Six athletes from British Columbia have been chosen to participate in the debut season of the Women’s Pro Baseball League in 2026, expressing optimism about paving the way for women in a historically male-dominated sport. The inaugural WPBL draft selected 20 Canadians, with the B.C. players drafted by four U.S. teams. The league is scheduled to commence play in the summer of 2026 in Springfield, Illinois, offering a central location for its four teams.
Liz Gilder, a left-handed pitcher selected 49th overall by the San Francisco team, shared her experience of being often the only girl playing baseball in her youth in Port Moody, B.C. She highlighted the importance of retaining girls in baseball between the ages of 12 and 14, aiming to prevent the transition to softball.
Gilder, who has represented Canada and Team B.C., noted the increasing interest among B.C. girls in playing baseball rather than softball. An all-girls baseball league she helped organize for Baseball B.C. expanded significantly, indicating a growing trend towards involvement in “hardball.”
The WPBL, co-founded by Justine Siegal, the first female coach in MLB history, and managed by Keith Stein, marks the first professional women’s baseball league since the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League disbanded in 1954. Juliette Kladko, a 22-year-old pitcher drafted by the Los Angeles team, emphasized the rising interest in women’s sports, citing recent developments in professional soccer, basketball, and hockey leagues.
Michelle Roche, a right-handed pitcher from Burnaby selected 39th overall, highlighted the significance of Canadian representation in the WPBL and drew parallels to past achievements in women’s baseball history. Roche noted the evolution of women’s baseball as an ongoing narrative, with the WPBL providing an opportunity for female athletes to showcase their talent on a larger stage.