ESPN and Scripps Sports Network Named Official U.S. Distributors, Bringing Elite Women’s Baseball to Millions of Fans Nationwide
JULY 30, BOSTON — The Women’s Pro Baseball League (WPBL) officially announced its U.S. broadcast distributors for its highly anticipated inaugural season. ESPN and the Scripps Sports Network will serve as the League’s primary media home, ensuring fans across the U.S. have widespread access to the League’s historic inaugural season set to start this Saturday, August 1st.
As part of the agreement, ESPN will serve as the U.S. distributor for all regular season and playoff games. Complementing ESPN, the Scripps Sports Network will broadcast a select slate of regular season games. ESPN Select will exclusively stream 19 regular-season games in the U.S. and carry an additional 11 games co-exclusively with Scripps Sports Network. ESPN Select will also exclusively carry the WPBL postseason in the U.S., including the Championship Series.
“Securing powerhouse broadcast distributors like ESPN and the Scripps Sports Network for our inaugural season is a monumental milestone for the Women’s Pro Baseball League,” said Keith Stein, CEO of the WPBL. “This hybrid distribution model combines the digital reach of ESPN with the broad accessibility of the Scripps Sports Network. We are thrilled to bring the energy, talent, and excitement of professional women’s baseball into the homes of sports fans everywhere.”
The full promotional schedule, specific game matchups, and local channel listings are now available on the WPBL website with details coming soon about where fans internationally can watch the inaugural season.
“We’re excited to bring the WPBL to ESPN and showcase it alongside our extensive baseball offerings,” said Ashley O’Connor, Vice President of Programming, ESPN. “This agreement strengthens our already robust baseball portfolio while further expanding ESPN’s commitment to women’s sports and introducing fans to an exciting new professional league.”
The League’s historic inaugural season will start this Saturday, August 1st, and will run through the second half of September at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois. The WPBL kicks off its Opening Weekend with a blockbuster, sold-out debut game 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.