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Women's Pro Baseball League debut sparks viral anthem controversy
The newly formed Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL) launched its inaugural season in Springfield, Illinois, featuring four teams – Los Angeles Queens, New York Heights, Boston Hunters and San Francisco Firebells. The opening game between the Queens and the Heights was highlighted by an 85‑year‑old Motown legend, Martha Reeves, who sang the national anthem. Her off‑key performance, marred by windy, wet field conditions and backup‑singer issues, quickly went viral, amassing millions of views and prompting Reeves to comment that the circumstances were “wet and windy” and that she was “grateful to support the athletes.”
The league fields 65 players from 11 countries, including Japanese right‑hander Ayami Sato, the top female pitcher who previously played in the Canadian Baseball League, and a roster of athletes from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia and Curaçao. In a later game, Los Angeles Queens infielder Sarah Edwards hit the first grand slam in WPBL history, underscoring the league’s growing competitive milestones.
Entities
Ayami Sato · Los Angeles Queens · Martha Reeves · New York Heights · Sarah Edwards · Springfield, Illinois · Women's Pro Baseball League · Women’s Pro Baseball League · Women’s Professional Baseball League
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Reeves said it was an honor to sing the anthem and she was grateful despite the performance not being her dreams. www.sudefuturi.it · canaledieci.it · quotidianodibari.it
- [● 3 SOURCES] The video of the anthem garnered millions of views online, spread by sites such as TMZ. www.sudefuturi.it · canaledieci.it · quotidianodibari.it
- [● 3 SOURCES] The inaugural game featured a match between the Los Angeles Queens and the New York Heights. www.sudefuturi.it · canaledieci.it · quotidianodibari.it
- [● 3 SOURCES] 85‑year‑old Martha Reeves sang the U.S. national anthem at the event. www.sudefuturi.it · canaledieci.it · quotidianodibari.it
- [● 3 SOURCES] Reeves’s performance was off‑key, with wrong notes and random high pitches. www.sudefuturi.it · canaledieci.it · quotidianodibari.it
- [● 3 SOURCES] Reeves noted that the field conditions were wet and windy, affecting her comfort during the anthem. www.sudefuturi.it · canaledieci.it · quotidianodibari.it
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Women’s Pro Baseball League held its inaugural game in Springfield, Illinois. www.sudefuturi.it · canaledieci.it · quotidianodibari.it