A Home Run for Women’s Baseball

Women’s professional baseball returns to the United States after more than 70 years.

Kelsie Whitmore of the San Francisco Firebells pitches against the Boston Hunters during a game on August 2, 2026.

After years of being stuck in the dugout, a new generation of professional athletes are now stepping up to the plate with the debut, or start, of the Women’s Pro Baseball League (WPBL). The WPBL is the first pro women’s baseball league in the United States since the 1950s.

The league’s debut weekend was a home run for fans and players at the historic Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois. The Los Angeles Queens won 10–8 against the New York Heights on August 1, 2026. The San Francisco Firebells had a decisive victory over the Boston Hunters with 11–3 in game 2 on the following day.

The WPBL pros come from countries around the world, including Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, and the United States, among others. The league includes former Little League star Mo’Ne Davis and softball pro Kylee Lahners. World-famous pitcher Ayami Sato is also in the league. Sato recently became the first woman to play in a Canadian men’s Major League game.

The league debut included a piece of baseball history, too. Ninety-nine-year-old Maybelle Blair threw the ceremonial first pitch for the Queens and Heights game. Blair was a pitcher in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, which existed from 1943 to 1954 and inspired the 1992 film A League of Their Own.

The four team names honor four women who made their mark in history. Here are the team names and their inspiration, according to ESPN:

Boston Hunters: Named for Harriot Kezia Hunt, who in 1847 became the first woman to apply to Harvard Medical School, located in Boston, Massachusetts. Hunt became a doctor and a women’s health advocate.

Los Angeles Queens: Honors “The Queen of Baseball” Lizzie Murphy, who was the first woman to play against pro men’s baseball players in an exhibition game in 1922.

New York Heights: Named after civil rights activist Dorothy Irene Height, a social worker who promoted racial integration nationwide. In 1957 she became president of the National Council of Negro Women.

San Francisco Firebells: Honors a local firefighting volunteer, Lillie Hitchcock “Firebelle Lil” Coit. Coit began helping the San Francisco volunteer firefighters at age 15 in 1858.

Click through the slideshow for more from opening weekend!

Ayami Sato is just about to pitch the ball. — Ayami Sato of the Los Angeles Queens pitches during a game against the New York Heights on August 1, 2026.

Mo’ne Davis slides into a base on her stomach. — Mo’ne Davis of the Los Angeles Queens slides into third base during the August 1 game against the New York Heights.

Maybelle Blair sits in a wheelchair as she throws a baseball to Kelsie Whitmore. — Former All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player Maybelle Blair throws the ceremonial first pitch to Kelsie Whitmore on opening day.

Gabrielle Haas and Hyeonah Kim smile and high five with their baseball gloves. — Gabrielle Haas (number 6) of the Boston Hunters celebrates with teammate Hyeonah Kim (number 7) during a game against the San Francisco Firebells.

Denae Benites is about to drop the bat and run after having just hit. — Denae Benites of the New York Heights reacts after hitting a single during a game against the Los Angeles Queens on August 1.

Did You Know?

Baseball’s first female umpire was a teenager! In 1904, 16-year-old Amanda Clement was asked to be the official who enforces the rules, called the umpire, for a men’s baseball game. She went on to be a paid umpire for six more years!

More than 120 years later, Jen Pawol (seen in the photo below) became the first female umpire in modern professional baseball.

Atiqa Mir Lives in the Fast Lane

Young kart racers like Atiqa Mir of India and Reha Kurbani of Iran (seen here wearing red in 2024) are taking their sport by storm.

Atiqa Mir dreams of driving in a Formula 1 (F1) race, the highest class of international motor racing. At 11 years old, she is racing toward her goal. Already a champion kart racer, Atiqa is the youngest driver to be selected for an F1 Academy program that’s focused on supporting girls in motor sports.

Atiqa began kart racing, or karting, when she was 5 years old. Karting is a kind of motorsport where a person drives a small, open-wheeled go-kart. Despite being small, these karts are fast. Adult professionals race at speeds exceeding 80 miles per hour (130 kilometers per hour). Atiqa said in a Vogue India interview that her top speeds reach 75 mph (120 kph).

In 2024 Atiqa became the first female competitor to win at the Rotax Max Challenge International Trophy race in France. In June 2026 she won first place in the age 12–14 category at the Champions of the Future Academy race in Greece.

Atiqa’s success at such a young age has earned her the title of karting prodigy. Her father, Asif Nazir Mir, helped foster her love for speed. A former karting champion himself, he now acts as her racing mentor. Originally from India, Atiqa’s family now lives in the United Arab Emirates so that she can focus on training for the F1 Academy program.

“I want to be the first woman in the modern era to compete in Formula 1,” Atiqa said in an interview with Vogue India. “It’s possible. You just need to believe in the vision and work hard every single day. I think I can do it.”

A League of Their Own

State Archives of Florida (C009833), © PictureLux—The Hollywood Archive/Alamy; Photo illustration Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Who were the Rockford Peaches, the pro women’s baseball team that inspired the film A League of Their Own? Check out Britannica to learn more about the real athletes of the 1940s and 1950s whose baseball dreams came true.

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