Robin Roberts Selected as Home Venue for Women’s Pro Baseball

Robin Roberts Stadium at Lanphier Park has been named the official venue for the inaugural season of the newly formed Women’s Pro Baseball League (WPBL), positioning Springfield as the center of professional women’s baseball when play begins in August 2026.

The league, which will feature four charter teams representing Los Angeles, New York, Boston, and San Francisco, will hold all regular-season games in Springfield. League officials said the decision to centralize play in one location allows for greater operational efficiency and gives players access to a consistent, dedicated facility throughout the season.

Springfield’s central Midwest location and proximity to major airports in Chicago and St. Louis were also key factors.

Robin Roberts Stadium, which opened in 1925 and seats more than 5,000 spectators, has undergone recent upgrades that made it an appealing choice for the league. Enhancements include a new LED video board and various modern improvements to support professional-level play. Golden Rule Entertainment, which operates the stadium, has partnered with the WPBL to support the league’s debut and plans to launch a developmental league in Springfield the following year.

The WPBL is scheduled to begin its first season on August 1, 2026, following the Women’s Baseball World Cup being hosted in Rockford earlier that summer. The season is expected to run for approximately seven weeks and will feature players from the United States and abroad competing for roster spots under a league-wide salary cap.