National Pro Fastpitch

Last updated
National Pro Fastpitch
National Pro Fastpitch (logo).png
Formerly Women's Pro Fastpitch,
Women's Pro Softball League
Sport Softball
Founded2004;20 years ago (2004)
First season 2004
Ceased2021
Country Flag of the United States.svg United States
Last
champion(s)
USSSA Pride (5 titles)
Most titles USSSA Pride (5 titles)
Official website www.wprofastpitch.com

National Pro Fastpitch (NPF), formerly the Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL), was a professional women's softball league in the United States. The teams battled for the Cowles Cup.

Contents

The WPSL was founded in 1997 and folded in 2001; the NPF revived the league in 2004 and disbanded in 2021 after two cancelled seasons due to COVID-19. A new softball league, the Women's Professional Fastpitch (WPF), launched in 2022. [1]

Teams

Progression of NPF Expansion
YearsNo. of teams
2004 6
2005 6
2006 7
2007 6
2008 6
2009 5
2010 4
2011 4
2012 4
2013 4
2014 4
2015 5
2016 6
2017 6
2018 5
2019 6
2020 5

Timeline of NPF teams

Timeline Key
  • Current NPF teams in tan
  • Former NPF members or defunct teams in blue
California CommotionCanadian WildAussie PeppersBeijing Shougang EaglesScrap Yard DawgsTexas ChargePennsylvania RebellionNY/NJ CometsUSSSA PrideWashington GloryConnecticut BrakettesPhiladelphia ForceChicago BanditsCalifornia SunbirdsNY/NJ JuggernautArizona HeatNew England RiptideCarolina DiamondsCleveland CometsNational Pro Fastpitch

League history

On November 21, 2002, WPSL announced a rebranding strategy and official name change to National Pro Fastpitch. Major League Baseball partnered with NPF as its Official Development Partner as a continuation of MLB's efforts to connect with female athletes and women in general.

As "Official Development Partner" in 2003, Major League Baseball provided introductions to Major League Baseball Clubs, community partners, broadcast partners and to MLB.com.

As part of its long-term sales, marketing and promotional campaign, NPF featured an All-Star Tour in 2003. The tour provided each of the league's expansion team owners with tools to lay the groundwork in their marketplace for the official launch of league play in 2004.

In 2004, the league relaunched with six teams in six markets: California Sunbirds in Stockton, California; Arizona Heat in Tucson, Arizona; Texas Thunder in Houston, Texas; Akron Racers in Akron, Ohio  ; New England Riptide in Lowell, Massachusetts; and NY/NJ Juggernaut in Montclair, New Jersey.

The 2004 season was distinguished by 178 league-wide games, 96 of the best female softball players in the country, the continued support of Major League Baseball as the Official Development Partner of NPF in the category of women's fastpitch softball, NPF playoffs (both best of three series went three games) and the inaugural NPF Championship with the New York/New Jersey Juggernaut capturing the Championship Cowles Cup with a victory over the New England Riptide, fourth-place finisher in the regular season.

Today, there are 5 National Pro Fastpitch teams: the Aussie Peppers, the California Commotion, the Chicago Bandits, the Cleveland Comets, and the Canadian Wild. [2] Each team has about 20 players on roster. The league's main goal is to provide entertainment and to secure fast-pitch as a professional sports for decades to come.

New ownership (2005)

In December 2004, owners of the individual National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) teams announced a plan intended to transition operations of National Pro Fastpitch from the founding Cowles family to an operating group consisting of team owners.

The efforts of the new ownership group in 2005 focused on solidifying broadcast agreements locally and nationally, soliciting sponsorship support, and aligning with national softball associations to bring meaningful competition to each team market and various grassroots events across the country. The group continues to recruit new teams and strengthen team ownership in each market.

The 2005 regular season included 144 games and 23 opponents including six NPF teams, plus women's ASA major teams and international teams such as Canada, Mexico, Russia, Venezuela, China, and Australia. The season concluded the last weekend in August when the Akron Racers beat the Chicago Bandits 5–4 in extra innings to claim the NPF Championship Title.

