By: Jonathan Karas
January 29, 2025
Photo Credit: WPBL
America’s pastime is making room on the diamond for women, with the Women’s Pro Baseball League (WPBL) set to make its historic debut in 2026. The league will start out with six teams initially, although no cities are confirmed yet, they are currently expected to be in the Northeastern region of the country (The Athletic, Kamila Hinkson). One of the founders of this league is Justine Siegal, who previously founded Baseball For All, a baseball non-profit organization, along with being the first woman to ever coach for a professional men’s team – a testament to her expertise in baseball operations as the league continues to plan (Sportslogos.net). With the WPBL coming into form, this now means that North America will have at least one professional women’s league for each of the five main professional sports (football, hockey, basketball, soccer, and now baseball).
The announcement of the WPBL comes at a time in which women’s sports are surging. With the additions of young superstars Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese to the WNBA, the league saw record viewership numbers this season and is on the verge of expanding to 15 teams by 2026. The PWHL (Professional Women’s Hockey League) is also planning on expansion in the coming years as well, with the WPBL seeming to be the next major player in the booming women’s sports market.
As the new league gears up for their first season, they are actively working to secure a national broadcast deal. Once successful, it will be easily accessible for anyone to watch all over the country, adding to the allure of the product. With this league being the first of its kind in women’s professional baseball, they should be able to secure great sponsorships in early years with big companies who aim to build Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Looking at the WNBA as a good example, they recently partnered with AT&T for a new initiative called Her Time to Play which helps raise visibility of the WNBA, while working as great CSR for AT&T (AT&T). If the WPBL can appeal as a CSR play to big companies like AT&T, they can expect growth and benefits in the near future.
The league already has multiple big names from the MLB in support of their league, like former Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston. Gaston, who will be a special advisor to the league, is charged with helping bring in potential future investors to continue to aid the growth of the league. Securing key figures from the sporting world like Gaston will be crucial for the WPBL’s growth, stability, and long-term success.
Co-Founder Siegal shared a powerful opening statement following founding of her league, stating “the Women’s Pro Baseball League is here for all the girls and women who dream of a place to showcase their talents and play the game they love... we have been waiting over 70 years for a professional baseball league we can call our own. Our time is now.”
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