In a groundbreaking move, women’s baseball is poised for revitalization, heralding the dawn of a league after nearly seventy long years of absence. The Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL) is set to make its grand entrance onto the scene in the summer of 2026, featuring six teams primarily situated in the Northeast, an epicenter for baseball fervor.
This ambitious initiative emerges amidst a remarkable renaissance of women’s athletics. The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) has shattered ceiling after ceiling, achieving unprecedented heights in ticket sales and viewership. Similarly, this year’s NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament outpaced its male counterpart in visibility and intrigue. Meanwhile, the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) attracted a staggering two million spectators last season, culminating in a monumental $240 million domestic television arrangement. Adding to this momentum, a new women’s professional hockey league is already taking steps to expand further beyond its January 2024 launch, aiming to add two more franchises.
This surge in popularity serves as the catalyst for the WPBL, effectively creating a real-life reflection of the iconic film “A League of Their Own.” Co-founder Keith Stein remarked, “We believe that the success of other women’s professional leagues demonstrates the incredible interest and support for women’s sports,” emphasizing the rising tide of engagement in female athletics.
Pioneering this exciting venture alongside Stein is Justine Siegal, a trailblazer in her own right. Remember her name—she made history as the first woman to coach a professional men’s baseball team (Brockton Rox, 2009), and was the inaugural female to throw batting practice to a Major League Baseball team during spring training for the Cleveland Indians in 2011. Furthermore, she served as a coach for the Oakland Athletics’ instructional league in 2015 and worked with Team Israel for the MLB World Baseball Classic Qualifier. Siegal is now at the helm of ‘Baseball for All,’ a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering girls in baseball.
Bringing another layer of expertise is Stein, a seasoned businessman from Canada, who holds ownership of the Intercounty Baseball League’s Toronto Maple Leafs. Adding to this star-studded leadership, legendary former pitcher Ayami Sato from Japan and Cito Gaston, a World Series-winning MLB manager, are onboard as advisors to the league—surely, a testament to the caliber of this initiative.
“With great excitement, I declare the birth of a professional women’s baseball league—this is a dream come true for the countless girls and women who cherish America’s Pastime,” shared Siegal, swelling with passion as she addresses the thrilling news.
Moreover, the WPBL’s ambitions extend beyond just fielding teams; the league is diligently working to finalize a national broadcast deal for its inaugural season, encompassing a robust schedule that promises a regular season, playoffs, and a championship showdown.
As the countdown to the league’s debut begins, the stage is set for an exhilarating chapter in Women’s Baseball—one that embraces not only tradition but also an invigorating future.
