U.S. Women's Professional Baseball Revived After 72 Years... Kim La-kyung Named Opening Game Starter

[Anchor]

Women's professional baseball is returning to the United States after 72 years. The season opens the day after tomorrow, on the 2nd, and Kim La-kyung, the ace of South Korean women's baseball, has been named the starting pitcher for the opening game. Meanwhile, national team shortstop Park Joo-ah and catcher Kim Hyun-ah, who both appear on the variety show "Kick a Goal", are also preparing to play.

Reporter Lee Seonghun has the details.

[Reporter]

Seventy-two years after the dissolution of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League—which inspired the movie "A League of Their Own" starring pop star Madonna—women's professional baseball is being revived in the United States.

The WPBL (Women's Professional Baseball League), which formed four teams through tryouts and drafts last fall, will kick off its inaugural season this coming Sunday with opening games in New York and LA. Kim La-kyung, who has been a pillar of South Korean women's baseball since her middle school days, will be the historic opening day starting pitcher for the New York team.

[Kim La-kyung / New York Heights: I am Kim La-kyung, a WPBL baseball player. I am scheduled to take the mound as the starter for the opening game. I ask for your great interest and support. Thank you.]

Shortstop Park Joo-ah—who delivered stellar performances on SBS's "Kick a Goal" and hit South Korea's first-ever home run in international competition during a game against Australia at the Women's Baseball World Cup last week—along with national team catcher Kim Hyun-ah, who was selected by Boston as the 4th overall pick in the draft, will also participate in this historic inaugural season.

Drawing notable attention, former KIA manager Matt Williams will take the helm of Park Joo-ah's team, San Francisco. The inaugural season will take place exclusively in Springfield, Illinois, with each team playing 30 games, all of which will be broadcast live across the United States.

(Video Editing: Park Jung-sam, Source: X @WBSC)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.