Maïka Dumais has officially taken a major step toward her athletic goals, entering the professional sports landscape at just 17 years old after being selected in the inaugural draft of the Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL). According to reporting by Le Soleil, the young right-handed pitcher from the Québec region was chosen 37th overall in the second round by the Boston franchise, making her the youngest player selected during the league’s historic initial talent selection.
From Local Fields to the Pro Ranks
Dumais discovered baseball at age four, initially playing purely for enjoyment while learning the fundamentals of throwing and hitting. Growing up in a household heavily involved in volleyball—save for her older brother, whose own baseball participation inspired her to try the sport—she eventually gravitated toward pitching and playing in the outfield because those roles felt most natural.
Her path to the professional level recently ran through the Académie de Baseball du Canada (ABC) in Trois-Rivières, where she has been training intensively. Hearing her name called as the 37th pick came as an overwhelming surprise. “It was really a shock, but I’m so happy and surprised to have been drafted in the second round,” Dumais told Le Soleil between training sessions.
The Road to Making the Boston Roster
While the draft marked a major milestone, Dumais recognizes that securing a spot on the field requires further progression. The WPBL draft saw 120 players selected across four teams representing Boston, New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. However, only half of those drafted players will ultimately receive active contracts for the league’s debut season.
Dumais aims to earn one of the 15 roster spots with the Boston club. Rather than viewing her age as a disadvantage, the 17-year-old views it as an asset for a franchise building for the future. “I have my place and, since I am still young, I have a lot to develop,” she said. “I think it’s good for a team to have a young player you can count on for a long time.”
Emulating Two-Way Play
Although selected primarily for her pitching ability, Dumais intends to maintain an active role on offense. Drawing inspiration from modern baseball’s most prominent dual-threat star, she hopes to impact games with both her arm and her bat.
“Even though I pitch, I would like to be able to hit too. I have a good bat and I think I could help my team do well offensively,” Dumais noted. “I really hope to be able to do like Shohei Ohtani and play on both sides of the field.”
A Historic First Season Ahead
The WPBL has established a team salary cap of $95,000 for the 2026 campaign. Compensation for players who make the active roster will be determined by games played and draft position, marking a significant shift for women’s baseball by providing professional pay. “I never really thought that one day we would be paid to play baseball,” Dumais admitted.
The league’s inaugural season is scheduled to begin in August 2026, running for approximately seven weeks including playoffs and All-Star events. Teams will play a weekly schedule of two seven-inning games at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois, a neutral venue with a capacity exceeding 5,000 spectators.
In total, 20 Canadian athletes—including five from Québec, such as Gatineau’s Ela Day-Bédard—were selected in the draft. Dumais expressed strong confidence in the trajectory of the sport, emphasizing that women’s sports are experiencing rapid growth.
