Hey, it’s a ‘League of Their Own’, part two! The Women’s Pro Baseball League (WPBL) inaugural season started in August 2026 and is about to end its first year, with a best-of-3, out-of-5 championship series starting today: TBD vs TBD. But before we get to talking about the present day, let’s rewind to 1943, when the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) was created as a result of men joining the military for World War II. Thus, to avoid a shutdown of Major League Baseball, Wrigley created a women’s league. This league ran from 1943 to 1954 and even got a film based on it called A League of Their Own, a fictional story based on women’s real-life experiences in a professional baseball league. For the first time in 70 years, America has a professional baseball league for women, which is more than just a league; it’s a movement. The WPBL is a new style of play highlighting aggressive base running, situational hitting, bunts, and creative run manufacturing. It’s a new era of baseball created, co-founded, and commissioned by Justine Siegal, who made history as the first female coach employed by the MLB. Alongside her there’s Keith Stein, a co-founder and owner who helped launch the league, and also initial advisors like Maybelle Blair and Cito Gaston. The WPBL currently consists of 60 players divided amongst four teams: Boston Hunters, Los Angeles Queens, New York Heights, and San Francisco Firebells. All 30 games for this inaugural were played at a neutral venue at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois, with each team playing in 15 of those games. Additionally, Robin Roberts Stadium also hosts the playoffs that began September 9, 2026. Throughout the inaugural season, there are a handful of predominant players, including:
Kelsie Whitmore (San Francisco Firebells), selected as the No. 1 overall pick, a dominant pitcher and outfielder who previously played in men’s independent professional baseball and Banana Ball, a fast-paced, entertaining version of baseball.
Mo’ne Davis (Los Angeles Queens), a former Little League World Series player who made a highly publicized return to baseball and is one of the league’s most recognizable players, was selected 10th overall in the draft.
Danae Benites (New York Heights), a star catcher selected in round 1, pick 6 that has a staggering 1.752 OPS.
Kylee Lahners (New York Heights), a predominant infielder selected No. 3 overall and an anchor to New York’s infield.
Ashton Lansdell (Los Angeles Queens), a former USA Baseball player taken in round , pick 7 who has routinely earned Player of the Game honors during the regular season.
Alli Schroder (Boston Hunters), a prominent Team Canada star who went No. 5 overall, serving as a core leader and pitcher/infielder for the Boston franchise.
In the end, the launch of the Women’s Pro Baseball League fills a historic void left by the AAGPBL, and legitimizes women’s baseball as a distinct sport, allowing for a visible aspirational destination for youth players who grow up wanting to play hardball. The WPBL isn’t just a league; it’s a movement in women’s sports.
Left to right: Kelsie Whitmore, Mo’ne Davis, Danae Benites, Lexi Hastings, and Ashton Lansdell.
Note: we won’t find out who the two teams in the championship are until either the 13th or 14th. This article was written on the 8th.