WPBL Team Managers Include Former MLB Veterans Keith Foulke, Matt Williams, Eric Young, and Women’s Baseball Pioneer Rocky Henley
BOSTON, JULY 29, 2026 — The Women’s Pro Baseball League (WPBL) is thrilled to announce its star-studded roster of team managers for the League’s debut season including former MLB veterans Keith Foulke, Matt Williams, and Eric Young, alongside renowned women’s baseball trailblazer Rachelle “Rocky” Henley. These four leaders will bring decades of professional and developmental experience to the League’s historic inaugural season and first four teams – Boston Hunters, Los Angeles Queens, New York Heights, and San Francisco Firebells.
Official Advisor to the League, Dave Stewart, who is a three-time World Series Champion and former MLB General Manager, plays a key role in supporting the new managers and provides strategic advice to the League on an ongoing basis.
“We are thrilled to assemble a world-class group of leaders who can elevate the game and inspire the next generation of ballplayers,” said Women’s Pro Baseball League Commissioner, Justine Siegal. “With Matt, Keith, Eric, and Rocky, we have a mix of unmatched major-league experience and true pioneers of women’s baseball. This is going to be a historic season.”
The WPBL managers set to lead the League’s debut starting August 1st at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois, include:
Keith Foulke – Boston Hunters
Widely celebrated for his dominant relief pitching, Keith Foulke brings 11 seasons of MLB experience to the WPBL. As a key figure in baseball history, Foulke is best remembered for throwing the final pitch of the 2004 World Series to secure the Boston Red Sox’s first championship in 86 years. His extensive pitching knowledge and championship pedigree will serve as a massive asset to his Hunters players.
Matt Williams – San Francisco Firebells
Matt Williams boasts a stellar 17-year MLB career, highlighted by four All-Star selections, four Gold Glove Awards, and a World Series title with the Arizona Diamondbacks (2001). Beyond his playing days, Williams brings significant major-league managerial and coaching experience to the league, having served as the manager of the Washington Nationals (2014-2015) – where he was named NL Manager of the Year—and holding coaching roles with the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Eric Young – Los Angeles Queens
A former MLB All-Star and National League stolen base champion, Eric “EY” Young played 15 major-league seasons, leaving an indelible mark on the basepaths. He has since built a highly respected post-playing career as a major league first base and outfield coach, most recently contributing his high-energy baserunning philosophies to the Atlanta Braves, among other franchises.
Rachelle “Rocky” Henley – New York Heights
Rachelle “Rocky” Henley is a highly respected figure in women’s baseball, recognized for decades of dedicated player development and mentorship. A former member of the pioneering Colorado Silver Bullets, Henley has continuously built pathways for female athletes, including founding the SF Bay Sox and guiding generations of female coaches in the Bay Area. Her deep grassroots ties and elite coaching expertise perfectly position her to develop the world’s top female talent.
“I am honored and blessed for being in this position as the first female to manage in the Women’s Pro Baseball League,” stated Rocky Henley, Manager of the New York Heights. “I want to commit to this role not only to be a role model for girls, but also show that this can be a pathway for other women in baseball. This has been a natural progression for me as once a professional baseball player, to coaching for many years, and now this having an opportunity to be at the helm. I thank the woman who came before me who did not have this amazing opportunity, it has not gone unnoticed.”
The League’s historic inaugural season is set to start August 1st and will run through the second half of September at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois. The WPBL’s opening weekend is set for a blockbuster debut on Saturday August 1st, at 5:00 p.m. CST when Team USA’s powerhouse duo, Denae Benites and Kylee Lahners, of the New York Heights take on a star-studded Los Angeles Queens lineup featuring baseball superstar Mo’ne Davis, Team USA’s Ashton Lansdell, and Japanese legend Ayami Sato.
In the opening weekend’s second game on Sunday, August 2nd at 6:30 p.m. CST, the WPBL’s No. 1 overall pick, Kelsie Whitmore of the San Francisco Firebells will battle Boston Hunters’ international sensations, including Korean catcher Hyeonah Kim and Canadian National team star Alli Schroder. A detailed schedule for the WPBL’s 2026 inaugural season is now available online with tickets available for purchase.
For more information on the WPBL, visit www.womensprobaseballleague.com.
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About the WPBL:
The Women’s Pro Baseball League (WPBL) is the only professional women’s baseball league in the United States. The League’s historic inaugural season is set to start August 1 st and will run through September including both a regular season and playoffs. The League’s debut season will feature their four teams – New York Heights, Boston Hunters, Los Angeles Queens, and San Francisco Firebells – and will be held at historic Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois. The League is Co-Founded by baseball pioneer, Justine Siegal, who is the first woman to coach a professional men’s baseball team and to pitch batting practice in Major League Baseball. For more information, visit www.womensprobaseballleague.com.