Madison Willan Excelled in WPBL Rookie Season
The former University of Alberta athlete hit .458 for the New York Heights during the 2026 inaugural season.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Baseball
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Madison Willan, a former University of Alberta hockey player, transitioned to professional baseball for the New York Heights during the league’s inaugural 2026 season. Drafted 35th overall, Willan recorded 11 hits and 6 RBI while playing across the infield in Springfield, Illinois.
Why it matters
Willan’s performance highlights the successful launch of the Women's Pro Baseball League, which utilized a centralized model to showcase top talent from a pool of over 120 drafted players. Her rapid transition from collegiate hockey to professional baseball serves as a case study for multi-sport athletes entering the emerging pro baseball landscape.
Willan recorded a .458 batting average over 12 appearances, securing 11 total hits and 6 RBIs. She was selected as the 35th overall pick in the league's initial draft that evaluated over 120 eligible players.
The players
Madison Willan
A 25-year-old multi-sport athlete who transitioned from university hockey to professional baseball with the New York Heights.
New York Heights
One of the four inaugural franchises in the Women's Pro Baseball League that drafted Willan in the second round.
Women's Pro Baseball League
A professional sports organization that launched in 2026 to provide a formal competition structure for female baseball players.
The details
Playing shortstop, second base, and third base for the New York Heights, Willan demonstrated versatility in her first year of professional play. All inaugural WPBL games were contested at a single stadium in Springfield, Illinois, which served as the hub for all four franchise teams.
Timeline
Madison Willan graduated from the University of Alberta in 2025.
The Women's Pro Baseball League held its inaugural season in the summer of 2026.
Madison Willan is scheduled to compete in the Women's World Cup in the summer of 2027.
The Big Picture
This performance follows the precedent established by the Women's Pro Baseball League inaugural season in 2026, which consolidated all competition into a single hub to foster player development. The success of the league's initial 15-game schedule provides the proof of concept for the organization's stated goal of increasing game volume in future years.
Willan's .458 average establishes her as a core defensive and offensive utility player for the New York Heights entering the next season. Her participation in the 2027 Women's World Cup indicates a high likelihood of her continued role as a focal point for the league's roster development.
The takeaway
The inaugural season of the WPBL demonstrates that high-level multi-sport athletes can successfully transition into professional baseball roles. Future franchise growth depends on maintaining this standard of play as the league expands beyond its initial 15-game schedule.
What happens next
Madison Willan is scheduled to represent Canada in the 2027 Women's World Cup during the summer of 2027.
Further reading
For more on the development of the sport, visit Baseball.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Edmonton Sun.
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