s professional baseball. Each team consists of 15 players for seven-inning games, with all regular and postseason games held at the historic Robin Roberts Stadium, which seats 5,200 spectators.

Ayami Sato, a prominent pitcher for New York and previously a rival of many league players, expressed enthusiasm to compete with and against top players from different backgrounds. Her reflections underscore the cultural importance this league holds, with rich connections among past and present athletes.

Women’s professional baseball in the U.S. first appeared through the AAGPBL, active from 1943 to 1954, with attempts in the 1990s to establish similar leagues being short-lived. Justine Siegal, WPBL co-founder and first female coach in MLB history, spearheads the initiative with the excitement of ESPN and Scripps Sports Network broadcast deals for games.

Ashton Lansdell of Los Angeles stated aspirations akin to a women’s version of MLB. Team captains Lansdell, Benites, Schroder, and Kelsie Whitmore will lead their respective squads. Whitmore, the top draft pick for San Francisco, emphasizes team unity, aiming to lead ‘both on and off the field.’

High-profile managers helm the teams. Matt Williams manages the Firebells, Keith Foulke leads the Hunters, Eric Young takes charge of the Queens, while Rachelle ‘Rocky’ Henley guides the Heights. Foulke, after observing spring training games in Florida, recognized the athletic prowess of these players and his ambition to enhance the league’s excitement and quality.