The Juggernaut joined forces with Telecare to broadcast six games in 2005. Telecare reaches almost a million homes in the Long Island area. Comcast SportsNet Chicago aired seven original broadcasts of Chicago Bandits games in 2005. ESPN2 aired two games during the NPF Championship series. The final game was broadcast on ESPN2 with a very impressive .48 rating.

The Philadelphia Force and the Connecticut Brakettes joined NPF for the 2006 season. The Brakettes, the Akron Racers, the 2005 Regular Season Champions, the Chicago Bandits, the New England Riptide, the Arizona Heat, the Texas Thunder competed in league play during 2006. The New England Riptide defeated the Connecticut Brakettes to become champions.

For the 2007 season, The Texas Thunder moved to Rockford, Illinois to play as the Rockford Thunder. The Connecticut Brakettes left the NPF to return to exclusive amateur status. The Washington Glory was established as a new franchise, picking up many of the former Brakettes' pro players. The Arizona Heat franchise was officially suspended.

Each of the six established NPF teams played an official schedule of 44 games during 2007, including games against non-league opponents that counted in the NPF standings. The Michigan Ice played a more limited schedule as a provisional NPF team. Non-league opponents included Team China, Denso Japan, the Venezuela national team, and the Stratford Brakettes.

The league moved its playoffs to Kimberly, Wisconsin in a double-elimination format. Washington was the only team in the playoffs to go undefeated and won the championship in the first game on August 26. Rains on August 24 prevented the first day of competition to be played so all Friday games were played Saturday morning/afternoon and the scheduled Saturday games were pushed later into the evening. Monica Abbott and Cat Osterman threw no-hitters during the championship weekend.

In 2008, the league saw the addition of four more games as different international opponents appeared on the schedule and every team played in every other league city. The international opponents included Canada, Venezuela, Chinese Taipei, and Netherlands. Each team played two home series against two of the four international opponents.

The league also hosted Battle of the Bats throughout the 2008 season. At every Saturday night home game, or a selected date if a series is not played on a Saturday night, four players from each team were selected to represent a different bat manufacturer in a home-run-hitting contest. The contest puts manufacturer against manufacturer and player against player in a competition that concluded in Kimberly, Wisconsin as part of the championship weekend.

Contraction and expansion (2009–2021)

The New England Riptide did not play the 2009 season, citing economic reasons. [3] The Washington Glory folded outright and were replaced by the USSSA Pride.

For 2011, the Diamonds became a traveling team, and the Pride split home games between two new venues. [4] In 2012, the Diamonds relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina, and became the Carolina Diamonds. They played in various venues in North Carolina during the 2012 season.

The league announced that the Pennsylvania Rebellion would be added as an expansion team for the 2014 season, receiving the roster of the recently defunct NY/NJ Comets. [5]

In January 2015, the league announced the Dallas Charge as an expansion team for the 2015 season. The Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex-based team will split their home games between the Ballfields at Craig Ranch in McKinney and a ballpark in Arlington. [6]

On October 23, 2015, the NPF announced that the Scrap Yard Dawgs would join the league as an expansion team based in The Woodlands, Texas. [7]

On January 16, 2017, the NPF announced that the ownership of the Pennsylvania Rebellion would be dissolving the team, effective immediately. All Rebellion players under contract were granted free agency. [8]

On May 2, 2017, NPF announced the addition of an expansion team, Beijing Shougang Eagles. Its roster is to be populated with members of China women's national softball team and selected American players. For 2017, the home half Beijing's schedule was played in the home venues of the other NPF teams. Beijing is expected to announce a permanent US home location in the future. [9]

On October 12, 2017, it was reported the Texas Charge would be dissolving, effective immediately. [10] The NPF did not make an announcement regarding the Charge, but all Charge players under contract were added to the league's transactions page as free agents. [11]

In an arrangement similar to the Beijing Eagles', NPF announced in December 2017 that Softball Australia would be operating a 2018 expansion team, the Aussie Spirit. [12]

