Women’s Professional Baseball League Opens Inaugural Season Despite Rain in Springfield

The inaugural game of the Women’s Professional Baseball League took place Saturday night in Springfield, Illinois, marking the return of women’s professional baseball to the United States for the first time in nearly three decades. The Los Angeles Queens, led by Mo’ne Davis, faced off against the New York Heights in a contest that persisted through steady rainfall at Robin Roberts Stadium, the league’s 101-year-old home venue.

More than 4,000 spectators braved wet conditions to witness the historic matchup, with many arriving hours early to secure merchandise and commemorative items. Sarah Hodel, a 43-year-old athletic trainer from Duluth, Minnesota, said she had made it her goal to attend after learning of the league’s formation years earlier. “Back in high school I was on my speech team and my informative speech was on women in baseball,” Hodel explained.

The crowd included families seeking to provide young daughters with role models in professional athletics. Antonietta Mabry attended with her husband Jason and their 9-year-old daughter Rosalee from Columbus, Ohio, viewing the event as a rare opportunity to expose children to female professional athletes. Rosalee obtained an autograph from San Francisco second baseman Amanda Gianelloni.

The league’s pregame ceremony honored women’s baseball history, including a tribute from 99-year-old Maybelle Blair, who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1943 to 1954. Blair threw a ceremonial first pitch to San Francisco’s Kelsie Whitmore, drawing the evening’s loudest applause from the crowd.

The WPBL features four teams total: the Los Angeles Queens, New York Heights, San Francisco Firebells, and Boston Hunters. The Firebells and Hunters were scheduled to play their inaugural contests on Sunday, with players from both teams assisting grounds crew in removing the tarp following the rain delay.