Kansas City is well known for championing women’s professional sports, so there may be no better place to welcome a professional softball team. The Professional Softball League (PSL) and the leadership behind one of its teams seem to agree. This summer, the KC Diamonds will take the field for their first season as part of the new league.
The launch of the league signals a turning point for women’s softball. Professional opportunities have historically been limited, often pushing athletes to continue their careers outside of the United States. Yet, with the founding of the PSL in December of 2025, the league of seven teams has widened the field for stateside talent. “There are only about 180 or 190 women who get the chance to play at a professional level,” said Jeremy McDowell, founding member and general manager of the KC Diamonds. “In women’s sports, it’s just now turning the corner where these young women get that opportunity. I look at the women playing professional softball right now as the pioneers of the sport.”
With so few professional roster spots available, many female athletes have had limited paths to continue playing after college. Some are lucky to play stateside. Others have continued their careers in international leagues, traveling to places where professional women’s softball has had a longer and more established presence. “Most people don’t realize that a lot of our players are playing right now in Mexico,” Jeremy said. “There are leagues in Korea, Taiwan, Italy, The Netherlands, and New Zealand. And Japan is another huge one. The U.S. has lacked, quite honestly, in a lot of those opportunities.”
Kansas City was selected as a home for one of the league teams after a test run short series of games helped gauge local interest and support. “We did a beta test with the KC Diamonds last year, where we rolled them out in a four-game series against two of the other independent teams,” Jeremy said. The response from the community was undeniable. “We ran out of merch by night two, and basically all three nights were sold out,” he said. “The energy in there was terrific.”
The community support and fan response during the beta test clearly indicated that Kansas City would be a great market for the new professional softball team. Plus, if you ask any local sports fan they will tell you that our Title Town already has a strong pro sports culture. “Kansas City is already kind of a mecca of youth sports and fan bases,” Jeremy said. “And obviously, nationally, they’re also known for women’s sports, just in general.”
With the buzz built around those initial games, it was time to pursue the idea of a full-time franchise in Kansas City. This meant finding the right talent for the 16-player roster. At the time of this interview, the KC Diamonds had signed several contracts, were narrowing their final selections, and holding four spots for current college players who will join the team after the end of their season.
When it comes to team selection, there is no shortage of talent. The Diamonds are graced with a shining “who’s who” highlight reel, featuring noteworthy college careers and national recognition. “We’ve got two Gold Glove Award winners who are in respective conferences in the college game,” he said. “We’ve got a couple first team All-Americans. We’ve got a lot of first team All-Conference players. The talent is there.”
As Kansas City roots for its own, there has also been an effort to recruit players with regional ties. “I think for us, it was also finding the right Midwest talent,” Jeremy said. “Not that they’re all from the Midwest, but we want our city and the Midwest folks here to be able to relate to the players.” That talent will be on display soon, as preseason preparation begins in early June. The team opens on the road in Atlanta on June 11th, followed by its home opener at Monarch Stadium on June 17th. In total, the Diamonds will play 21 home games during their inaugural season.
Throughout the seven-inning games, which typically last around two hours, there will be ongoing entertainment and activities. From the first pitch to the final out, the goal is to give families and young fans a reason to make it a regular outing. The shorter game format leaves room for unique game-day fun and provides opportunities for fans to interact with the players. “The thing that makes professional softball so unique is that at every single game, the players sign autographs,” Jeremy said. “After every game, young girls line up for miles to come through and get autograph after autograph.”
For many young female athletes, the presence of a professional team can be an inspiration. The KC Diamonds’ focus on community interaction will give female youth a chance to interact with professional players up close and dream of what is possible for their own futures in sports.
After all, professional softball is still growing, and these players are helping to build its future. “They are pioneers,” Jeremy said. “They’re not making great money, because there aren’t the huge TV deals. However, the League did sign a contract with the All Women’s Sports Network, which is a big deal.” Broadcast and streaming coverage will help make the games more accessible. Meanwhile, camps, clinics, and local partnerships are part of the long-term, brand-building plan.
The organization will also plan special events to stay visible in the community beyond game days. One of these is a Diamond Night Out, where fans can meet the players in a more relaxed setting, share a meal, and take part in educational and inspirational talks. In Jeremy’s view, players integrating themselves into the community is an essential part of establishing the KC Diamonds’ reputation, and it’s the mark of a true team player. Within the player selection process, the Diamonds are specifically seeking out women who are interested in and committed to engaging locally, beyond game day. “We really want these women in the community, and out in the field, for this to be sustainable,” he said. “One of the things in the interview process is understanding what their passions are and then matching up their passion or their purpose with some local public, private, or civic business. It’s very important that these women are viewed as Kansas Citians.”
Team members will actively pursue collaborations across the community, including partnerships with local hospitals, children’s organizations, and businesses. While the season runs for only two months, the organization plans to stay active year-round and build ongoing connections with fans. That effort will carry into the fall, when the team is slated to play several exhibition games against local college softball programs. These match-ups will be held at Monarch Stadium and include games against the teams at MU, KU, Oklahoma State, and Wichita State. “We can come, and we can sell tickets. I’m confident that we will have some good crowds there,” Jeremy said.
As the inaugural KC Diamonds season approaches, the possibilities for women’s sports feels especially bright. For Kansas City, the arrival of its very own pro softball team will bring new energy to the local sports scene and new opportunities for women in the game.
For more information about the KC Diamonds, including game schedules and ticket availability, visit thekcdiamonds.com.
Featured in the March 21, 2026 issue of The Independent
By Monica V. Reynolds
