Julie Croteau, a trailblazer in baseball, has spent most of her career competing against men, either as teammates or foes. However, a recent development in the world of women's baseball has caught her attention. The Women's Professional Baseball League (WPBL) is set to launch in 2026, marking the first professional league for female players since the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League dissolved in 1954.
The rise in interest in women's sports in recent years has created an opportune moment for the launch of a women's baseball league. The WPBL co-founder, the first woman to coach for an MLB team, Justine Siegal, highlighted the growing popularity and revenue potential of women's sports, citing the success of leagues like the WNBA and the Professional Women’s Hockey League.
Siegal emphasized the importance of catering to the specific needs of female athletes, drawing from her own experiences of juggling coaching responsibilities with motherhood. She aims to ensure that the league provides opportunities for all women, including mothers who aspire to compete at the professional level.
The WPBL aims to establish a strong women's baseball culture in the U.S., offering a platform for female players to showcase their talent. The league has already garnered significant interest, with over 400 athletes registering for tryouts within 24 hours of the player portal launch.
With plans for a scouting camp in 2025 and a draft later that year, the WPBL is on track to debut with six teams in 2026, potentially expanding to eight teams in the future. While the league faces challenges in terms of compensation and recognition compared to male-dominated sports leagues, co-founder Keith Stein is optimistic about gradually raising the bar for women baseball players.
Despite the hurdles ahead, supporters like Croteau commend the WPBL for providing a platform for talented female players who have long had to navigate barriers in pursuing their passion for baseball. The league's establishment signifies a significant step towards gender equality in sports and offers promising prospects for the future of women's baseball.
