Madison will be the fourth and final team for the 2024 season
Rochester, Minn. -The Northwoods League and the Madison Mallards are excited to announce the establishment of Madison Softball, a team that will play in the new Northwoods League Softball (NWLS) summer collegiate league at Warner Park starting in 2024. The groundbreaking league will be the first ever to showcase the best female collegiate softball players from across the country in an atmosphere similar to a Mallards game.
A “Name Your Team” contest is now open for submissions from fans to submit creative ideas for the team’s name and will run through February 1st.
The Inaugural NWLS season will feature three other teams, including La Crosse, Wisconsin; Mankato, Minnesota; and Minot, North Dakota.
The addition of a softball team will require stadium improvements to be made at Warner Park, including the installation of an artificial turf infield, a portable mound, and a state-of-the-art movable outfield fence. The Mallards and the City of Madison are currently discussing a modification to their Use Agreement to allow for the improvements, the majority of which would be funded by the Mallards and donated to the City, upon City approval.
Each team roster will be comprised of sixteen players and a nationwide search is currently underway to find the first Head Coach for the team. Players and coaches interested in being part of the team can email madisonsoftballinfo@gmail.com.
“To be able to bring a groundbreaking women’s summer collegiate softball team to the best women’s sports town in America is such an honor,” said Madison Softball General Manager, Samantha Rubin. “Our top priority is to connect with the Madison softball community and provide support in any way that we can. As a high school softball player from Florida, I would have loved to see something like this in my hometown- something to aspire to be!”
“What an exciting opportunity for softball in the state of Wisconsin,” said University of Wisconsin-Madison Head Softball Coach, Yvette Healy. “We’ve had a lot of Badgers play in summer collegiate softball leagues in the last few years, flying all the way to Florida to see great competition over the summer. Bringing a collegiate softball league to Madison will open so many doors to Wisconsin softball student-athletes, allowing them to train and play in front of their friends and families. I can’t think of a prettier, more ideal location for summer softball than Madison, Wisconsin.”
Group outings, season ticket packages, and eight ticket flex plans are now available by calling the Madison Softball office at 608-246-4277. Fans can reserve their season tickets now for only $50.
For more information on Madison Softball, visit madisonsoftball.com. The full 2024 NWLS schedule will be announced on Monday, January 8. Potential players and coaches can also visit northwoodsleague.com to apply to play or coach.
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Leveraging the 30-year success of the Northwoods League, the first for-profit Summer Collegiate Baseball League, Northwoods League Softball (NWLS) will be the first for-profit Women’s Summer Collegiate Softball League beginning play in the Upper Midwest in the summer of 2024. The purpose of the League will be to develop players for their college, Olympic and future professional play. Teams will be promoted similar to minor league baseball teams, playing games in front of fans in a fun, friendly, family-oriented environment.
