Amid one of the most pivotal times in history for professional women’s sports, the Women’s Pro Baseball League (WPBL) is officially on the national stage again after 70 years and will have its first season opener on August 1 in Springfield, Illinois.
Four cities – each known to carry its own rich baseball history – will be the hosts for the first teams in the league, all of which are inspired by historical figures in women’s history: Boston Hunters, New York Heights, Los Angeles Queens and the San Francisco Firebells.
WPBL commissioner and co-founder Justine Siegal told Front Office Sports that the league will grow to be another way for baseball fans to experience the “addicting” quality of watching women’s sports.
“Women play with a passion that comes from having to prove themselves their whole lives that they belong,“ said Siegal. “I think the fans are going to really enjoy seeing how hard they play as well as how good they play.”
The New York Heights, named after civil and women’s rights leader Dorothy Height and inspired by the restless ambition and intense resilience that are especially unique to the city, will be the first team, along with the Los Angeles Queens, to set roots in Robin Roberts Stadium with a 30-player roster, which was predetermined by the WPBL draft in November.
Kelsie Whitmore, who became the first woman to compete in pro baseball’s Atlantic League (2022), earned the number one pick in the draft. The 27-year-old pitcher-slash-outfielder is returning to her West Coast roots to play for San Francisco.
Former Little League World Series participant Mo’ne Davis, who became the first girl to win an LLWS game and pitch a shutout, was also among the top players selected in the 120-player draft. The 24-year-old Philly native was chosen as the 10th overall pick to play for the Los Angeles Queens.
Fellow Little League sensation, Nadia Diaz, was selected by Boston in the final round of the draft. The 25-year-old Cicero native will be joining three other New York natives in a star-studded 30-player roster in Boston, including University of Rochester alum Beth Greenwood, who made history as the first American woman to catch in an NCAA baseball game.
Here are a few New-York natives who will be playing in August:
Where to follow the WPBL and the New York Heights this upcoming season
Season opener: Los Angeles vs. New York at 5:00 p.m. ET on August 1
Where to watch: Live TV coverage is undetermined, but fans can follow WPBL scores.
Ticket info: General | Game 1
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: What is the WPBL? See details on New York’s new women’s baseball team
Reporting by Aniya Sumner, Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin / Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Aniya Sumner, Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin | USA TODAY Network
