Women's Pro Baseball League Launch Marred by Anthem Fiasco
WHO:
Fox News - Mo’ne Davis expressed her emotional reaction to the game, stating, "When I walked on the field I started crying because of how much this moment meant, and how much it meant to everybody. It means everything to us."
Fox News - Denae Benites commented on Maybelle Blair's involvement, saying, "I think that’s pretty incredible. Maybelle’s been sticking with us since the beginning of this journey. She’s paved a path for us, really. ... She’s a special person and I’m so happy that she got to make it out here and do that today."
AP - Sarah Hodel, a 43-year-old athletic trainer from Duluth, Minnesota, attended the game and expressed her excitement about the event.
AP - Rachel Koehler, a 33-year-old from St. Paul, Minnesota, shared her thoughts on the significance of the league for women in sports.
Fox News - Martha Reeves, lead singer of Martha and the Vandellas
Fox News - Mo’ne Davis, player for the Los Angeles Queens
Fox News - Maggie Foxx, left fielder and pitcher for the Los Angeles Queens
Fox News - Rakyung Kim, pitcher for the New York Heights
Fox News - Denae Benites, catcher for the New York Heights
Fox News - Maybelle Blair, former player in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
WHAT:
Fox News - The game was played in rainy conditions, with a crowd of more than 4,000 attendees lining up hours before the game for merchandise, including a Davis bobblehead.
AP - The line for the main merchandise booth stretched all the way to the outfield along one side of the ballpark.
AP - The game was played in rainy conditions, with a crowd of more than 4,000 attendees.
AP - Maggie Foxx recorded the league's first hit with a two-run single in the first inning.
AP - Denae Benites hit the WPBL's first home run, a two-run drive in the fourth inning.
AP - The Queens scored four runs in the final inning to secure their victory.
Fox News - The Women’s Pro Baseball League started with a game between the Los Angeles Queens and the New York Heights.
Fox News - The national anthem was performed by Martha Reeves and two other women, which received negative feedback on social media.
Fox News - The game marked the first women’s pro baseball game played in the U.S. in nearly three decades.
Fox News - Los Angeles won the game with a score of 10-8.
Daily Mail Sports - The anthem performance was described as "terrible" and "ear-splitting."
WHERE:
Fox News - The game took place at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois.
WHEN:
Fox News - The inaugural game occurred on August 1, 2026.
Fox News - Maybelle Blair threw out the first pitch during the game.
WHY:
AP - Antonietta Mabry, an accountant from Columbus, Ohio, highlighted the importance of exposing her daughter to female professional athletes.
Fox News - The event was significant as it represented a historic moment for women’s baseball.
HOW:
AP - The WPBL paid tribute to the past, present, and future of women’s baseball during a rain-delayed pregame ceremony, which included announcing the lineups for the Queens and Heights.
AP - The crowd cheered during a rain-delayed pregame ceremony that paid tribute to the past, present, and future of women’s baseball.
Fox News - Mo’ne Davis started in center field and scored a run for the Queens.
Fox News - Maggie Foxx achieved a 2-for-2 batting performance with two RBIs and struck out two batters.
Fox News - Denae Benites had a perfect batting performance, going 4-for-4 with two RBIs.
(UPDATED August 2, 2026 21:47 UTC)
In an emotional moment, Mo’ne Davis shared her heartfelt reaction to the game, saying, "When I walked on the field I started crying because of how much this moment meant, and how much it meant to everybody. It means everything to us." Denae Benites also praised Maybelle Blair for her support throughout their journey, calling her a special person who has paved the way for them. The game, played in rainy conditions, drew over 4,000 fans who lined up for hours for merchandise, including a Davis bobblehead, while the WPBL honored the history and future of women’s baseball during a rain-delayed pregame ceremony.
--
(UPDATED August 2, 2026 15:53 UTC)
In an exciting game played in rainy conditions, the crowd of over 4,000 cheered as the Queens scored four runs in the final inning to secure their victory. Maggie Foxx made history with the league's first hit, a two-run single in the first inning, while Denae Benites followed up with the WPBL's first home run, a two-run drive in the fourth. Attendees like Sarah Hodel and Rachel Koehler expressed their enthusiasm for the event, emphasizing the significance of the league for women in sports and the importance of showcasing female professional athletes to the next generation.
--
(UPDATED August 2, 2026 14:25 UTC)
In a historic moment for women’s baseball, the inaugural game of the Women’s Pro Baseball League took place at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois, featuring the Los Angeles Queens against the New York Heights, with Los Angeles emerging victorious at a score of 10 to 8. The national anthem was performed by Martha Reeves and two other women, but it received negative feedback on social media, with some describing it as "terrible" and "ear-splitting." Notable performances included Mo’ne Davis scoring a run for the Queens, while Maggie Foxx went 2-for-2 with two RBIs and struck out two batters, and Denae Benites achieved a perfect batting performance, going 4-for-4 with two RBIs.