WPBL Release

FULLERTON, Calif. – Former Titan standout and women's baseball trailblazer Kelsie Whitmore added another historic milestone to her barrier-breaking career on Thursday night, becoming the first overall pick in the Women's Pro Baseball League's (WPBL) inaugural 2025 draft. Whitmore was selected by the San Francisco franchise, cementing her place as one of the league's foundational stars.

The WPBL, co-founded by Justine Siegal and Keith Stein, features four teams (Boston, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco) made up of 15 players each. For its first season, all teams will play at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois. The teams will compete in two games a week over a seven-week span, featuring four weeks of regular-season play, one week of all-star competition and two weeks of playoffs. 

Whitmore's latest achievement comes on the heels of a year filled with national attention. The two-way outfielder and right-handed pitcher made her Banana Ball debut on August 1 with the Savannah Bananas, performing in Major League Baseball stadiums in front of sold-out crowds. 

A veteran of the USA Baseball Women's National Team, Whitmore began her national team career in 2014, where she has helped lead Team USA to gold at the 2015 Pan American Games and earned two World Cup silver medals (2014 and 2025).

Whitmore was a dominant force as a member of the Titans Softball program. The 2021 Big West Field Player of the Year guided Titan Softball to three consecutive Big West titles (2017–2019) while collecting First Team All-Conference and NFCA Second Team All-West Region honors. She closed her senior campaign hitting .395/.507/.824, finishing her five-year career with a .300 average, 19 home runs, and 64 RBI across 227 games.

Whitmore made history again in 2022 when she became the first woman to play in a Major League Baseball partner league, joining the Staten Island FerryHawks. Over two seasons, she struck out six hitters in 22.2 innings and was named the 2022 USA Baseball Sportswoman of the Year.

In 2024, Whitmore pitched 23 innings over 13 games with the Oakland Ballers and earned national recognition with a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Sports List.

With her selection as the No. 1 overall pick, Whitmore now prepares to take center stage as the WPBL launches its inaugural 2026 season on August 1. 

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