Cal Poly’s Arwen McCullough Drafted to WPBL’s San Francisco Team
By 247Sports News,
Homecoming for Livermore Native
In a historic moment for women’s baseball, Arwen McCullough, a senior at Cal Poly studying event planning and sports management, was drafted to the San Francisco team of the newly formed Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL).
The hometown hero from Livermore, Calif., had been anxiously waiting with 15 others at a watch party in Milestone Tavern’s party room on Friday evening when her name was called in the sixth round of the inaugural draft.
“It was almost destiny. I’ve always wanted to play professional baseball, and now I can say that I am.”
A Journey Through Baseball
McCullough’s love for baseball began at age 7 when she started playing Little League, mostly with boys. Despite the challenges, she flourished and continued her pursuit through college.
At Cal Poly, McCullough established the SLO Women’s Club Baseball team, inspired by similar clubs at other universities. Her undeniable passion and skills led her to try out for the WPBL in August 2025.
The WPBL’s Inaugural Season
Founded by Justine Siegal and Keith Stein in 2024, the WPBL will kick off its first season on Aug. 1, 2026, following the Women’s Baseball World Cup. The entire season will be played at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Ill.
The seven-week season will consist of four weeks of regular play, one all-star week, and two weeks of postseason play, with each team beginning the season with approximately 15 active players.
McCullough will join Cal Poly alum and co-founder of Cal Poly SLO Women’s Club Baseball, Kaija Bazzano, on the San Francisco squad as a right-handed pitcher.
FAQs
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Did You Know?
The WPBL is the first professional women’s baseball league in the United States in over 70 years.
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McCullough’s journey is just beginning, and her story serves as an inspiration to aspiring female baseball players everywhere. As the WPBL prepares for its first season, fans can expect to see groundbreaking moments like these become commonplace.
Stay tuned to 247Sports News for more updates on the WPBL and Cal Poly’s very own Arwen McCullough as she embarks on her professional baseball journey.