Hockey has one. So does basketball. Soccer as well. And now, it’s baseball’s turn.
The Women’s Pro Baseball League is set to take to the field in 2026 with six teams in the northeastern United States.
The circuit was founded by the first female coach employed by a Major League Baseball team and Baseball for All founder Justine Siegal, and Canadian businessman and owner of the Intercounty Baseball League’s Toronto Maple Leafs Keith Stein.
They have received some major backing in the form of Toronto Blue Jays World Series-winning manager Cito Gaston, legendary Japanese pitcher Ayami Soto and women’s baseball icon Maybelle Blair.
With the female game growing continuing to grow in Saskatchewan and provincial teams performing well at national tournaments, more than a few athletes have turned their attention to not only representing Canada at international events but now a dream of playing professional baseball.
We’ve asked a few questions of those involved in the game to provide some of their thoughts, which we present to you now in the form of a roundtable discussion-like story.
Read below for more from Baseball Sask Women’s Team members Lauren Owens (Saskatoon), Addie Ziebart (Saskatoon), Taylor Schueller (Saskatoon) and Victoria Bateman (Regina), as well as female director Tony Black.
First of all, what went through your mind when you heard the news of the Women’s Pro Baseball League?
Lauren Owens: I think the first thing that went through my mind was: “Is this for real?” I had to make sure it wasn’t satire or something. It felt unreal that something I had dreamed about for so long was becoming a reality.
Addie Ziebart: I was in complete shock honestly! I had just finished watching the “See Her Be Her” documentary the night before when I saw the announcement the next morning. I never thought that in my career I may have the opportunity to play pro baseball.
Taylor Schueller: I think the first thing I felt was just pure excitement. It’s such a huge step forward for women’s baseball. For so long, it has felt like there were so many barriers for girls. So hearing that a professional women’s league is becoming a reality, it feels like all that hard work, and all those hours of practice, are starting to pay off. We’re finally being seen for what we bring to the game, and I think it’s going to change everything. It’s definitely going to push the sport to new heights, and I can’t wait to see where it goes.
Victoria Bateman: I had a moment of shock and excitement. It never really went through my mind that womens baseball would be getting a women’s pro baseball league this fast.
Tony Black: It’s great news to hear womens baseball is reaching higher heights as it’s an excellent opportunity for female athletes to play at a higher level. In the future, I would like to see colleges/universities provide an opportunity for women’s baseball to help bridge the gap for competitive baseball for women.
I know, as athletes, you want to make the national team one day. But how cool would it be to go pro one day, too?
Ziebart: Going pro would be a dream come true! I’ve been dreaming about playing high level baseball since I was a little girl and the possibility this dream may come true is absolutely insane.
Schueller: Right now, making the national team is my number one goal, but going pro would be a dream come true. The thought of playing on a professional team and being able to do something I love every single day is all I’ve ever wanted. Plus, the idea of playing alongside other super-talented women who share the same passion would be incredible, and it would definitely push me to be better.
Honestly, just imagining that future where girls like me get to be in the spotlight in baseball is so exciting. But I think what excites me the most is how much of an impact this will have on future generations of girls, and if I can be part of that story, it would be a huge honour.
Bateman: It would be awesome! Just the thought that I can go even further in my baseball career is amazing.
How big could this be for women’s baseball in general, but also for women’s baseball in Saskatchewan?
Owens: This is completely game-changing for women’s baseball. For most female baseball players, baseball is played merely because of passion. There isn’t much in it for us but to play the game we love. An entire other life exists outside of the game to start a career to support ourselves. If baseball can be pursued as a professional career, this can change the level of dedication to the sport and allow this sport we love to be our whole life if we want it to be. In Saskatchewan, it’s not uncommon to hear of female ball players choosing soft ball/fast pitch over baseball because of the extensive opportunities that softball can offer. The outlook of potentially playing in a professional may allow those players who love baseball to stay in baseball and strive for these new opportunities.
Ziebart: This is so massive for girls in baseball, especially Saskatchewan. When I started, I was really the only girl and it was hard to imagine where I may be able to take baseball. I had to look up to pro male ball players and now young girls from around the world will be able to look up to the women of the pro league and know there dreams can be a reality!
Schueller: This is huge. It’s going to totally change how girls everywhere see the game. Having a professional league means that little girls growing up now will see real role models playing at the highest level, and they’ll know that they can do it too. For me growing up, it didn’t always feel like there were a lot of women to look up to in baseball, but now that’s all changing. Even here in Saskatchewan, it’s a sign that there’s no limit to what we can achieve. It’s not just about the game, it’s about showing girls everywhere that their dreams are possible.
Bateman: This is a massive step for female baseball everywhere. Just the fact that’s it’s becoming more and more common for females to want to play baseball at higher levels is great. Creating the women’s pro baseball league will create even more interest in female baseball, growing the sport more than ever. This will get girls to dream big knowing that baseball is getting recognized as a female sport and not only a sport males play.
Black: It’s big news for our athletes. Our athletes will continue to excel in our sport knowing this is an excellent opportunity for them moving forward. If they are determined enough and continue developing and refining thier skill sets through hard work and commitment anything is possible for them. They just have to set achievable goals for themselves and work towards those goals. In Saskatchewan, our participant numbers are increasing at the younger age classifications and continue to grow across the province. In the last couple years, our provincial programs have been competing well at the national stage. This announcement will help us continue to grow girls/women’s baseball in Saskatchewan.
Lauren, as someone who plays and coaches, you have a unique perspective on this. What will be key, in your eyes, to making sure Saskatchewan’s talent gets seen and noticed by those recruiters looking to fill rosters on those teams?
Owens: I think the recent performances of the Saskatchewan female ball teams at Canadian national tournaments has made it so we cannot go unnoticed. We are a province that has very capable and skilled players that could compete in a professional league. The national tournaments remain as the best showcase of the baseball talent in our province. Although there may be added pressure to give players the resources they need to achieve the professional league, as coaches we constantly strive to give all the tools our players need to reach their potential and that will not change.
Tony, as the supervisor for the women’s game in the province, what will be key to making sure Saskatchewan’s talent gets seen and noticed by those recruiters looking to fill rosters on those teams?
Black: This will be interesting to see unfold as we are all waiting to hear how this recruitment process will proceed with Canadian players. With our programs competing at the National Stage and having multiple players added to the Women’s National Team winter roster, it will help with identifying players in Saskatchewan. One of our former players and coach is part of this league so I am hopeful our players will have an equal opportunity during this recruitment process. Saskatchewan is definitely on the map for being competitive in women’s baseball.
It’s an exciting time for the women’s game in Saskatchewan and across the country. We look forward to shedding more light on the athletes and teams in this province in 2025 and beyond!
Tales of Baseball 
Congratulations to the ladies baseball program from Saskatchewan,Tony black and his coaches and program have come a long way from when the program first started which I am proud to I was involved with coaching with Tony Black . I am proud of the accomplishments these lady athletes have made for the program !
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Hi Bert! We couldn’t agree more. It’s amazing to see how well the Saskatchewan teams are doing on the national level with so many podium finishes (or close to it). The rest of the baseball world in Canada needs to take notice, as there are some stars on the way! Thanks so much for reading the story and your support. – Ian and Joe
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