WPBL Announces Advisory Board Members Comprised of Female Trailblazers
The Women’s Pro Baseball League (WPBL) is honored to announce today that Maybelle Blair, sports icon and former professional baseball player in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, has been named Honorary Chair of the WPBL Advisory Board and will throw the first pitch at the WPBL season opener in 2026. The WPBL is the only professional women’s baseball league in America and will launch with six teams for its inaugural season in the summer of 2026.
Blair, a true American pioneer and trailblazer in women’s sport, is a former pitcher who played in 1948 for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League made famous by the movie “A League of Their Own.” After baseball, she played professional softball and worked for Northrup Aircraft where she became the third female manager in all of Northrup and the first in transportation. Blair was recognized as one of AdWeek’s 2022 Most Powerful Women in Sports and has been honored at Fenway Park in Boston, Wrigley Field in Chicago, both Angel Stadium and Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, and Chase Field in Phoenix, and was featured as a Yahoo! Maker. Currently, Blair travels the United States speaking on behalf of women’s baseball.
“We have been waiting 70 years for a women’s professional baseball league and it means so much for the girls,” said Maybelle Blair, Honorary Chair of the WPBL Advisory Board and former professional baseball player. “It is going to be our great opportunity and we must take advantage of it now.”
“I have so much respect for Maybelle and all of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League players,” said Dr. Justine Siegal, WPBL Co-Founder. “The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League set a precedent on what’s possible in women’s professional baseball. It is important to me, and the WPBL, that we honor the legacy and impact of their League while building a new future for today’s players who dream of playing professional baseball.”
Blair will Chair the WPBL Advisory Board which will be comprised of female trailblazers in sports and business. The WPBL’s Advisory Board members include:
- Nona Lee: Nona spent 22 seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks as their Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Officer where she oversaw all legal issues for the organization. Currently, Nona is the Founder and CEO of Truth DEI Consulting, and co-founder of Truth Retreats.
- Laura Gentile: With 20 years of experience at ESPN as CMO and founder of espnW, Laura is dedicated to building a more equitable version of sport for all. Currently, Laura is a Senior Advisor at 17 Sport and leads her own marketing consultancy LauraGentile.Studio.
- Kate Childs Graham: A speechwriter and communications strategist, KCG has worked closely with the nation’s most influential policymakers, entrepreneurs, and leaders in women’s sports. KCG is currently an Executive Director at West Wing Writers.
- Dr. Kat Williams: Kat is Professor Emeritus of Women’s Sport History at Marshall University. She a founder and CEO of the International Women’s Baseball Center, and the author of several books about women in baseball.
- Dr. Leslie Heaphy: Leslie is an author and associate professor of history at Kent State at Stark. She has been the chair of the Society of American Baseball Research’s (SABR) Women in Baseball Committee since 1995.
- Digit Murphy: Digit is a visionary in the women’s sports world. She served as President of the Toronto Six pro hockey team; coached 24 years for Brown University; and cofounded the first women’s pro lax league. Digit runs her own consulting firm, UWS NIL Agency.
- Ayami Sato: MLB.com called Sato one of the best women pitchers to ever play baseball. She is a Team Japan Pitcher, Six-Time World Cup Champion and Three-Time World Cup MVP. Sato embraces being a role model and is focused on growing the game in Japan and beyond.
“I am so excited to be working with such an impressive group of females and will be counting on their support and guidance to make the WPBL one of the most successful leagues in the world,” added Dr. Siegal.
For the inaugural season, the WPBL will launch with six teams predominantly in the Northeast. The WPBL will be a national league with franchises based across the U.S. and will consist of a regular season, playoffs and championship throughout the summer of 2026. The League is Co-Founded by baseball pioneer, Dr. Justine Siegal, the first woman to coach a professional men’s baseball team and to pitch batting practice in Major League Baseball. She is also the Founder of Baseball for All. The League is proud to empower female athletes, coaches and staff, while promoting women’s sport.
Since the launch of the WPBL in October, more than 700 baseball players including members of 11 national teams have registered with the League. The WPBL plans to hold a scouting camp in the Spring of 2025 followed by a player draft in late 2025.
Media Contact:
Natalie Mikolich
natalie@womensprobaseballleague.com