Nicholls State Alumna Amanda Gianelloni Drafted to Women's Pro Baseball League

Gianelloni was the only player from Louisiana selected in the inaugural WPBL draft.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 9:51pm

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A cubist-style painting featuring fragmented, geometric shapes in bright colors representing a women's baseball game, conveying the dynamic energy and pioneering spirit of the new professional league.The inaugural Women's Professional Baseball League aims to shatter barriers and open new opportunities for women in America's pastime.Springfield Today

Nicholls State alumna Amanda Gianelloni was drafted 8th overall by the San Francisco team in the inaugural Women's Professional Baseball League (WPBL). Gianelloni, a member of the Nicholls Athletics Hall of Fame, was the only player from Louisiana selected in the draft that included internationally-known women athletes. The new WPBL will feature four teams playing a seven-week season in Springfield, Illinois starting in 2026, marking the first professional women's baseball league in the U.S. since the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League dissolved in 1954.

Why it matters

The launch of the WPBL provides a long-awaited professional pathway for women baseball players in the U.S., who have historically had to forge unusual paths to play at the highest levels, often alongside men. Gianelloni's selection as the lone Louisiana player highlights the state's growing talent pool and the national recognition of Nicholls State's athletics program.

The details

Amanda Gianelloni, a Nicholls State alumna and member of the school's Athletics Hall of Fame, was drafted 8th overall in the first round by the San Francisco team in the inaugural WPBL draft. Gianelloni was the only player from Louisiana selected in the 30-player draft, which included internationally-known women athletes. The new WPBL will feature four teams - San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, and Boston - that will play a seven-week regular season and two-week postseason at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois starting in 2026. This marks the first professional women's baseball league in the U.S. since the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League dissolved in 1954.

  • The WPBL will launch its inaugural season on August 1, 2026.
  • Gianelloni was inducted into the Nicholls Athletics Hall of Fame in 2024.

The players

Amanda Gianelloni

A Nicholls State alumna and member of the school's Athletics Hall of Fame, Gianelloni was the 8th overall pick in the inaugural WPBL draft, making her the only player selected from Louisiana.

Nicholls State

The university that Gianelloni attended, where she broke numerous records and was selected to the USA Baseball Women's National Team. Nicholls is proud of Gianelloni's continued success and her selection as one of the first women drafted into the new professional league.

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What they’re saying

“'We are obviously so proud of Amanda's continued success, and being one of the first women drafted into this league is an amazing addition to her list of accomplishments. I know she will continue to show her Colonel Pride in San Francisco.'”

— Jonathan Terrell, Vice President for Collegiate Athletics, Nicholls State

What’s next

The WPBL will hold an intrasquad scrimmage on Thursday, April 10, 2026 ahead of the Boston Red Sox spring training game against the Minnesota Twins.

The takeaway

The launch of the Women's Professional Baseball League marks a historic milestone for women's sports in the U.S., providing a long-overdue professional pathway for talented players like Nicholls State's Amanda Gianelloni. This new league has the potential to inspire the next generation of young girls to pursue their baseball dreams.