What is Northwoods League Softball?

Northwoods League Softball recently finished its inaugural season in August with teams in Madison, Wisconsin; La Crosse, Wisconsin; Minot, North Dakota; and Mankato, Minnesota. For the 2025 season, the Wausau Softball Club will join these teams in playing across the Midwest. With this announcement, many may be wondering what Northwoods League Softball is and how it will affect the baseball landscape.

Northwoods League Softball is a Women’s Summer Collegiate Fastpitch Softball League with teams playing in cities across the Upper Midwest. The environment of these games will be very similar to those of a Northwoods League Baseball game, as we will seek to provide a fun, family-friendly atmosphere to those in our community.

To be eligible to play for a Northwoods League Softball team, athletes must have college eligibility left. Each roster will consist of 18 players and will be coached by current and former college coaches.

During the season, players will play in 42 games that begin in mid-June and run through the first few weeks in August. There will be an extended period of play for playoffs, similar to Northwoods League Baseball. All games will be streamed on various streaming platforms including Northwoods League+, ESPN+, and the Women’s Sports Network.

We are excited to bring this team to Wausau to allow more female athletes to enhance their skills and compete at a high level during the summer. Many of these athletes don’t have the opportunity to continue to play competitively during the summer months, making their return to school and their season more difficult. We are also excited to showcase these athletes’ talents to a wider audience the country.