My final Baseball Insider column on the WPBL's inaugural season ties a bow on the season with my take on what might and might not change for 2027, plus reflections from stars Kelsie Whitmore, Amanda Gianelloni & Ashton Lansdell on the significance of this season & hopes for the league going forward:

Reflecting on the WPBL's inaugural season, hopes for the future | The IX Sports

Baseball Insider Cliff Corcoran wraps up the inaugural WPBL season with reflections from the players and a look to the league's future.

theixsports.com

The Queens won the first WPBL championship Tuesday night behind the league's first CG/SHO, by Ayami Sato. My recap includes notes on the series's top performances, manager Eric Young's strategies, the impact of the weather, that the Queens' captain has been under it, and more:

The IX Sports@theixsports.bsky.social · yesterday

How the LA Queens won the first-ever WPBL championship on the night that Ayumi Sato pitched the first-ever WPBL shutout. ✍️ @cliffcorcoran.bsky.social: www.theixsports.com/features/que...

I went back and looked, Kaplan was clearly safe at first base on that inning-ending double-play (top 1st). #WPBL

The WPBL Championship Series is going to a winner-take-all Game 5 on Tuesday night, which is what this league deserved. Here's my recap of the Firebells' record-setting Game 4 win, with details on each team's pitching budget for Game 5, the Queens' need for today's day off, and much more:

Firebells explode for 17 runs, force decisive Game 5 for WPBL title | The IX Sports

San Francisco broke open Game 4 with an 8-run 4th inning to even the best-of-five Championship Series against the Queens at 2 games each.

theixsports.com

The Firebells came out of Friday's off-day hot and have given us a series. This afternoon, we find out if they can push the Queens to a decisive Game 5. My Game 3 recap includes Cailtin Eynon on the Queens' slow adjustment in Game 3 & notes on Niki Eckert's work situation and Joely Leguizamon's HR.

The IX Sports@theixsports.bsky.social · 4d ago

The San Francisco Firebells staved off elimination Saturday night as an early offensive outburst lifted them past Los Angeles, 10-5. Our @cliffcorcoran.bsky.social on the Game 3 win and how each team's bullpen looks ahead of today's Game 4.

Oh, hell yeah

Aaron Johnson@rexmundi71.bsky.social · 5d ago

What if the WPBL existed in the 80s and Topps and Fleer made cards of them? #WPBL

The LA Queens are one win from the first ever WPBL championship. My recap of their wild Game 2 win includes injury updates on several Firebells, Queens manager Eric Young on his pitching strategy, and notes on two oddly hitless players:

The IX Sports@theixsports.bsky.social · 6d ago

The story of Game 2 of the WPBL Championship Series is almost entirely about the top of the fourth inning, when the Los Angeles Queens scored 10 runs against the San Francisco Firebells en route to taking a 2-0 series lead. @cliffcorcoran.bsky.social recaps the game.

I don’t think @howardmegdal.bsky.social gets the credit he deserves for being a consistently excellent baseball reporter. Great little piece today @baseballprospectus.com on Christian Walker: www.baseballprospectus.com/fantasy/arti...

What They're Saying '26: Christian Walker's September Numbers Edition | Baseball Prospectus

Greetings, What They’re Saying readers! There is a truism often repeated in baseball circles not to trust April or September numbers. I find this idea problematic. And the Houston Astros have a pair o...

baseballprospectus.com

Jamie Mackay came up huge on the mound to hold the Firebells down while the Queens chipped away to win Game 1 of the WPBL Championship Series. Lots more in this recap, including Mackay on her preparation, a likely season-ending injury to Rosi del Castillo, other injury updates, uniforms, more . . .

The IX Sports@theixsports.bsky.social · last wk.

The Los Angeles Queens eked out a 7-6 win over the San Francisco Firebells in the first game of the first Championship Series in WPBL history. @cliffcorcoran.bsky.social has the story: www.theixsports.com/features/que...

The first championship series in WPBL history starts tomorrow night at 7 pm Eastern. Here’s my preview of the series between the San Francisco Firebells and the Los Angeles Queens, with projected rosters and lineups and analysis.

