Latest news with #professionalleague
CBS News
19-07-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Former Little League star and Philadelphia native Mo'ne Davis to try out for new women's pro baseball league
Mo'ne Davis is not done playing baseball. The former Little League phenom who at 13 became the first girl to pitch a victory — and a shutout — in the Little League World Series, will be one of more than 600 players to try out for the Women's Professional Baseball League set to launch next year, the league said. Davis, a Philadelphia native, will join other women's baseball stars like Kelsie Whitmore, the first woman to sign a professional contract with an MLB-partnered league, at the tryouts, which will be held in Washington, D.C., from Aug. 22-25. Davis will try out as a pitcher, as well as at second base, shortstop and center field, per the league. Her decision was first reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer. The WPBL is aiming to launch in the summer of 2026 with six teams and would be the first U.S. pro league for women since the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League — depicted in the classic film "A League of Their Own" — dissolved in 1954. Next month's tryouts will determine the 150 players who will be selected for the league's inaugural draft in October. Davis' rise to stardom came swiftly in 2014 when she delivered 70 mph fastballs for Philadelphia's Taney Youth Baseball Association during that year's Little League World Series. She became an instant inspiration for fans young and old. She appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated, has her jersey displayed in baseball's Hall of Fame and was named Sports Kid of the Year by Sports Illustrated Kids. Davis graduated from Hampton University in 2023 and has provided commentary on ESPN for Little League games.
Fox News
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Ex-Little League Star Mo'ne Davis to Try Out For New Women's Pro Baseball League
Mo'ne Davis is not done playing baseball. The former Little League phenom, who at 13 became the first girl to pitch a victory — and a shutout — in the Little League World Series, will be one of more than 600 players to try out for the Women's Professional Baseball League set to launch next year, the league said. Davis will join other women's baseball stars like Kelsie Whitmore, the first woman to sign a professional contract with an MLB-partnered league, at the tryouts, which will be held in Washington, D.C., from Aug. 22-25, at the home of MLB's Washington Nationals, Nationals Park. The WPBL is aiming to launch in the summer of 2026 with six teams and would be the first U.S. pro league for women since the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League — depicted in the classic film "A League of Their Own" — dissolved in 1954. Next month's tryouts will determine the 150 players who will be selected for the league's inaugural draft in October. Davis' rise to stardom came swiftly in 2014 when she delivered 70 mph fastballs for Philadelphia's Taney Youth Baseball Association during that year's Little League World Series. She became an instant inspiration for fans young and old. She appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated, has her jersey displayed in baseball's Hall of Fame and was named Sports Kid of the Year by Sports Illustrated Kids. Davis graduated from Hampton University in 2023 and has provided commentary on ESPN for Little League games. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
National Post
18-07-2025
- Business
- National Post
Arsenal's monster transfer fee for Canadian Olivia Smith buzzes at home
A Canadian player setting a new benchmark in the women's soccer transfer market floats a lot of boats, says Northern Super League co-founder and former Canadian international Diana Matheson. Article content The one million pounds (C$1.85 million) Arsenal paid Liverpool for 20-year-old forward Olivia Smith of Whitby, Ont., in the Women's Super League is the biggest price tag in women's soccer history for a transfer. Article content Article content Matheson says an accelerating transfer fee market bodes well for the NSL, which kicked off this year with six teams and a mission to provide the first domestic women's pro league for Canadian and international players. Article content 'The growth of the market really helps us sell to investors in Canada and abroad,' she said. 'The transfer market is obviously a piece of that puzzle. Article content 'This is where the market is at that a Canadian player is going for this and how exciting is it like that we're not far around the corner now that we have a professional league, that if top Canadians choose to leave the Canadian league in the future, clubs could be selling them for a whole lot of money because we create such world-class players.' Article content Smith's transfer to the Gunners announced Thursday surpassed the previous high of 900,000 pounds (C$1.6 million) Chelsea paid the NWSL's San Diego Wave for American centre back Naomi Girma in January. Article content 'To be part of a movement that's changing how the game is valued is an honour,' Smith said in a statement released by her public relations agency. Article content Article content 'This is a huge step forward for women's soccer and for Canadian soccer. I hope this shows young Canadian girls that anything is possible.' Article content Serita Thurton of the NSL's Wild FC said rumours about Smith's transfer to Arsenal before it was announced was a topic of discussion in the Calgary club's dressing room. Article content 'Seeing a Canadian player break a record like this, it kind of just shows that Canada has a lot to offer when it comes to quality in soccer players,' said the forward from Ajax, Ont. Article content 'It definitely makes our league look a lot better. Even though she isn't playing it, just the fact that it is a Canadian league, it does make a statement saying that Canada has quality players and that we're a football country in our own right. So yeah, it definitely has a good look in that sense.' Article content Matheson, who retired in 2021, says a transfer fee market for women was nonexistent for most of her career.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Finally, this is happening': Fans pack Omaha field for inaugural season of Athletes Unlimited Softball League
In 2025, a record 2.2 million people tuned in to watch the Women's College World Series. Now, a professional softball league is attempting to capitalize on the sports momentum in Omaha over the weekend.
South China Morning Post
02-06-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong women's footballer calls for government backing as team eyes Asian Cup return
Vicky Chung Pui-ki has called on the government to pump more money into women's football in the city, as Hong Kong ramp up preparations for the start of their AFC Asian Cup qualifiers in late June. Advertisement In tri-series matches over the past week, the city team drew with hosts Bhutan and beat Malaysia in their last scheduled fixtures before they battle the Philippines, Saudi Arabia and Cambodia for one spot in the 2026 finals in Australia. Chung said the women's game in Hong Kong had 'grown up' since her international debut in 2017, with the head coach Ricardo Rambo's team boasting players from leagues in England, Taiwan and mainland China. Chung had time with Scottish club Kilmarnock in the 2019-2020 season. Nonetheless, the 27-year-old Kitchee defender, who raised the possibility of following in the footsteps of Chan Yuen-ting as a female head coach in the men's game, lamented the absence of a full-time domestic competition in Hong Kong. 'We have so many talented young girls, but we could have more support from the government to give us the platform to promote women's football, and we could have a professional league in Hong Kong,' Chung said. Vicky Chung wants a professional women's league in Hong Kong. Photo: Kitchee Chung, whose team have an FA Cup final against their biggest rivals TSL on Sunday, coaches in schools to supplement her income.
