The Women’s Pro Baseball League (WPBL) is poised to make history as the first professional women’s baseball league in action since the 1940s, with its inaugural season kicking off at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois. The league’s co-founder, Keith Stein, outlined the exciting plans for the new league, which is set to expand from four teams to six by 2027.
Robin Roberts Stadium, named after the legendary Hall of Famer, can seat 5,200 fans and is currently home to the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes of the Prospect League. The league emphasized that this venue offers a prime location with easy access to both Chicago O’Hare and St. Louis international airports, promising an exceptional atmosphere as the WPBL teams will be the sole baseball presence during the league’s season.
The four inaugural teams will represent major cities: Boston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. While these locations won’t host games during the seven-week regular season in 2026, they will see barnstorming games, with plans still in the works. Stein noted the league’s commitment to inclusivity, stating, “Our sport is for everybody. It’s for middle America, everybody.”
In preparation for the upcoming season, tryouts were conducted in August in Washington D.C., leading to a competitive selection process where the top 100 players, including renowned athletes such as former Little League star Mo’ne Davis and Kelsie Whitmore of USA Baseball, will enter the draft on Thursday. The league’s draft format will feature six rounds, with each of the four teams selecting five players, resulting in a total of 120 selections. Although each team will have a roster of 30 players, not every drafted athlete will be guaranteed a contract.
Financially, the WPBL will operate with an annual salary cap of $95,000 per team. Living costs for players will be covered by the league, and athletes will also benefit from a share of sponsorship revenue, enhancing their financial support during the season.
The inception of the WPBL not only brings a long-awaited opportunity for women in baseball but also marks an exciting chapter in sports history, signifying progress and empowerment in professional athletics.