After 70 years, women’s baseball officially has a league of its own again. If you’re new to the diamond, here’s a rundown of the structure, teams, and players to get familiar with ahead of the WPBL’s first-ever season. 

HOW DOES WOMEN'S BASEBALL DIFFER FROM SOFTBALL? 🤔

PITCHING
The WPBL uses a small, hard, white baseball. The baseball is thrown using an overhand motion from a 60-foot pitching distance. Professional softball leagues use a large, softer, yellow ball. The softball is thrown using an underhand motion from a 43-foot pitching distance. 

FIELD CONFIGURATION
The WPBL conducts games on a large diamond-shaped field with 90-foot base paths. Professional softball leagues conduct games on smaller diamond-shaped fields with 60-foot base paths.

RULES FOR BASERUNNING
WPBL runners can “lead off” or step a short distance away from the base at any time during the pitch. Professional softball runners are prohibited from stepping off the base until the ball has been released from the pitcher’s hand.

MEET THE TEAMS 🥎

The inaugural teams include the Boston Hunters, New York Heights, Los Angeles Queens, and the San Francisco Firebells. Each team name honors women who have made strides in U.S. history. 

• The Boston Hunters highlights Harriot Kezia Hunt, a physician and women’s health advocate who served as the first woman to apply to Harvard Medical School.
  
  

• The New York Heights represents Dorothy Irene Height, a civil rights activist who contributed to the YWCA and led the National Council of Negro Women.
  
  

• The Los Angeles Queens recognizes Lizzie Murphy, who was coined “The Queen of Baseball” after becoming the first woman to compete against Major League Baseball players.
  
  

• The San Francisco Firebells are inspired by Lillie Hitchcock “Firebelle Lil” Coit, who assisted San Francisco’s volunteer firefighters at just 15 years old and, years later, became a member of the fire engine company. 

INAUGURAL SEASON STRUCTURE

All of the inaugural season games will be held at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, IL. There will be 15 players on each team’s roster.

The regular season will begin on August 1 and end on September 6. After all four teams play 15 games, the regular season standings will determine which teams will participate in the playoffs.

The WPBL Playoffs begin on September 9 and will consist of three-game series, with the winners moving on to the five-game series WPBL Championship to determine the overall champion. 

WHERE TO WATCH 📺

You can catch all WPBL games live on the official YouTube channel. View the full schedule here. 

WHO TO WATCH 👀

From NCAA stars to Little League legends, the WPBL inaugural season is bringing out the best in women’s baseball. Let’s take a closer look at the draftees that you should know across the league’s four new teams. 

Kelsie Whitmore

Kelsie Whitmore is a WPBL first pick with a resumé to match. Drafted to the San Francisco Firebells, Whitmore’s baseball debut 10 years ago led her to the highest spot on the newest women’s baseball league.

While on the USA Women’s National Baseball roster, Whitmore was honored with the 2022 USA Baseball Sportswoman of the Year award. After playing Division I softball for Cal State Fullerton, Whitmore took her talents to the Staten Island FerryHawks, becoming the first woman to play in an MLB Partner League. She is also noted for making history as the first woman to start in a Pioneer League while playing for the Oakland Ballers. 

Mo’ne Davis

Mo’ne Davis has been making history since she was 13. The Los Angeles Queens’ tenth overall pick became the first girl to throw a shutout during her time as a Little League Baseball pitcher and grace the cover of Sports Illustrated — but she did not stop there.

After playing on Hampton University’s softball team and graduating from Columbia University with a Master’s in Sports Management, Davis became the first woman to sign with the Indianapolis Clowns in the team's 70-year history. Her entrance into the WPBL makes her the first Black woman to be drafted to the league, where she will play at center field. 

Hyeonah Kim

Hyeonah Kim is a catcher from Seoul, South Korea, and the first Korean baseball player drafted to the WPBL. Joining the Boston Hunters as the fourth overall pick, Kim brings strong offensive play to the league’s inaugural season. 

She remains a member of the Korean national team and a captain of the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup team. Her undeniable game was solidified after she claimed the batting title at the 2025 BFA Women’s Baseball Asian Cup, securing 15 hits in seven games.

Kylee Lahners

Kylee Lahners is no stranger to greatness. She joins the New York Heights as the third overall pick with a background in both softball and baseball. 

A top player for the University of Washington softball team, Lahners transitioned from an All-American to a National Professional Fastpitch (NPF) draftee. After three years with the Dallas Charge, Lahners stepped into her star-studded baseball career with a spot on the USA Women’s National Baseball roster. She’s a batter who is hard to beat, serving as one of the very few baseball players to record 7 RBIs in a single game.