The Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL) will kick off its inaugural season at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois. The league is set to start on August 1st, shortly after the Women’s Baseball World Cup, which takes place from July 22-26 in Rockford, roughly three hours north of Springfield.
The 2026 season will feature four teams: Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and Boston. San Francisco holds the first pick in Thursday’s snake-style draft, followed by Los Angeles, New York, and Boston. The draft includes six rounds, with each team selecting five players per round. Notable prospects expected to be picked include former Little League standout Morne Davis, USA Baseball’s Kelsey Whitmore, and Japanese pitcher Ayami Sato.
WPBL highlighted that Robin Roberts Stadium offers a central location for the four founding clubs and noted Springfield’s historical significance as a host of one of the earliest paid women’s baseball games in 1875. The stadium accommodates 5,200 fans and has recently upgraded with a new LED video board.
Founded in 2015 by Justine Segal—who became the first female coach for the Oakland Athletics—the WPBL aims to revive women’s professional baseball. If successful, it will mark the first women’s pro baseball league since the National Women’s Professional Baseball League, which ended in 1954 and was famously depicted in the film “A League of Their Own.”
Fan Take: This development marks a pivotal moment for women in baseball, providing renewed professional opportunities and inspiring future generations. For baseball enthusiasts, the WPBL promises to enrich the sport with fresh talent and diverse storylines, broadening the game’s appeal and inclusivity.
