In the United States, a big moment for women’s sports is happening. A brand-new league—called the Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL)—will officially start in 2026. It will be the first adult women’s professional baseball league ever. This is a long-awaited chance that spans generations.
ABC News reports that the league has already begun its first tryouts in Washington, D.C. Players from all across the country are showing up with hopes of playing professionally.
The news excites both famous athletes and new talent, and even women who once had to give up early dreams because there were no adult leagues. One of the standout faces is Victoria Ruelas, who at age 12 became the first American girl to play in the Little League World Series back in 1989. Over thirty years later, she feels progress is too slow. “We still talk about the advances, but they take too long. It should happen faster,” she told ABC News.
Ruelas is happy to see girls in the Little League World Series, but worries that those are isolated cases. “I’m moved to see them, but it’s just one here, one there. It makes me upset because so many of us played,” she added.
The WPBL tryouts welcome players of all ages. Among the confirmed names are former youth star Mo’ne Davis and U.S. national team member Kelsie Whitmore.
Monica Holguin, now 45 years old and from Burbank, California, shared: “I never imagined seeing this. When I was a kid, people told you to switch to softball because baseball had no future for women. So I just accepted it.” Holguin, who spent years raising her children, came to Washington to try out as a third baseman. “I just want to show my kids that age doesn’t stop you from chasing a dream,” she said.
Legacy and Persistence
Watching hopefuls of many ages highlights both the legacy and the long-lasting barriers women face in U.S. baseball. Ruelas, now 48, played college softball and was on the U.S. team at the Women’s World Series in 2001. She traveled to D.C. for the tryout and says: “As long as my body allows it, I want to keep playing.”
Another inspiring story comes from Micaela Minner, who co-founded a sports training company in Akron, Ohio. She played baseball until she was 15 and then had a successful softball career in school and beyond—but baseball still means a lot to her.
“When I was little, my skin color caused issues in my mostly white hometown. My stepdad put me into baseball so I wouldn’t get into trouble,” she told the U.S. press. “I found belonging and that helped me accept myself. Baseball saved me,” Minner said. She played first base and was a left-handed pitcher in the tryouts.
After decades of women having to switch to softball or play in predominantly male leagues, the WPBL offers a long-overdue path to a real professional level. “The goal now is to show girls they can play after high school—and even get paid for it, just like boys. We need this to grow, to be a real goal for the next generations,” said Minner.
Summary
- The Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL) is set to start in 2026—the first adult women’s pro baseball league in U.S. history.
- Tryouts are already taking place in Washington, D.C., open to all ages.
- The event is inspiring players of all ages and backgrounds.
- Victoria Ruelas, Mo’ne Davis, Kelsie Whitmore, Monica Holguin, and Micaela Minner are among those involved.
- The WPBL represents a major leap toward equality in baseball and a real goal for future generations.