WPBL finals preview: Breaking down the championship series | The IX Sports

Baseball Insider Cliff Corcoran previews the WPBL finals, including a break down of the full rosters and keys to the game.

theixsports.com

Of course the only way the Queens were going to beat the Heights was in their last at-bat in the highest-scoring game in WPBL history. My recap includes notes on Samaria Benítez and Jacqui Reynolds, the disastrous broadcast, the Heights wearing gray pants at home & parting thoughts from Val Perez:

The IX Sports@theixsports.bsky.social · last wk.

In a game for the ages, the Los Angeles Queens beat the New York Heights to advance to the #WPBL championship series. Our @cliffcorcoran.bsky.social takes you inside every twist and turn: www.theixsports.com/features/los...

The ESPN broadcast is being rather casual about it (it has been a disaster tonight, continually dropping out), but it looks like Samaria Benítez may have blown out her ACL on the turtleback slope at Robin Roberts Stadium. That's speculation, but she appears to be in a great deal of pain.

The Heights & Queens played the best game in the history of the WPBL last night, with LA closing a five-run deficit, and NY hitting back-to-back HRs off Queens closer Meggie Meidlinger in its final at-bat. My recap includes comments from the HR hitters, LA's last-minute SP change & a look to Game 3:

How the New York Heights forced Game 3 in in WPBL semifinals | The IX Sports

New York Heights hit back-to-back homers off the Los Angeles Queens' closer to win 9-7 and force a decisive Game 3 in the WPBL semifinals.

theixsports.com

The Hunters made them work for it, but the Firebells swept their way to the championship series last night, as expected, with homers from Skylar Kaplan, Alexia Jorge, and Kelsie Whitmore. My recap includes injury updates, manager insight, and the Hunters' thoughts heading into their offseason #WPBL:

The IX Sports@theixsports.bsky.social · 2w ago

With their sweep of the Boston Hunters on Friday, the San Francisco Firebells became the first team to qualify for the #WPBL championship series. Our @cliffcorcoran.bsky.social catches you up on how it happened, as well as what Boston will take from this season.

Here's how the Queens shut down the mighty Heights' lineup in Game 1 of their semifinal last night, plus the latest on Jaida Lee, a great defensive game from birthday girl Denae Benites, and why London Studer licks her bats #WPBL:

The IX Sports@theixsports.bsky.social · 2w ago

The Los Angeles Queens had a gameplan for the opener of their best-of-three WPBL semifinal against the New York Heights on Thursday night, and it worked beautifully. @cliffcorcoran.bsky.social

A classic, and Cliff does it justice. #wpbl

The IX Sports@theixsports.bsky.social · 2w ago

Read all about how the Firebells won their first WPBL postseason game, courtesy of @cliffcorcoran.bsky.social! www.theixsports.com/features/fir...

The Hunters played their best game against the Firebells in the first postseason game in WPBL history but still came up short. My recap includes injury updates, what's different for the postseason, and reactions and inside info from players and managers:

Firebells win WPBL's first playoff game despite Hunters' best effort | The IX Sports

Boston played a clean, close, well-pitched game but still came up short in Game 1 of the semifinals, falling to the Firebells 6-4.

theixsports.com

Queer culture has influenced all of your favorite straight rock stars. Check out the new Factually! episode with @barrywalters.bsky.social wherever you get podcasts! » Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/f... » Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/0fK8WJw... » YouTube: youtu.be/NOIvQfpY46E

New card drawing of WPBL regular-season HR champs Denae Benites and Kelsie Whitmore, each with 11 HR in the 15-game season. Postseason starts Wednesday!