On January 28, 2018, the Scrap Yard Dawgs announced via press release they would no longer be affiliated with the NPF. However, the NPF announced they had terminated the franchise on January 29 citing that the team had violated several league operating rules and franchise requirements. [13] The Scrap Yard Dawgs indicated they would continue as an independent team known as Scrap Yard Fastpitch for 2018. [14] On the same day, Ohio.com reported that the Akron Racers would be replaced by a Chinese team, similar to the Beijing Eagles. [15] However, on February 1, 2018, Akron, instead, changed their name to the Cleveland Comets. The Comets will still be an NPF travel team. [16]

On October 30, 2018, Softball Canada announced that it will be operating an expansion team called the Canadian Wild. [17]

On September 13, 2019, USSSA Pride announced they would not renew their partnership with NPF for the 2020 season, leaving the league after 11 years. [18]

On November 14, 2019, the California Commotion was announced to be an expansion team, representing the league's first presence on the west coast since the 2005 season. The Commotion's first season in the league was scheduled to be in 2020. [19]

Both the 2020 and 2021 seasons were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [20] [21]

On August 1, 2021, the league announced that, due to a lack of revenue after cancelling the previous two seasons, it would be suspending operations. [22]

Champions

Cowles Cup Championship results
yearchampionrunner up
2004 New York/New Jersey Juggernaut New England Riptide
2005 Akron Racers Chicago Bandits
2006 New England Riptide Connecticut Brakettes
2007 Washington Glory Rockford Thunder
2008 Chicago Bandits Washington Glory
2009 Rockford Thunder USSSA Pride
2010 USSSA Pride Chicago Bandits
2011 Chicago Bandits USSSA Pride
2012 No champion named
2013 USSSA Pride Chicago Bandits
2014 USSSA Pride Akron Racers
2015 Chicago Bandits USSSA Pride
2016 Chicago Bandits USSSA Pride
2017 Houston Scrap Yard Dawgs USSSA Pride
2018 USSSA Pride Chicago Bandits
2019 USSSA Pride Chicago Bandits
2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021

Career leaders

Batting

RankPlayer BA
1 Natasha Watley .394
2 Crystl Bustos .380
3Emily Allard.366
4 Jessica Mendoza .360
5 Caitlin Lowe .352
6Kellie Wilkerson.348
7 Kelly Kretschman .346
8 Stacey Porter .341
9Kristen Zaleski.337
10Iyhia McMichael.333
Nerissa Myers.333
RankPlayer RBI
1 Kelly Kretschman 265
2Megan Wiggins256
3 Kristen Butler 179
4Brittany Cervantes164
5Kristyn Sandberg161
6Nicole Trimboli157
7Alisa Goler156
8Nerissa Myers148
9Oli Keohohou140
10 Andrea Duran 133
RankPlayer HR
1Megan Wiggins84
2 Kelly Kretschman 55
3Brittany Cervantes49
4 Kristen Butler 48
5Oli Keohohou45
6Kristyn Sandberg44
7Rachel Folden41
Shelby Pendley41
8Taylor Schlopy39
9 Stacy May-Johnson 38
10 Crystl Bustos 37
RankPlayer 2B
1 Kelly Kretschman 87
2Megan Wiggins66
3Alisa Goler52
4 Andrea Duran 39
5Kristyn Sandberg37
6Brittany Cervantes36
7GiOna DiSalvatore35
8Taylor Schlopy33
9Shelby Pendley31
10Nerissa Myers30
Tammy Williams 30
RankPlayer 3B
1Megan Wiggins18
2Brenna Moss9
Amber Patton9
Natasha Watley 9
Danielle Zymkowitz9
3Sammy Marshall8
4 Vicky Galindo 7
5Renada Davis6
Sierra Romero 6
RankPlayer H
1 Kelly Kretschman 512
2Megan Wiggins410
3 Natasha Watley 373
4Amber Patton282
5Nicole Trimboli279
6 Stacy May-Johnson 267
7 Tammy Williams 251
8Alisa Goler247
9Kristen Zaleski238
10Nerissa Myers231
RankPlayer SLG%
1 Crystl Bustos .730%
2 Jessica Mendoza .662%
3Samantha Marder.600%
4 Sierra Romero .587%
5Rachel Folden.584%
6Shelby Pendley.566%
7Megan Wiggins.564%
8Oli Keohohou.554%
9Nerissa Myers.550%
10 Stacey Porter .539%
RankPlayer BB
1 Kelly Kretschman 324
2Megan Wiggins156
3Alisa Goler139
4Brittany Cervantes136
5Taylor Schlopy134
6Kelley Montalvo131
7Clare Burnum126
8Oli Keohohou125
9Nerissa Myers124
10Kellie Wilkerson122
Kristen Zaleski122
RankPlayer SB
1Kristen Zaleski92
2Shanel Scott85
3 Natasha Watley 84
4Megan Wiggins64
5Brenna Moss63
6Sharonda McDonald61
Lisa Modglin61
7Sammy Marshall60
8 Kelly Kretschman 59
9Clare Burnum58
Vicky Galindo 58
10Trena Peel53
RankPlayer FP%
1Allexis Bennett1.000%
Kelsey Bruder1.000%
2 Jenny Topping .997%
3Jenna Hall.996%
4Alisa Goler.994%
Ashley Smith.994%
Hallie Wilson.994%
5Kaylyn Castillo.993%
Selena Collins.993%
Shannon Doepking.993%
Oli Keohohou.993%

