Siegal is the founder of Baseball For All, a nonprofit organization that provides girls with opportunities to play and coach baseball. In 2015, she became the first female coach in MLB when the Oakland A’s hired her as a guest instructor for their Arizona Instructional League club. Stein is a lawyer and businessman.

The league said it is working to secure a national broadcast deal for its inaugural season, which will take place during the summer of 2026. Six teams will play the inaugural season, but league executives plan to expand to across the United States.

Decorated Japanese pitcher Ayami Sato and former MLB manager Cito Gaston, who won two consecutive World Series with the Toronto Blue Jays, will serve as special advisors to the league.

This announcement comes at a time when the expansion of women’s professional sports is at the forefront of many Americans’ minds.

The WNBA has just had a record season with 54 million unique viewers across all platforms and is in the process of expanding the league to 16 teams. The NWSL is expected to announce a 16th franchise by the end of the year, and the PWHL is gearing up for its second season with plans to expand in the near future.

“We believe the success of other women’s professional leagues such as the WNBA and NWSL demonstrates the incredible interest and support for women’s sports,” Stein said in the release.

Emma can be contacted at [email protected] or on @_EmmaHealy_.