I am psyched for the WPBL playoffs, which start tonight. Here's everything you need to know to join in on the fun:

Cliff Corcoran@cliffcorcoran.bsky.social · 2w ago

Tomorrow night's Game 1 of the semifinals is a great time to jump in on the WPBL if you haven't yet. My latest Baseball Insider column at @theixsports.bsky.social previews the two series and tells you everything you need to know, and more, to get fully up to speed for the postseason:

Tomorrow night's Game 1 of the semifinals is a great time to jump in on the WPBL if you haven't yet. My latest Baseball Insider column at @theixsports.bsky.social previews the two series and tells you everything you need to know, and more, to get fully up to speed for the postseason:

WPBL semifinals preview: Everything you need to know (and more) | The IX Sports

Baseball Insider Cliff Corcoran's comprehensive WPBL semifinals preview breaks down the head-to-head matchups, with full rosters and analysis.

theixsports.com

Kelsie Whitmore tied Denae Benites for the WPBL HR crown last night as the Firebells pulled the football on Boston for the season sweep. My recap has injury updates on the Firebells' Gutierrez, Albayati & del Castillo, notes on Alli Schroder's hitting, and a weird exception to the roster rules:

Whitmore ties Benites for homer crown as Firebells sweep Hunters | The IX Sports

Kelsie Whitmore hit her 11th home run to tie Denae Benites as San Francisco completed the regular season with a 13-7 win to sweep Boston.

theixsports.com

On a night the LA Queens were mostly preparing for the playoffs, the Boston Hunters kicked away a winnable game before it even started. I recap most (but not all!) of their missteps, plus news about Eric Young, Val Perez & Isabella Villarreal, and Keira Izumi's take on Robin Roberts Stadium #WPBL:

Hunters lose fourth straight in mistake-filled game against Queens | The IX Sports

Los Angeles scores eight runs in the top of the first, wins 10-6 as the Queens prep for their semifinal showdown against New York.

theixsports.com

Next ep is up! Pester-Pester. www.baseballprospectus.com/podcasts/inf...

Steven Goldman@stevengoldman.bsky.social · 3w ago

This week's Infinite Inning could use some listeners who care! www.baseballprospectus.com/podcasts/inf...

The Heights finished the regular season incredibly strong, and it wasn't just their run scoring. Emi Saiki turned in arguably the best starting pitching performance in WPBL history last night to help New York clinch second place with a dominant win over the first-place Firebells. My recap:

The IX Sports@theixsports.bsky.social · 3w ago

The New York Heights are taking #WPBL offense to new ... heights ... over the past few days. The 32 runs the Heights scored on Thursday and Friday are the most in a two-game span by any team this season, our @cliffcorcoran.bsky.social calculated. Read more about how they did it:

Introduce yourself with five artists you’ve seen at least twice: Joan Jett Sleater-Kinney Living Colour Matthew Sweet Def Leppard

Sara Michelle Fetters@moviefreaksara.bsky.social · 3w ago

Introduce yourself with five artists you’ve seen at least twice: Kelly Clarkson Tori Amos Billy Joel Pearl Jam REM

The Heights made a statement with a record-setting performance last night, winning their season series against the Queens, setting the postseason matchups, and keeping 2nd place in play. That plus Jaida Lee's injury, a Queens roster change, a new announcer, and Pride Night in my recap #WPBL:

Heights' record-setting outburst vs. LA sets semifinal matchups | The IX Sports

Denae Benites reclaims the home run lead as New York breaks multiple WPBL records to win its season series against the Queens.

theixsports.com

Kelsie Whitmore led the way again as the Firebells clinched the WPBL's first-ever regular season title. Lots of stuff in my recap here, including her 10th HR, playoff seeding scenarios, another sloppy game by Boston, Alli Schroder on being a two-way player, and Matt Williams with the final word.

The IX Sports@theixsports.bsky.social · 3w ago

"Until we win it all, and that's the goal, then we can celebrate." The San Francisco Firebells clinched first place in the first-ever Women's Pro Baseball League regular season. Here, @cliffcorcoran.bsky.social recaps the 8-5 win over the Boston Hunters and looks ahead at the rest of the season:

I hope this release is a huge bust and they go back to the proper archival releases. Overdubbing and remixing Vault recordings is blasphemous.

Stephen Thomas Erlewine@sterlewine.bsky.social · 3w ago

My latest newsletter: an overdubbed, dispiriting mess suggests Prince's Vault may not be "Timeless."

Arte Moreno bought the Angels in 2003 (the year after they won the Series) for $184 million. He then spent 23 years running them into the ground, let the stadium decay, wasted Trout and Ohtani, and sold for $4 billion. And the owners are crying poverty and threatening to kill baseball next year.