Pitching

RankPlayer W
1 Monica Abbott 131
2 Sarah Pauly 107
3 Cat Osterman 95
4Kristina Thorson56
5Lisa Norris54
6Jocelyn Forest49
7Rachele Fico45
8 Jolene Henderson 44
Radara McHugh44
9Desiree Serrano43
10 Keilani Ricketts 42
Christa Williams 42
RankPlayer K
1 Monica Abbott 1,624
2 Cat Osterman 1,260
3 Sarah Pauly 956
4Lisa Norris646
5Jocelyn Forest474
6 Christa Williams 465
7Eileen Canney457
8Kristina Thorson455
9 Keilani Ricketts 408
10 Jennie Finch 382
RankPlayer ERA
1 Cat Osterman 0.91
2 Christa Williams 1.03
3 Monica Abbott 1.05
4 Jennie Finch 1.11
5Peaches James1.60
6Brandee McArthur1.66
Jordan Taylor 1.66
7 Jolene Henderson 1.70
8Jocelyn Forest1.76
9Amy Harre1.80
10Gina Oaks1.94
RankPlayer IP
1 Sarah Pauly 1,166.2
2 Monica Abbott 1,118.0
3 Cat Osterman 809.1
4Lisa Norris702.1
5Jocelyn Forest567.0
6 Angel Bunner 564.0
7Kristina Thorson559.0
8Desiree Serrano505.2
9Radara McHugh484.2
10Eileen Canney462.0
RankPlayer SH
1 Monica Abbott 56
2 Cat Osterman 39
3 Sarah Pauly 32
4 Christa Williams 20
5Lisa Norris17
6 Jennie Finch 16
Jocelyn Forest16
7Kristina Thorson15
8Radara McHugh13
9Eileen Canney12
10Brandee McArthur11
RankPlayer G
1 Sarah Pauly 217
2 Monica Abbott 192
3 Angel Bunner 142
Cat Osterman 142
4Lisa Norris134
5Kristina Thorson129
6Rachele Fico128
7 Jordan Taylor 115
8 Haylie Wagner 113
9Radara McHugh111
10Jocelyn Forest109
RankPlayer GS
1 Sarah Pauly 173
2 Monica Abbott 146
3 Cat Osterman 115
4Lisa Norris113
5Kristina Thorson92
6 Angel Bunner 80
Desiree Serrano80
7Rachele Fico76
8Jocelyn Forest74
9 Jolene Henderson 69
10Eileen Canney66
Keilani Ricketts 66
RankPlayer CG
1 Monica Abbott 115
2 Sarah Pauly 101
3 Cat Osterman 82
4Lisa Norris57
5 Christa Williams 47
6Eileen Canney43
Desiree Serrano43
7Radara McHugh39
Kristina Thorson39
8 Katie Burkhart 37
9Brandee McArthur35
10Jodie Cox33
RankPlayer FP%
1 Nikki Nemitz 1.000%
2 Megan Gibson .980%
Jolene Henderson .980%
3 Jennie Finch .979%
4Rachele Fico.971%
5 Haylie Wagner .966%
6Desiree Serrano.965%
7Jamee Juarez.963%
8Brandee McArthur.961%
Lisa Norris.961%
9 Angel Bunner .960%
10Peaches James.959%
RankPlayerSrikeout Rate
1 Cat Osterman 10.9
2 Monica Abbott 10.1
3 Jennie Finch 9.4
4 Jordan Taylor 9.3
5 Christa Williams 7.3
6 Katie Burkhart 7.1
Keilani Ricketts 7.1
7Eileen Canney6.9
8 Danielle Henderson 6.8
Danielle Lawrie 6.8
9Peaches James6.7
10 Dallas Escobedo 6.5
RankPlayer WHIP
1 Jennie Finch 0.68
2 Monica Abbott 0.75
Cat Osterman 0.75
3 Christa Williams 0.87
4Gina Oaks0.97
5Peaches James0.98
6 Jordan Taylor 1.01
7 Keilani Ricketts 1.02
8 Jolene Henderson 1.04
9Kaci Clark1.08
Brandee McArthur1.08
10 Katie Burkhart 1.10

