The Women’s Professional Baseball League officially launched its inaugural season Saturday night, marking the return of professional women’s baseball to the United States for the first time in nearly 30 years as thousands of fans turned out despite rainy conditions in Springfield, Illinois.
More than 4,000 spectators packed the historic Robin Roberts Stadium to witness the league’s first game, where the Los Angeles Queens rallied from a four-run deficit to defeat the New York Heights 10-8 in a rain-soaked season opener.
The evening celebrated a milestone for women’s sports while also generating widespread online discussion over Motown legend Martha Reeves’ performance of the national anthem.
Fans Traveled Across the Country for Historic Opening
Long before first pitch, fans lined up outside the 101-year-old stadium, many arriving hours early to commemorate what they viewed as a landmark moment for women’s baseball.
Sarah Hodel traveled from Duluth, Minnesota, after following the league’s development for years.
“Back in high school I was on my speech team and my informative speech was on women in baseball,” Hodel said, the Associated Press reported. “So as soon as I saw this happening a couple years ago it was my goal to come.”
Rachel Koehler, who made the trip from St. Paul, Minnesota, said the league creates opportunities that did not exist when she was growing up.
“Growing up I played softball,” Koehler said, per AP. “I wanted to play baseball because going professional was always like the dream, but there (were) no opportunities. … So now that that’s actually an opportunity and something that girls can look up to I think is amazing.”
Despite steady rain throughout much of the day, fans crowded the merchandise stands and lined up for commemorative items before taking their seats.
Los Angeles Queens Rally for First-Ever Victory
History was made immediately after the first pitch.
Maggie Foxx recorded the league’s first hit with a two-run single for Los Angeles in the opening inning.
New York’s Denae Benites later hit the first home run in league history with a two-run blast to center field in the fourth inning.
The Heights built an 8-4 advantage before the Queens mounted a comeback, scoring two runs in the sixth inning and four more in the seventh to secure the league’s first victory.
Sports Illustrated cover athlete Mo’ne Davis helped lead Los Angeles to the historic win.
The league’s remaining two clubs — the Boston Hunters and San Francisco Firebells — began their seasons on Sunday.
Ceremony Honors Women’s Baseball History
Before the game, the league held a rain-delayed opening ceremony recognizing the past, present and future of women’s baseball.
The night’s loudest ovation came for 99-year-old Maybelle Blair, a former player in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, who threw the ceremonial first pitch to San Francisco Firebells star Kelsie Whitmore.
Blair, who serves on the WPBL advisory board, played in the league that operated from 1943 to 1954 and later inspired the 1992 film A League of Their Own.
“I think that’s pretty incredible,” Benites said, AP reported. “Maybelle’s been sticking with us since the beginning of this journey. She’s paved a path for us, really.”
Families attending the game said the league provides young girls with new professional role models.
“Having a daughter, it’s really exciting to give her exposure to female professional athletes,” said Antonietta Mabry of Columbus, Ohio, according to AP.
Her 9-year-old daughter, Rosalee, who plays softball, said she was excited to watch professional women compete and to collect player autographs.
Martha Reeves’ National Anthem Sparks Online Debate
The league’s opening ceremony also drew widespread attention after Motown legend Martha Reeves performed “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Reeves, 85, best known as the lead singer of Martha and the Vandellas, received mixed reactions on social media after the performance went viral, with clips generating tens of millions of views.
Some viewers criticized the performance, while others defended the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and praised her decades-long music career, which included the top classic hits Dancing in the Street, Nowhere to Run, and (Love is Like a) Heat Wave.
Absolutely nothing could have prepared me for the national anthem at the first Women’s Pro Baseball League tonight pic.twitter.com/3lEYRYNQTi
— Kendall Baker (@kendallbaker) August 2, 2026
In a statement released afterward, Reeves said difficult weather conditions affected her performance.
“Having just celebrated my 85th birthday, I’ve learned a great deal over more than 60 years of performing live,” Reeves said, according to TMZ. “It was an incredible honor to be invited to perform at the inaugural Women’s Professional Baseball League event and to help celebrate such a historic moment for women in sports. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”
She added that rain and wind created technical challenges.
“The field conditions were wet and windy, and without stage monitors I wasn’t able to hear myself as I normally would. While it wasn’t the performance I had hoped for, I’m grateful to have been there in support of these remarkable athletes and this groundbreaking league.”
New Chapter for Women’s Baseball
The WPBL’s inaugural season marks the first professional women’s baseball league in the United States since the late 1990s.
All games during the league’s first season will be played at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield.
While the national anthem became an unexpected viral talking point, the league’s launch represented a long-awaited milestone for players and fans seeking expanded opportunities for women in professional baseball.
Provided by Dallas Express
