Establishment of the Women’s Professional Baseball League’s helps to create more playing opportunities for athletes

 Since the dissolution of the only women’s professional baseball league in 1954, women have not had the opportunity to play baseball at a professional level. But now, with the creation of the Women’s Professional Baseball League (“WPBL”), players will finally have a league of their own again. Back in 2024, the WPBL announced plans to launch a league for female players in 2026[1]. The WPBL was founded by Justine Siegal and Keith Stein, who state that heightened interest in women’s sports makes this an ideal time to launch this league[2].

The WPBL’s inaugural season will kick off in August 2026. For its first season, the WPBL is launching a four-team circuit, with teams representing New York City, Boston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco [3].  These cities were selected not just because of their market size and large fan presence, but because they are storied sports cities as well[4]. Over 600 athletes from ten different countries attended the league’s open tryout back in August[5]. That list was cut down to 120 players who were eligible for the draft that happened last month[6]. The expected salary cap for the athletes will be about $95,000, with the league covering costs over the season and giving players a percentage of sponsorship money[7].

Although the teams will represent New York, Boston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, the teams will not play in their respective cities in 2026. The entire inaugural season will be played at the Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois[8]. There will be a few barnstorming games throughout the seven-week season that will be played in the four cities, but the majority of the games will be held in Illinois[9]. Siegal and Stein are hopeful that the WPBL will establish a solid women’s baseball culture in the United States and create more playing opportunities for women in the future[10].

[1] Alanis Thames, Women’s baseball players could soon have a league of their own again, Associated Press (November 13, 2024).

[2] Id.

[3] Alanis Thames, Women’s Pro Baseball League selects New York, Boston, LA, and San Francisco for inaugural season, Associated Press (October 21, 2025).

[4] Id.

[5] Id.

[6] Id.

[7] Id.

[8] Annie Costabile, Women’s Pro Baseball League Will Play First Season in Springfield, Illinois, Front Office Sports (November 17, 2025).

[9] Id.

[10] Id.