In 2014, Mo’ne Davis captivated everyone watching the Little League World Series as the then 13-year-old pitching phenom pitched a complete game shutout win for Philadelphia’s Taney Youth Baseball Association, becoming the first girl to pitch a win and a shutout, in LLWS history.
She went on to get her picture on the cover of Sports Illustrated, had her jersey put on display in Cooperstown at the Hall of Fame and was named Sports Kid of the Year by Sports Illustrated Kids.
In 2023, she graduated from Hampton University. A year later, she earned a master’s degree in sports management from Columbia and has made broadcast appearances across various television networks, including doing commentary on ESPN during LLWS games.
On Friday, Davis was back in the spotlight after it was revealed that she would be trying out for the Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL), which aims to launch in summer 2026 with six teams.
From August 22nd – 25th, Davis, according to ESPN, will join over 600 other women at the tryouts as they compete to make one of the 150 slots for the league’s inaugural draft in October.
The WPBL would be the first U.S. professional baseball league for women since the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, which shuttered its doors in 1954. Movie buffs will remember that league as it was depicted in the classic film “A League of Their Own” with Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Madonna, Rosie O’Donnell and others.
Mo’ne Davis, who hasn’t played baseball since playing for the Anderson Monarchs baseball team (named after the iconic Kansas City Monarchs Negro Baseball League team), will reportedly try out at pitcher, shortstop, second base and outfield.
