From Little League Legend to Pro Prospect: Mo’ne Davis Is Back

Who could forget the summer of 2014, when Mo’ne Davis captured the nation’s attention as the first girl to win a game and throw a shutout in the Little League World Series? Her fastball, poise, and trailblazing presence earned her a spot on the cover of Sports Illustrated, millions of TV viewers, and a jersey displayed in Cooperstown. Eleven years later, she’s ready to pick up where she left off—this time on the professional stage.

Davis has officially announced that she will try out for the new Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL), which is set to launch its inaugural season in 2026. Tryouts begin next month in Washington, D.C., as the league looks to form six franchises. The WPBL’s first draft is slated for October.

The last time Davis played organized baseball was with the Anderson Monarchs. Since then, her journey has included a published memoir (Mo’ne Davis: Remember My Name), national recognition, and a pivot to softball at Hampton University, where she started in 49 of 55 games over two seasons as an infielder.

After graduating in 2023, Davis briefly joined ESPN’s baseball broadcast team and graduated from Columbia University’s Sports Management master’s program last year. But the field has clearly been calling her back.

She’ll be among several notable players vying for a spot in the WPBL, including Kelsie Whitmore, the first woman to sign a professional contract with an MLB-partnered league. Davis is expected to try out not only as a pitcher but also at second base, shortstop, and center field, showcasing her versatility.

The upcoming tryouts will narrow the pool to 150 players, who will then be eligible for the league’s first draft. If successful, the WPBL will become the first U.S. professional women’s baseball league since 1954, when the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, immortalized in A League of Their Own, shut its doors.

Now, the girl who once became a household name for her dominance on the mound may be ready to make history all over again. For fans who grew up watching Mo’ne break barriers, and for a new generation dreaming of big-league diamonds, her return is more than just a comeback—it's a full-circle moment in the making.

Good luck, Mo’ne. We never stopped remembering your name—and now we get to cheer it on again.