(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Mo’ne Davis Leads the Way as Women’s Pro Baseball League Tryouts Begin
Baseball history is being written in Washington, D.C., where over 600 women from around the world gathered at the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy for the first tryouts of the upcoming Women’s Pro Baseball League (WPBL) — the first professional women’s league of its kind in nearly 80 years.
Among the hopefuls was Mo’ne Davis, the former Little League World Series star who made headlines a decade ago as the first girl to earn a pitching win in the tournament. Now 24, Davis admitted she felt nervous ahead of her tryout but quickly found her rhythm.
“I’ve been here plenty of times, and seeing familiar faces calmed me down,” Davis said after working out in the outfield and taking batting practice.
A Global Showcase of Talent
The tryouts featured players from 10 countries, including Japan, Australia, and Mexico. Ages ranged from 17 to 57, with participants spanning current athletes, former college players, and even national team standouts.
League co-founder Justine Siegal welcomed the players by reminding them:
“We are standing on the shoulders of other pioneers. Now, it’s your time.”
Over the four-day showcase, athletes are taking part in drills, bullpen sessions, and scrimmages — with the event culminating in a showcase game at Nationals Park.
From Softball Diamonds to Baseball Dreams
For many participants, the league represents a long-awaited chance to play the game they love.
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Allison Dougherty, a Florida restaurant owner, described it as “the biggest moment of our lives” for women who grew up loving baseball but were pushed into softball.
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Heather Strong, a flight attendant from Massachusetts, said: “This means the world to little girls everywhere. No matter where they come from, no matter who they are.”
Both women shared stories of being forced to switch to softball in high school despite starting in Little League baseball.
Guidance From Veterans
Some of the sport’s biggest female names were on hand to guide the tryouts. Japanese ace Ayami Sato and Canadian standout Alli Schroder helped coach participants, while former Colorado Silver Bullets star Tamara Holmes reflected on how monumental the event felt.
“It hit me when I got here and saw this first group,” Holmes said. “It’s not every day you get to be part of something historic.”
Holmes believes many softball players can successfully make the transition to baseball, though it may take time. Still, she emphasized that for most players, the experience itself is invaluable.
A Defining Moment for Women’s Baseball
While not everyone will earn a roster spot in the six-team WPBL, the showcase has already become a landmark moment for women in sports. The league is set to launch next year, offering opportunities that generations of women never had.
As Davis summed it up:
“It feels great just to see so many women come out who love the sport. To finally have the opportunity to play professionally — that’s really cool.”
