For the last few months, I had been hearing rumors and rumblings about the Frontier League expanding. Some indy team names were thrown around as possibly looking to jump to a different league.
For the first time, from an official media source, Indy Ball Island has learned that two teams are planning on leaving the American Association and joining the Frontier League (soon to be renamed the National Association of Professional Baseball in 2027).
The Observer Reporter out of Washington, PA (home of the Washington Wild Things) revealed that an anonymous source confirmed that the Kane County Cougars and the Cleburne Railroaders of the American Association plan to join the league next year, bringing the league to a total of 20 teams.
Kane County is located in Geneva, IL, just west of Chicago, which does make sense for the Frontier League. However, Cleburne is in Texas, which is about a 7-hour drive from any other Frontier League team.
Long travel with new teams (Down East and Mississippi) seems to just be getting longer.
The good news with a 20-team league would mean that the league conferences can be balanced once again. Currently, the 18 teams are split 9 in each conference, leading to interleague play every series.
One team (Lake Erie or Washington were mentioned in the Observer Reporter) would have to jump to the Atlantic Conference, making for a lot of travel for whichever team will make several trips up to Canada each season.
None of this information has yet to be confirmed by the Frontier League (which is why the source wanted to remain anonymous).
Check back with Indy Ball Island when everything becomes official!
On August 1st, the first game of the newly established Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL) will take place in Springfield, IL.
Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield will be the home of every WPBL game during their inaugural season. One location will give the league a chance to build up their presence while providing the women with accommodations and meals along with an even share of revenue in addition to their regular salaries.
A regular season schedule with postseason playoffs will run from August through mid-September. Each team will play two to three games a week with those games being played from Wednesday through Sunday.
While there was talk of the league trying to strike a national broadcasting deal, as of now it appears as though every single game of the 2026 regular season will stream live and free on the WPBL YouTube Channel.
Backstory
The league, which has no ties to Major League Baseball, has been in the works for the last several years. Co-founded by Justine Siegal and Keith Stein in 2024, the league aims to elevate visibility and expand women’s baseball in the United States and beyond by offering a professional pathway to the sport.
Siegal previously founded Baseball for All, an organization focused on promoting girls’ participation in baseball. She was also the first female coach of a professional men’s baseball team back in 2009 when she coached for the Broxton Rox in the Can-Am League. Since then, she has left her mark on professional baseball in many facets, including throwing BP for MLB teams and holding various coaching roles both nationally and internationally.
Teams
For the 2026 season, the WPBL will consist of four teams that are all named after an important woman in history.
The Hunters are inspired by Harriot Hunt who had set her mind on a goal and made it happen. A trailblazing physician, she was one of the first women to practice medicine professionally in the USA, despite being denied admission to Harvard twice because of her gender.
Los Angeles Queens
The Queens are inspired by Lizzie Murphy – nicknamed the “Queen of the diamond.” Lizzie broke barriers at a time when opportunities for women in pro sports were extremely limited, showing the world how true talent rises to the top.
New York Heights
The Heights are inspired by Dorothy Height. One of the most influential leaders of the civil and women’s rights movements, Dorothy dedicated her life to advancing equality for all.
San Francisco Fireballs
The Fireballs are inspired by Firebelle Lil. As a teenager, Lillie “Firebelle Lil” Hitchcock Coit famously leapt into action to help San Francisco volunteer firefighters. She became an icon for the firefighters, known for her rebellious attitude and open defiance of the gender norms.
Rules
Since this is a baseball league, the WPBL will have much more in common with the MLB than softball when it comes to rules and regulations.
Similarities
The baseball is… baseball.
The dimensions of the field are the same as any baseball field.
The base paths are 90 feet. The mound is 60 feet 6 inches away from home plate.
There is a pitcher’s mound, and pitchers will use an overhand pitching motion.
Defensive positions are the same.
There are 3 strikes, 4 balls, 3 outs. Stolen bases, pickoffs, bunting, balks, force plays, tag plays, double plays and sacrifice flies are all fair game.
Key Differences
There will be a few key differences that will impact how the overall gameplay will transpire.
There will only be 7 innings.
A big part of the 7-inning rule will be based on the fact that each roster will only consist of 15 to 25 players.
With only 15 players, that means there will be a lot of two-way and versatile players. The league is being built around the expectation that the players can do more than one thing on the baseball diamond.
The DH is an option, but more than likely a two-way player will pitch and also still hit in the lineup unlike in the MLB.
Another huge difference is that the WPBL will be using aluminum bats. This should lead to a lot of hard-hit balls.
In general, the WPBL will be using more of an international-style rulebook, but the core of the game will be baseball.
All four teams will be in action for their first weekend.
Saturday, Aug. 1
Los Angeles Queens at New York Heights, 5 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 2
San Francisco Firebells at Boston Hunters, 6:30 p.m.
While you wait… Here is a look at the Rosters for each team. (Rosters courtesy of The State Journal-Register)
Indy Ball Island 