Women’s Pro Baseball League Launches in NYC and NJ

WHO:

theguardian.com - Ayami Sato is considered the best pitcher in the history of women’s baseball and will be the starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Queens.

Gothamist - Sabrina Robinson and Nylah Ramirez both join the Boston Hunters.

nytimes.com - Justine Siegal, co-founder and commissioner of the WPBL, is the first woman to coach a pro men’s baseball team.

nytimes.com - Mo’ne Davis, Ashton Lansdell, and Kelsie Whitmore are among the players in the WPBL.

WHAT:

theguardian.com - Ayami Sato's fastball has been clocked at nearly 80mph, and her curveball has a spin rate higher than many Major League Baseball pitchers.

theguardian.com - Sato has won six gold medals as a member of the Japan National Team since 2010 and is the only player in Women’s Baseball World Cup history to win three consecutive MVP awards.

nytimes.com - The Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL) is a four-team league.

nytimes.com - The WPBL will feature teams representing Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, and New York.

nytimes.com - More than 600 players from around the world registered interest for tryouts.

nytimes.com - 120 players advanced from tryouts, and 60 made the final cut for the active rosters.

nytimes.com - The teams are named the Los Angeles Queens, San Francisco Firebells, Boston Hunters, and New York Heights.

nytimes.com - All 30 regular-season games will be played at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Ill.

nytimes.com - ESPN will stream 37 games this season, including the playoffs.

WHERE:

nytimes.com - The WPBL's inaugural season games will be held at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Ill.

nytimes.com - The teams represent major coastal cities: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, and New York.

WHEN:

nytimes.com - The WPBL is set to throw its first pitch on a Saturday in Springfield, Ill.

nytimes.com - The league put out an open call for tryouts last October.

WHY:

nytimes.com - The WPBL was created to fill the gap of nearly 72 years without a women’s professional baseball league in the U.S.

nytimes.com - The league aims to capitalize on the public's strong appetite for women’s baseball, as evidenced by the high number of tryout registrations.

HOW:

theguardian.com - Sato aims to teach her teammates to take the game pitch-by-pitch and to work hard to be the best version of themselves.

nytimes.com - The WPBL conducted tryouts to select players for its teams.

nytimes.com - The league is leveraging the experience of the AAGPBL to establish its operations without a charm school.

Ayami Sato, widely regarded as the best pitcher in the history of women’s baseball, will take the mound as the starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Queens. Known for her impressive skills, Sato's fastball has been clocked at nearly 80 miles per hour, and her curveball boasts a spin rate that surpasses many Major League Baseball pitchers. With six gold medals to her name from her time with the Japan National Team and a record three consecutive MVP awards in the Women’s Baseball World Cup, Sato is dedicated to mentoring her teammates to approach the game pitch-by-pitch and strive for personal excellence.