After more than 70 years, women’s professional baseball is making a powerful comeback. The Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL) is set to launch its first official season in 2026, giving talented female athletes a long-awaited space to shine in a sport traditionally dominated by men.
With its roots in history and eyes on the future, the WPBL promises to inspire a whole new generation of baseball-loving girls and women across the United States.
A New League, A Historic Moment
If you’ve seen the classic film “A League of Their Own”, you might remember the story of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL), which ran from the 1940s to 1954.
It gave women the chance to play professionally during a time when men were off fighting in World War II. But after the AAGPBL folded, the world of pro baseball became almost entirely male.
That’s about to change.
The WPBL is here to carry that legacy forward, marking the first all-female professional baseball league in the U.S. since 1954.
Meet the Woman Behind the Movement
At the heart of the WPBL is Justine Siegal, a true trailblazer in baseball. She made history as the first woman to throw batting practice for Major League Baseball (MLB) teams, including the Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays, Houston Astros, and New York Mets.
Now, she’s co-founding the WPBL along with Keith Stein, a lawyer and businessman who believed in her vision. Siegal says building the league from scratch is challenging, but she’s ready—and excited—to make it happen.
“We’ve waited 70 years. Our time is now,” says Siegal.
What to Expect from the WPBL
The first season of the WPBL is planned to run from late May to late August 2026, and will kick off with six teams in the Northeast of the United States. The exact cities haven’t been announced yet, but we should hear more later this year.
Meanwhile, team ownership is being finalized, and efforts are underway to recruit female athletes from around the country who are ready to step up to the plate.
This isn’t just a league—it’s a movement. It’s a new opportunity for women who love baseball to finally play professionally in a league of their own.