A new baseball league is on the verge of it’s inaugural opening day! The Women’s Professional Baseball League will begin it’s first ever season this weekend.
For it’s inaugural season the WPBL will consist of four teams, and all games will be played in a neutral site in Springfield, Illinois. This is meant as a jumping-off point as they build interest before possible expansion in the future.
Although there isn’t a Denver team for the 2026 season, it’s possible that with enough interest and viewership
from the greater Colorado area that one could come in future seasons. Until then, we’ll all just need to settle for choosing one of the first four teams to root for.
Here are the choices.
The San Fransisco Firebells
San Fransisco’s team is named after Lillie Hitchcock Coit, an honorary firefighter in the late 1800’s San Francisco known by the moniker “Firebelle Lil”
Their first game is 5:30 PM MT Sunday August 2nd against the Boston Hunters and can be streamed on the WPBL youtube page.
Top Five Draftees:
- Kelsi Whitmore: RHP from San Diego, California
- Amanda Gianelloni: 2B from New Orleans, Louisiana
- Joely Leguizamon: SS from Jacksonville, Florida
- Jill Albayati: RHP from Anaheim, California
- Samantha Gutierrez: C from San Diego, California
The Los Angeles Queens
LA’s team is named after Lizzie Murphy, a professional baseball player in the 1910’s and 20’s known as the “Queen of Baseball”.
Their first game is 4 PM MT Saturday August 1st against the New York Heights and can be streamed on the WPBL youtube page.
Notably, for Rockies fans, the Queens are managed by none other than Eric Young Sr.
Top Five Draftees:
- Ayami Sato: RHP from Tokorozawa, Japan
- Ashton Lansdell: 3B from Marieta, Georgia
- Mo’ne Davis: CF from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Meggie Meidlinger: RHP from Sterling Virginia
- Thaima Maximiliana: SS from Curacao
The New York Heights
New York’s team is named after Dorothy Height, a civil rights advocate and president of the National Council of Negro Women for 40 years.
Their first game is 4 PM MT Saturday August 1st against the Los Angeles Queens and can be streamed on the WPBL youtube page.
Top Five Draftees:
- Kylee Lahners: 3B from Pinehurst, North Carlina
- Denae Benites: C from Las Vegas, Nevada
- Rakyung Kim: RHP from Seoul, South Korea
- Valerie Perez: SS from Corpus Christi, Texas
- Jaida Lee: RHP from St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada
The Boston Hunters
Boston’s team is named after Harriot Hunt, one of the first women to practice medicine professionally in the USA.
Their first game is 5:30 PM MT Sunday August 2nd against the San Fransisco Firebells and can be streamed on the WPBL youtube page.
Top Five Draftees:
- Hyeonah Kim: C from Seoul, South Korea
- Alli Schroder: RHP from Fruitvale, British Columbia, Canada
- Raine Padgham: RHP from Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
- Lexi Hastings: LF from Holly Springs, North Carolina
- Kate Blunt: SS from Ladera Ranch, California
Who are you rooting for?
Now that you’ve had a chance to look through the various teams, let us know in the comments which WPBL team you will be rooting for!
Also, look for more on Purple Row about Eric Young Sr.’s involvement with this new league.
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