Softball is more popular than ever as the sport is set to make its highly-anticipated Olympic return at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. And now fans will have another opportunity to check out the best players in the world.
On Wednesday, the Professional Softball League (PSL) announced it will combine seven previously independent softball clubs from across the country into a women’s professional softball league that will open play in June 2026, shortly after the 2026 Women’s College World Series.
“This is a milestone moment for professional fast pitch softball,” said Ryan Moore, PSL spokesperson and owner of the Florida Vibe. “We’ve seen the momentum build year after year and bringing teams together under one league structure creates something bigger than any one club can do alone.’
The seven inaugural teams include the Atlanta Smoke (Atlanta), Chattanooga Chill (Chattanooga, Tennessee), Florida Breeze (Tampa Bay, Florida), Florida Heat (Viera, Florida), Florida Vibe (Bradenton, Florida), KC Diamonds (Kansas City) and New York Rise (New York). Each team will carry a roster of 20 players.
The league’s inaugural season will be broadcast exclusively on the All Women’s Sports Network (AWSN), which will ‘feature PSL on major global platforms including Amazon Prime, Pluto TV, and DirecTV,’ AWSN CEO George Chung said in a press release. The league’s 2026 schedule will be announced at a later date.
‘This is a monumental step not only for our organization, but for the growth of women’s softball across the world,’ Florida Heat owner Ricky Bumgardner Jr. added. ‘Our mission is to elevate athletes, build opportunities, and inspire the next generation — and the PSL gives us the perfect platform to do that. We can’t wait to compete, represent our community, and bring the Heat to the PSL.’
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