Six athletes from British Columbia have been chosen to participate in the inaugural season of the Women’s Pro Baseball League in 2026. These athletes express optimism that this opportunity will pave the way for future sustainability in a sport traditionally dominated by men. The first-ever WPBL draft selected 20 Canadians, with six from British Columbia, distributed among four U.S.-based teams.
Scheduled to commence in the summer of 2026, the league will hold games in Springfield, Illinois, providing a central location for its four teams. Liz Gilder, a left-handed pitcher drafted 49th overall by the San Francisco team, shared her experience of being the only girl playing baseball in her hometown of Port Moody, B.C.
Gilder emphasized the importance of retaining girls in baseball from ages 12 to 14, steering them away from transitioning to softball. Noting a rise in B.C. girls opting for baseball over softball, Gilder highlighted the growth of an all-girls baseball league she helped organize, expanding significantly within a year.
The Women’s Pro Baseball League, spearheaded by Justine Siegal and Keith Stein, marks the first professional women’s baseball league since the 1950s. Juliette Kladko, a 22-year-old pitcher drafted by the Los Angeles team, acknowledged the increasing interest in women’s sports.
Michelle Roche, a right-handed pitcher from Burnaby selected by the Los Angeles team, pointed out the significance of Canadian representation in the WPBL and reflected on the historical context of women’s baseball from the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League to present-day opportunities.