Trailblazing Women Compete in Historic Pro Baseball Tryout in DC

It’s a big moment for women’s sports. Hundreds of women are showing up in Washington, D.C., for the first professional women’s baseball tryouts in over 80 years.

The Women’s Pro Baseball League (WPBL) and the Washington Nationals teamed up to make this happen. They’re setting the stage for a new pro league that’s supposed to launch next year.

Tryouts are happening at the Nationals’ Youth Baseball Academy. Female baseball players now get a real shot to show what they can do and maybe earn a spot in the league’s first draft in October.

You’ll find both veterans and rookies on the field. All of them share a love for the game and a dream of going pro.

The Historic Tryouts

The WPBL tryouts in D.C. are a pretty big deal. They’re the first pro women’s baseball tryouts in the U.S. since the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League ended back in 1954.

With the Nationals as partners, the event gives women a real chance to compete and get noticed. No more just watching from the sidelines.

Event Details

Over four days, more than 600 players will run drills, go through athletic testing, and get evaluated. The whole thing wraps up with a live game at Nationals Park on August 25.

After all that, 150 players will move on to the league’s first draft in October. That’s when the new era for women’s pro baseball really begins.

Notable Competitors to Watch

Out of all the women trying out, a few really stand out. Here are five players you might want to keep an eye on:

Mo’ne Davis: Right-Handed Pitcher, Outfielder

Mo’ne Davis made headlines at 13 when she became the first girl to win and pitch a shutout in the Little League World Series. Sports Illustrated even put her on their cover, and she snagged AP Female Athlete of the Year in 2014.

She played softball at Hampton University. Now, at 24, she’s hoping to revive her baseball career with the WPBL, trying out as a pitcher, shortstop, and center fielder.

Kelsie Whitmore: Pitcher, Outfielder

Kelsie Whitmore broke barriers with the Staten Island FerryHawks in 2022, becoming the first woman to play in an MLB-partnered league. She’s played for the U.S. women’s national baseball team and picked up medals at the WBSC Women’s World Cup and Pan American Games.

Whitmore’s played with and against men in different leagues. She just keeps pushing the boundaries in baseball.

Ayami Sato: Right-Handed Pitcher

Ayami Sato is, honestly, one of the best female pitchers out there. She’s led Japan’s national team to six women’s baseball World Cup wins.

Her fastball almost hits 80 mph, and her curveball is deadly. She’s got three MVP titles and just made her debut for the Toronto Maple Leafs in Canada’s Intercounty Baseball League.

Sato also serves as a special advisor to the WPBL. She brings a ton of experience to the table.

Alli Schroder: Right-Handed Pitcher

Alli Schroder has played a key role for Canada’s national team since 2018 and helped them win bronze at the World Cup that year. She was the first woman to play in the Canadian Collegiate Baseball Conference.

On top of baseball, she works as a firefighter. Schroder’s grit and drive make her tough competition at these tryouts.

Kylee Lahners: Third Base

Kylee Lahners was a standout at the University of Washington and has been with the U.S. national team since 2018. She helped the team grab silver at the World Cup last year.