New Women's Pro Baseball League Launches at Red Sox Spring Training Home

The Women's Pro Baseball League will play its inaugural season this summer, marking the first U.S. women's pro baseball league in over 70 years.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 2:19am

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The Women's Pro Baseball League (WPBL) is launching its inaugural season this summer, with four teams - Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York - playing a six-week regular season and two-week postseason at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois. The league held a two-day event at the Boston Red Sox's spring training facility in Fort Myers, Florida, where players like Kelsie Whitmore, Ayami Sato and Mo'ne Davis participated in drills and scrimmages with major league coaches.

Why it matters

The WPBL represents the first women's professional baseball league in the United States since the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League dissolved in 1954. This provides a long-awaited path for women baseball players to compete at the professional level, creating new opportunities and visibility for the sport.

The details

The WPBL event in Fort Myers featured women baseball players from around the world, including standout pitcher and outfielder Kelsie Whitmore, veteran Japanese pitcher Ayami Sato, and former Little League star Mo'ne Davis. The players participated in drills, scrimmages, and Q&A sessions with major league coaches, preparing for the league's inaugural season starting on August 1.

  • The WPBL will launch its eight-week season on August 1, 2026.
  • The league held a two-day event at the Boston Red Sox's spring training facility in Fort Myers, Florida on March 19-20, 2026.

The players

Kelsie Whitmore

A standout pitcher and outfielder who has won multiple medals playing for the U.S. women's national baseball team. She is the No. 1 overall selection to the San Diego team in the WPBL's inaugural draft.

Ayami Sato

A veteran Japanese pitcher participating in the WPBL event in Fort Myers.

Mo'ne Davis

A former Little League star who in 2014 became the first girl to earn a win and pitch a shutout in the Little League World Series.

Shawn Smith

The Boston Red Sox's general manager of Florida operations, who hosted the WPBL event at the team's spring training facility.

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What they’re saying

“I never thought this would ever happen for me in my prime career. I never thought it was ever going to happen, truly.”

— Kelsie Whitmore

“This is another moment that I take when I go back home — what do I need to work on? For me specifically is hitting approach. That's the one I'm really focusing on because I want to be a better hitter. I want be a more consistent hitter. … I appreciate all the coaches that helped today. Whatever question you had, they were open to answering it.”

— Mo'ne Davis

“These athletes have done something that hasn't existed in 80 years. And they're at the pinnacle of their craft right now only to get better. For us to be here — I feel like a little kid. I can't describe it any other way.”

— Shawn Smith, Red Sox general manager of Florida operations

What’s next

The WPBL will play an intrasquad scrimmage on Thursday, March 20, 2026 ahead of the Red Sox spring training game against the Minnesota Twins.

The takeaway

The launch of the Women's Pro Baseball League represents a historic milestone, providing a long-awaited professional pathway for women baseball players in the U.S. and inspiring the next generation of young girls to pursue their dreams of playing the sport at the highest level.