Four teams will debut in August 2026.

There will be a women’s sports league that will make its debut in August 2026. The Women’s Pro Baseball League has four teams and will play an abbreviated schedule in one central location at a stadium in Springfield, Illinois. The games will be seven innings and players will use aluminum bats. New York, Boston, San Francisco and Los Angeles have been awarded franchises but will not play any games in those cities in 2026. This is not the first time that entrepreneurs have attempted to build a women’s baseball league.

Following the United States declaration of war against Japan, Germany and Italy in December 1941, hundreds of Major League Baseball players ended up fighting in the war. President Franklin Roosevelt told Major League Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis the game should go on and it did. The Chicago Cubs franchise owner Phil Wrigley wasn’t sure how long MLB could continue without good players and decided to form a women’s baseball league as a way to keep the industry going.  Wrigley founded the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League with teams in the Midwest and players coming from amateur teams throughout the Midwest. The league began play in 1943 and the “Belles of the Ball Game” delivered high quality talent. There were some rules that would roll people’s eyes today. On the field, the women put on lipstick and played in short skirts. Off the field, “the girls” endured mandatory charm-school classes and were forbidden to wear trousers or drink alcohol. Wrigley’s women’s baseball league folded in 1954. Many Minor League Baseball teams and the women’s league died because baseball could not compete with the new medium television. The movie “League Of Their Own” is based on the league.

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The Tampa Bay Rays made a strategic move this offseason by adding veteran left‑hander Steven Matz, a journeyman pitcher whose experience and versatility immediately strengthen a young and evolving pitching staff. For a franchise that relies heavily on developing arms and maximizing untapped potential, bringing in a seasoned presence like Matz offers more than innings — it provides mentorship, stability, and a professional blueprint for the Rays’ next wave of pitchers. His ability to work as both a starter and reliever gives Tampa Bay a flexible, reliable option as they shape their 2026 rotation and bullpen strategy.

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Matz’s Track Record as a Durable, Stabilizing Force

Across his 11‑year career, Matz has built a reputation as a dependable, team‑first pitcher capable of handling multiple roles. He has logged 246 career appearances, including 172 starts, and owns a 4.19 ERA over that span. In 2025, he delivered one of his most efficient seasons, posting a 3.05 ERA across 53 appearances while splitting time between the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox. His ability to adapt — shifting from starter to multi‑inning reliever to high‑leverage arm — has made him a valuable asset everywhere he has pitched.

Even more impressive, Matz walked only 3.6% of batters faced in 2025, one of the lowest rates among pitchers with at least 50 innings. That level of command and consistency is exactly what the Rays have historically targeted in veteran acquisitions. Whether stabilizing a rotation spot or anchoring the bullpen, Matz has repeatedly shown he can deliver quality innings without drama, excuses, or inconsistency.

How Matz Fits Into the Rays’ 2026 Plans

Looking ahead to 2026, Matz gives the Rays a trusted arm who can immediately contribute while elevating the pitchers around him. Tampa Bay’s staff is rich with talent but young, and Matz’s presence offers a steadying influence — someone who has navigated the highs and lows of a long MLB career and can help guide emerging starters through the grind of a full season.

On the field, Matz’s versatility allows manager Kevin Cash to deploy him wherever the team needs him most. He could compete for a rotation spot, serve as a multi‑inning bridge, or become a matchup‑driven left‑handed weapon late in games. Off the field, his professionalism and experience will be invaluable to a Rays team looking to rebound and reassert itself in the AL East.

By securing Steven Matz, the Rays didn’t just add innings — they added leadership, flexibility, and a proven veteran who can help shape the identity of the 2026 pitching staff.

Golf fans are getting a rare December treat as the Optum Golf Channel Games make their primetime debut tonight on Golf Channel and USA Network, beginning with a pre‑game show at 7 p.m. ET. This first‑of‑its‑kind, made‑for‑television event brings together the sport’s two biggest stars—Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler—as captains of four‑man teams competing under the lights at Trump National Golf Club Jupiter in Jupiter, Florida. Designed specifically for TV, the Games blend speed, pressure, and entertainment, offering a fresh twist on golf’s traditional offseason exhibitions. With a mix of power challenges, precision contests, and team‑based strategy, the event aims to deliver a fast‑paced, viewer‑friendly primetime show unlike anything else in the sport.

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High‑Energy Challenges Built for TV Drama

The competition format features five unique skills challenges, each crafted to test different aspects of the players’ games while keeping the action moving quickly for viewers. The Timed Drive Competition pits players in head‑to‑head duels with only two minutes to combine power and accuracy into a scoring grid. The Timed Short Game Competition raises the pressure even further, requiring players to chip and putt from multiple locations before navigating a putting gauntlet—all in just three minutes.

One of the night’s most anticipated segments is the 14‑Club Challenge, where two‑man teams share a single bag and must use each club only once in a closest‑to‑the‑pin showdown. The twist: each team must also designate a player to hit a left‑handed 15th shot. The Team Relay adds a race‑against‑the‑clock element, with four players alternating shots across four holes. Finally, the Captains’ Challenge brings McIlroy and Scheffler together in a one‑on‑one showdown featuring irons, wedges, bunker shots, and pressure putts from 10 and 30 feet.

A Star‑Studded Broadcast Team and Production Crew

Tonight’s broadcast features a deep roster of on‑air talent. Keith Mitchell joins longtime Golf Channel voice Steve Sands for booth commentary. On the course, Smylie Kaufman, Brad Faxon, and Johnson Wagner will provide real‑time insight and player interviews. Wagner will also join Anna Jackson for pre‑ and post‑game studio coverage, while rising golf media personality Kai Trump contributes tutorials and participates in the trophy ceremony.

Behind the scenes, Emmy‑winning producers Mark Loomis and Chris Maguire, along with director Jeff Jastrow, lead the production team, working in partnership with PGA TOUR Studios, EverWonder Studio, and producer Bryan Zuriff to bring this innovative event to life.