Cal Poly Pitcher Arwen McCullough Drafted into Women’s Professional Baseball League
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA – November 21, 2025 – Cal Poly student Arwen McCullough has been drafted into the Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL), set to launch its inaugural season in August 2026. McCullough, a right-handed pitcher, was selected to play for the san Francisco team, joining fellow Cal poly alum and co-founder of the Cal Poly SLO Women’s Club Baseball team, Kaija Bazzano.
McCullough initially played softball in high school for two years before returning to baseball upon arriving at Cal Poly. Inspired by similar clubs at universities like Berkeley, Davis, and the University of Washington, she established the Cal Poly SLO Women’s Club Baseball team.
“I wanted to play in college, and I thought that making this club would be a great opportunity,” McCullough said. “The idea really spoke to me when I saw people create club teams at Berkeley, Davis and the University of Washington.”
The WPBL, co-founded by Justine Siegal and Keith Stein in October 2024, marks the first professional women’s baseball league in the United states in over 70 years, following the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League which concluded in 1954.
McCullough was one of over 600 applicants who tried out for the league, surviving two rounds of elimination to become one of approximately 130 athletes considered for the draft. Ultimately, 120 players were selected on draft night.
“Its a huge full-circle moment, especially since I’m able to play for my home team with someone from Poly,” McCullough said. “I grew up wanting to be a professional baseball player. Now I can say that I am.”
The inaugural season will begin on August 1, 2026, after the Women’s Baseball World Cup. All games will be played at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois. The seven-week season will consist of four weeks of regular season play, one all-star week, and two weeks of postseason play, preceded by a four-day training period.
Teams will begin the season with approximately 15 active players, selected from the 30 players initially drafted. McCullough will compete for a permanent roster spot prior to the league opener.