History of previous leagues

IWPSA

The NPF traces its origins back to the first professional softball league. Former LPGA Tour member Janie Blaylock, softball legend Joan Joyce, tennis icon Billie Jean King, sports entrepreneur Jim Jorgensen and Dennis Murphy co-founder of the WHA and WTT leagues, founded the International Women's Professional Softball Association (IWPSA) in 1976. The league featured 10 teams in cities across the nation, including Meriden, Connecticut, Chicago, Illinois, Prescott, Arizona, and San Jose, California. In the IWPSA's first season, each team played a 120-game schedule that featured 60 doubleheaders.

The fledgling association survived four seasons before lack of funds, high travel costs, and inadequate facilities ultimately led to its demise.

Teams

  • Arizona/Phoenix Bird (1976)
  • Buffalo Breskis (1976–79)
  • Chicago Bandits (1976)
  • Connecticut Falcons (1976–79)
  • Michigan Travelers (1976)
  • Pennsylvania Liberties (1976)
  • Santa Ana Lionettes (1976–77)
  • San Diego Sandpipers (1976)
  • San Jose Sunbirds (1976–78); San Jose Rainbows (1979)
  • Southern California Gems (1976)
  • Bakersfield Aggies (1977)
  • St. Louis Hummers (1977–79)
  • Edmonton Snowbirds (1979)
  • New York Adventurers (1979)

Championships

1976
Champion: Connecticut Falcons
Runner-up: San Jose Sunbirds
1977
Champion: Connecticut Falcons
Runner-up: Santa Anna Lionettes
1978
Champion: Connecticut Falcons
Runner-up: St. Louis Hummers
1979
Champion: Connecticut Falcons
Runner-up: St. Louis Hummers

Following the IWPSA

In 1982, the National Collegiate Athletic Association began to sanction the Women's College World Series, a move that led to increased participation and exposure for the sport.

Internationally, the USA Softball Women's national team won back-to-back gold medals at the 1986 ISF Women's World Championship and the 1987 Pan American Games. The college game also benefited from rule changes enacted in 1987 that increased the game's offensive output and ultimately its popularity.

Women's Professional Softball League

Former Utah State University softball player Jane Cowles and her collegiate coach, John Horan, developed a plan for a women's professional fastpitch softball league. In February 1989, Cowles introduced a blueprint for the league to her parents Sage and John Cowles, Jr., owners of the Cowles Media Company, who agreed to provide financial backing for the endeavor.

Field research and market studies began later that fall and continued to take place into 1993. In January 1994, plans for a barnstorming tour were announced, and 18 months later two teams, the Blaze and the Storm, composed of former collegiate all-stars played exhibition games in cities throughout the Midwest. Eight years of research and planning finally culminated in May 1997, with the Cowles family and title sponsor AT&T Wireless Services launching Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF). The League began with six teams: Orlando Wahoos, Tampa Bay Firestix, Georgia Pride (later the Akron-based Ohio Pride), [24] Carolina Diamonds, Durham Dragons, and Virginia Roadsters.

