Women’s pro baseball is back. Here’s what to expect from the WPBL

Key Points:

• The Women's Professional Baseball League (WPBL) is launching its inaugural season in Springfield, Illinois, marking the first U.S. women's professional baseball league since the AAGPBL folded in 1954 due to low revenue and MLB's televised popularity.
• The WPBL features four teams representing Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, and New York, with a roster of 60 players selected from over 600 international applicants, highlighting strong public interest in women's baseball.
• Players come from diverse backgrounds including collegiate baseball, softball, and independent leagues, with significant international representation, notably nine Australian players and talents from Japan's former women's league.
• All 30 regular-season games will be played at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, with ESPN streaming 37 games to provide national exposure, while international viewers can watch on YouTube.
• The WPBL aims to build on the legacy of the AAGPBL without repeating past limitations, leveraging modern media and fan engagement to establish a sustainable professional platform for women's baseball.