Women’s professional baseball is set to return with the launch of the Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL) in 2026. According to CBS News, the league will debut with four teams located in New York, Boston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. The league was co-founded by Justine Siegal, the first female coach in Major League Baseball history with the Oakland Athletics.
Originally planned as a six-team league, the WPBL will start with four teams of 15 players each. CBS News reported that the league’s draft next month will feature the top 100 prospects from this summer’s tryouts, along with well-known players such as Mo’ne Davis, Kelsie Whitmore, and Ayami Sato.
WPBL games will be played at neutral venues, with locations to be announced later, as per NBC Boston. The league’s leadership team includes Siegal, co-founder Keith Stein, and advisor Cito Gaston, a World Series-winning manager.
Boston’s selection reflects the city’s strong sports culture and active fan base. The WPBL aims to build on the legacy of women’s baseball and bring professional competition back to the national stage starting in 2026.
