Several women’s baseball players gathered at JetBlue Park on Thursday night for a watch party as the Women’s Pro Baseball League held its inaugural draft, marking the first professional women’s baseball league since the 1950s.The WPBL, which will field teams in Los Angeles, New York, Boston and San Francisco, begins play in August 2026 in Springfield, Illinois.Many of the players at the watch party were draft-eligible and used the night to watch the selections together on the big screen.“This means probably everything for my little self,” Jaqui Reynolds said. “I probably was one of those kids that was writing down they wanted to be a professional baseball player in school when everyone else and my teacher probably thought I was crazy.”Reynolds said the return of a professional league provides an opportunity that did not exist when she was growing up.Allison Lacey, who coaches girls in baseball, said the impact of the night extended to the athletes she works with.“For me, I coach girls in baseball,” Lacey said. “Having a couple of them here in the stands and kind of paving the way for a future for them in the game and continuing to grow the game for them… that’s more exciting.”The room reacted loudly when the sixth overall pick was announced: New York selected Denae Benites, who was in attendance.“I never thought that I would get this opportunity to represent a women’s professional baseball league,” Benites said. “It’s been a dream in my heart since I was a little girl, but I never thought I would get the opportunity.”Benites said experiencing the moment with other players added to the night. “This is even more special to be around people that are going to be a part of it with me,” she said. “To be able to celebrate together is just incredible.”One pick after Benites, Los Angeles selected USA Baseball infielder Ashton Lansdell.“It’s kind of surreal,” Lansdell said. “I don’t think it’s really set in yet that this is history literally in the making.”Lansdell has long pushed back against expectations that girls should choose softball instead of baseball. “I’ve always been that hardheaded little kid that didn’t like people telling me what I should or shouldn’t do, and I can’t play baseball,” she said. “I kind of just wanted to say, ‘well, screw you, I can do what I want!’”Lansdell said the draft marks progress for women in the sport. “We’re literally making history,” she said. “We’re creating opportunities for girls who are following us.”Benites said Thursday’s draft should raise visibility for women and girls who play baseball.“There’s millions of little girls playing baseball around the world now,” Benites said. “And now they see us playing professional women’s baseball. It’s going to open a lot of eyes and give them something to work toward.”The WPBL season begins Aug. 1, 2026, in Springfield. You can find the full recap of the 2025 draft here.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.

FORT MYERS, Fla. —

Several women’s baseball players gathered at JetBlue Park on Thursday night for a watch party as the Women’s Pro Baseball League held its inaugural draft, marking the first professional women’s baseball league since the 1950s.

The WPBL, which will field teams in Los Angeles, New York, Boston and San Francisco, begins play in August 2026 in Springfield, Illinois.

Many of the players at the watch party were draft-eligible and used the night to watch the selections together on the big screen.

“This means probably everything for my little self,” Jaqui Reynolds said. “I probably was one of those kids that was writing down they wanted to be a professional baseball player in school when everyone else and my teacher probably thought I was crazy.”

Reynolds said the return of a professional league provides an opportunity that did not exist when she was growing up.

Allison Lacey, who coaches girls in baseball, said the impact of the night extended to the athletes she works with.

“For me, I coach girls in baseball,” Lacey said. “Having a couple of them here in the stands and kind of paving the way for a future for them in the game and continuing to grow the game for them… that’s more exciting.”

The room reacted loudly when the sixth overall pick was announced: New York selected Denae Benites, who was in attendance.

“I never thought that I would get this opportunity to represent a women’s professional baseball league,” Benites said. “It’s been a dream in my heart since I was a little girl, but I never thought I would get the opportunity.”

Benites said experiencing the moment with other players added to the night. “This is even more special to be around people that are going to be a part of it with me,” she said. “To be able to celebrate together is just incredible.”

One pick after Benites, Los Angeles selected USA Baseball infielder Ashton Lansdell.

“It’s kind of surreal,” Lansdell said. “I don’t think it’s really set in yet that this is history literally in the making.”

Lansdell has long pushed back against expectations that girls should choose softball instead of baseball. “I’ve always been that hardheaded little kid that didn’t like people telling me what I should or shouldn’t do, and I can’t play baseball,” she said. “I kind of just wanted to say, ‘well, screw you, I can do what I want!’”

Lansdell said the draft marks progress for women in the sport. “We’re literally making history,” she said. “We’re creating opportunities for girls who are following us.”

Benites said Thursday’s draft should raise visibility for women and girls who play baseball.

“There’s millions of little girls playing baseball around the world now,” Benites said. “And now they see us playing professional women’s baseball. It’s going to open a lot of eyes and give them something to work toward.”

The WPBL season begins Aug. 1, 2026, in Springfield. You can find the full recap of the 2025 draft here.

DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.