WPF Championships

Results [25]
YearChampionRunner up
1997 Orlando WahoosVirginia Roadsters
1998 Orlando WahoosCarolina Diamonds

After completing two seasons as WPF, officials changed the name to the Women's Professional Softball League in 1998. The Orlando Wahoos moved to Akron, Ohio and become the Akron Racers, the only team which still remains in the league today. [24]

The WPSL consisted of four teams located in the Eastern United States in 2000. The world's most talented fastpitch softball players, including former Olympians, collegiate All-Americans, and all-conference selections highlighted the 15-player rosters of the league's four squads. The Akron Racers, Florida Wahoos, [n 1] Ohio Pride, and the Tampa Bay FireStix each participated in the WPSL regular season. The Florida Wahoos defeated the Ohio Pride in the championship series held in Springfield, Missouri.

The 2001 "Tour of Fastpitch Champions" allowed the WPSL to focus on expansion. The 2001 tour traveled to 11 cities that were targeted as WPSL expansion candidates. Competition featured games between the WPSL Gold and All-Star teams as well as Canada, the USA National Teams, and local all-star teams. Nine of these games were televised, seven on ESPN2 and two "live" on ESPN, a first for the WPSL. The season was deemed a success with more than three million households witnessing a WPSL game. Numerous cities are also being developed for future ownership in the league.

Play was suspended during the 2002 season to restructure the organization and allow the league additional time to develop and explore new expansion markets. However, a WPSL All-Star team competed in two exhibition games against the Tennessee All-Stars as part of the National Softball Association's A division Eastern World Series in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The WPSL All-Stars also conducted two clinics as part of the weekend activities.

WPSL Championships

Results [25]
YearChampionRunner-up
1999 Tampa Bay FireStix Akron Racers
2000 Florida WahoosOhio Pride

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chicago Bandits</span> Former womens professional softball team

The Chicago Bandits were a women's professional softball team based in Rosemont, Illinois. Since the 2005 season, they have played as a member of National Pro Fastpitch (NPF). The Bandits won the 2008 NPF championship, defeating the Washington Glory in the final game of the championship series. The team won their second NPF championship following the 2011 season when they won the championship series two games to none over the USSSA Pride. Following the 2015 season the team won its third NPF championship defeating the USSSA Pride two games to none. They played their home games at Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, Illinois. The team folded in 2021 when the NPF disbanded.

Sarah Jo Pauly is an American, former collegiate All-American, retired 7-time professional All-Star, right-handed softball pitcher and coach originally from Phoenix, Arizona. She played college softball at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi from 2002-2005 and owns virtually all the pitching records. She is the Big South Conference career strikeouts, ERA, shutouts, WHIP, strikeout ratio, no-hitters (9) and perfect games (2) leader in just three seasons. She joined the National Pro Fastpitch in 2006 and as a rookie earned Pitcher of The Year and currently holds NPF records for the most innings pitched, games played and games started through her 11 seasons as arguably the most successful undrafted player in league history. She is one of five NCAA Division I pitchers to win 100 games, strikeout 1,000 batters, maintain a sub-1.00 ERA and average double digit strikeouts for her entire career.

The 2014 National Pro Fastpitch season was the 11th season of professional softball under the name National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) for the only professional women's softball league in the United States. From 1997 to 2002, NPF operated under the names Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL). Each year, the playoff teams battle for the Cowles Cup. Play began on May 30 in Salisbury, Maryland, between the Pennsylvania Rebellion and the USSSA Pride.

The 2013 National Pro Fastpitch season was the 10th season of professional softball under the name National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) for the only professional women's softball league in the United States. From 1997 to 2002, NPF operated under the names Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL). Each year, the playoff teams battle for the Cowles Cup.

The 2012 National Pro Fastpitch season was the ninth season of professional softball under the name National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) for the only professional women's softball league in the United States. From 1997 to 2002, NPF operated under the names Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL). The 2012 season is especially notable because due to weather and scheduling issues, the NPF Championship Series was not completed and no Cowles Cup champion was named.

