Philadelphia’s Mo’ne Davis is once again making sports history. Shortly after the inaugural draft of the newly formed Women’s Pro Baseball League (WPBL), Davis was selected 10th overall by the Los Angeles team—an announcement that quickly attracted attention from major outlets including CBS News, NBC Sports Philadelphia, the Associated Press, MLB.com and local Philadelphia media.
The WPBL—set to launch in 2026 with teams in Los Angeles, New York, Boston and San Francisco—marks the first professional women’s baseball league in the U.S. since the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in the 1950s.
Davis’s selection is seen not only as a major personal milestone but as a moment of affirmation for women’s baseball nationwide.
From Little League icon to professional pioneer
Davis shot into the national spotlight in 2014 when she became the first girl to pitch a shutout and win a game in the Little League World Series—earning a historic Sports Illustrated cover and a place in the Baseball Hall of Fame. More than a decade later, her journey brings her into this new pro league, bridging hometown heroism with professional opportunity.
During the WPBL tryouts in Washington, D.C., Davis displayed her versatility—taking reps as a pitcher, second baseman, shortstop and center fielder. The league’s organizers say that players like Davis embody the promise of this long-awaited professional pathway.
National media attention confirms the moment
Major media immediately picked up Davis’s draft:
- CBS Philadelphia ran a detailed segment on her selection and reaction in her hometown.
- NBC Sports Philadelphia covered the story with local context and commentary on Davis’s career.
- The Associated Press included her selection as part of its broader report on the new league’s draft.
- MLB.com broadcast the significance of the draft and Davis’s place in it.
This convergence of coverage underscores not just Davis’s achievement but the broader cultural shift: professional baseball for women is no longer aspirational—it’s now real.
Why it matters
Davis’s selection is a symbolic and practical breakthrough:
- Symbolic: She has long been a symbol of possibility for girls and women in baseball—and now she steps into a professional league that validates that symbol.
- Practical: The WPBL offers a real career path—earning potential, team structures, media coverage—for athletes previously guided into softball or alternate sports due to lack of opportunity.
Looking ahead
For Davis, the next chapter begins in Los Angeles, where the WPBL team will launch ahead of the 2026 season. For the league, launching with a recognizable and trail-blazing name like Davis helps drive visibility, credibility and momentum. As she said following her draft, she’s excited to play hard, inspire young athletes and bring her hometown pride to the professional field.
In short, Davis’s selection is more than a headline—it’s a landmark. And with this draft behind her, eyes now shift to the start of the WPBL season, where women’s baseball takes its next big step forward.
