B.C. players drafted to Women's Pro Baseball League say sport's popularity is rising among girls

The B.C. athletes that have been selected to play in the inaugural edition of the Women's Pro Baseball League in 2026 say they're hopeful it sets the stage for a sustainable future for women in a sport traditionally dominated by men.

Six B.C. athletes were selected in the first-ever WPBL draft last week , out of 20 Canadians in total, with the players all picked by four U.S.-based teams.

The upstart league is set to start play in the summer of 2026, with games taking place in Springfield, Illinois, which provides a central location for its four teams.

Liz Gilder, a left-handed pitcher who will suit up for the San Francisco team and was picked 49th overall, said she was quite often the only girl playing baseball growing up in Port Moody, B.C. WATCH | Women's Pro Baseball League has