The 2010 National Pro Fastpitch season was the seventh season of professional softball under the name National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) for the only professional women's fastpitch softball league in the United States. From 1997 to 2002, NPF operated under the names Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL). Each year, the playoff teams battle for the Cowles Cup.

The 2009 National Pro Fastpitch season was the sixth season of professional softball under the name National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) for the only professional women's fastpitch softball league in the United States. From 1997 to 2002, NPF operated under the names Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL). Each year, the playoff teams battle for the Cowles Cup.

The 2008 National Pro Fastpitch season was the fifth season of professional softball under the name National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) for the only professional women's fastpitch softball league in the United States. From 1997 to 2002, NPF operated under the names Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL). Each year, the playoff teams battle for the Cowles Cup.

The 2007 National Pro Fastpitch season was the fourth season of professional softball under the name National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) for the only professional women's fastpitch softball league in the United States. From 1997 to 2002, NPF operated under the names Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL). Each year, the playoff teams battle for the Cowles Cup.

The 2006 National Pro Fastpitch season was the third season of professional softball under the name National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) for the only professional women's fastpitch softball league in the United States. From 1997 to 2002, NPF operated under the names Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL). Each year, the playoff teams battle for the Cowles Cup.

The 2005 National Pro Fastpitch season was the second season of professional softball under the name National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) for the only professional women's fastpitch softball league in the United States. From 1997 to 2002, NPF operated under the names Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL). Each year, the playoff teams battle for the Cowles Cup.

The 2004 National Pro Fastpitch season was the first season of professional softball under the name National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) for the only professional women's fastpitch softball league in the United States. From 1997 to 2002, NPF operated under the names Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL). Each year, the playoff teams battle for the Cowles Cup.

The 2003 National Pro Fastpitch season was the final year before the Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL) relaunched with league play in 2004. In November 2002, WPSL announced that it was taking a new name, National Pro Fastpitch, and that it would spend 2003 as a year of touring before resuming competitive play. From 1997 to 2002, the league operated under the names Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL).

The 2001 Women's Professional Softball League season was the first year that the WPSL suspended play before relaunching the league in 2004 under the name National Pro Fastpitch. From 1997, WPSL operated under the names Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL).

The 2000 Women's Professional Softball League season was the fourth season of professional women's fastpitch softball for the league named Women's Professional Softball League (WPSL). It was the WPSL's final season until the league relaunched in 2004 under the name National Pro Fastpitch. In 1997 and 1998, WPSL operated under the name Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF).

The Colorado Altitude were a women's professional softball team based in Littleton, Colorado. They were part of the founding roster of National Pro Fastpitch teams in 2004.

The 2006 NPF Senior Draft is the third annual NPF Draft. It was held February 15, 2006 to assign division I college players to pro teams for 2006 season. Athletes are not allowed by the NCAA to sign professional contracts until their collegiate seasons have ended. The first selection was Texas's Cat Osterman, picked by the Connecticut Brakettes. Osterman chose not to sign with the Brakettes. The Brakettes' rights to her expired after the 2006, after which she signed with the Rockford Thunder.

The 2016 National Pro Fastpitch season was the 13th season of professional softball under the name National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) for the only professional women's softball league in the United States. From 1997 to 2002, NPF operated under the names Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL). Each year, the playoff teams battle for the Cowles Cup.

The 2017 National Pro Fastpitch season was the 14th season of professional softball under the name National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) for the only professional women's softball league in the United States. From 1997 to 2002, NPF operated under the names Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL). Each year, the playoff teams battle for the Cowles Cup.

The 2018 National Pro Fastpitch season was the 15th season of professional softball under the name National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) for the only professional women's softball league in the United States. From 1997 to 2002, NPF operated under the names Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL). Each year, the playoff teams battle for the Cowles Cup.

References

  1. "Women's Professional Fastpitch Kicks Off In June 2022". National Fastpitch Coaches Association. 2021-09-30. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
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Notes

  1. This version was a new expansion team in Plant City, Florida, unrelated to the previous Orlando Wahoos that became the Akron Racers (ref)