The Women’s Pro Baseball League officially launched Saturday in Springfield, Illinois, marking the first women’s professional baseball game played in the United States in nearly 30 years. But before the historic first pitch, fans online were buzzing about a rough rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Motown legend Martha Reeves, best known for “Dancing in the Street,” joined two other singers for the anthem before the Los Angeles Queens faced the New York Heights. The performance quickly drew criticism on social media and left some fans and players visibly surprised.
Absolutely nothing could have prepared me for the national anthem at the first Women’s Pro Baseball League tonight pic.twitter.com/3lEYRYNQTi
— Kendall Baker (@kendallbaker) August 2, 2026
