The 2023 WPF season was the first season of competition for the Women's Professional Fastpitch. Four WPF teams competed in this season:Smash It Sports Vipers, USSSA Pride, Oklahoma City Spark and Texas Smoke.
League business
Team City Stadium Head coach Oklahoma City Spark Oklahoma City, Oklahoma USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium Amber Flores Smash It Sports Vipers Oxford, Alabama Choccolocco Park Gerry Glasco Texas Smoke Austin, Texas Roberts Family Field Concordia University Texas Tori Tyson USSSA Pride Viera, Florida USSSA Space Coast Complex Kelly Kretschman
WPF announced the addition of Oklahoma City Spark as an expansion team for 2023. Seminole State College softball head coach Amber Flores will be their coach. On November 7 the Spark announced their home games would be played at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium.
Jocelyn Alo was traded to Oklahoma City Spark by Smash It Sports Vipers in exchange for draft picks and cash considerations. Oh Jan 25, 2023, the Vipers announced their home stadium for the 2023 season will be Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Alabama.
WPF announced the addition of a second expansion team for 2023 in Texas. Former MLB player Brandon Phillips is their owner. The team name was revealed be the Texas Smoke, with their home in Austin, Texas. Professional wrestler Jade Cargill was later announced as co-owner of the Smoke. Howard Bison softball coach Tori Tyson was named the Smoke's head coach. On April 28, 2023, the Smoke announced their 2023 home field will Roberts Family Field at Concordia University Texas.
Transactions Drafts 2023 WPF expansion draft WPF held an expansion draft to help stock to rosters of the Smoke and the Spark with certain players from the Pride and Vipers. Following are the picks:
Expansion draft results # Team Player Previous Team Date Signed1Texas SmokeMorgan HoweSmash It Sports VipersMarch 9, 20232Oklahoma City SparkKeely RochardUSSSA Pride3Texas SmokeSamantha ShowUSSSA PrideMarch 9, 20234Oklahoma City SparkFa LeiluaSmash It Sports Vipers5Texas SmokeShelbi SunseriSmash It Sports VipersMarch 9, 20236 Spark waived their pick7Texas SmokeCiara BryanSmash It Sports VipersMarch 9, 20238 Spark waived their pick
2023 WPF college draft The 2023 WPF college draft took place on April 17, 2023, at the Yale Theatre in Oklahoma City. All four WPF teams participated in a six-round draft, claiming 24 players.
Key #Denotes player who has not appeared in a competitive WPF game
RoundPickPlayerWPF teamCollegeNotesDate signedRound 11 P Spark Oklahoma June 13, 20232 IF Smoke Washington June 11, 20233 P Vipers Tennessee June 11, 20234 # P Pride UCLA Round 25 # Vipers Oklahoma State 6 # Smoke FSU 7 # Vipers Alabama 8 Pride Kentucky May 31, 2023Round 39 Spark Arkansas May 29, 202310 Smoke Minnesota June 1, 202311 # Vipers Oklahoma State 12 # Pride UCLA Round 413 Spark Oklahoma 14 Smoke Florida June 6, 202315 Vipers California June 7, 202316 Pride Oregon June 8, 2023Round 517 Spark South Carolina May 25, 202318 # Smoke FSU 19 Vipers Louisiana June 7, 202320 # Pride Clemson Round 621 Spark Pitt May 22, 2023 22 # Smoke Oklahoma 23 # Vipers Alabama 24 Pride Northwestern June 4, 2023
Free agency
The table below shows the signings of free agents for the 2023 season. Date Player Team September 16, 2022 Michelle Moultrie OKC Spark December 19, 2022 Chelsea Alexander OKC SparkDecember 29, 2022 Chelsea Gonzales SIS Vipers Taran Alvelo SIS Vipers Mary Iakopo SIS Vipers December 30, 2022 Sydney Sherrill OKC Spark January 3, 2023 Lynnsie Elam OKC Spark January 18, 2023 Janae Jefferson Texas Smoke January 19, 2023 Keilani Ricketts OKC Spark February 8, 2023 Sierra Hyland SIS Vipers February 18, 2023 Alyssa Rivera Texas Smoke February 23, 2023 Jordan Dail Texas Smoke February 23, 2023 Shelby Pendley USSSA Pride March 9, 2023 Sahvanna Jaquish Texas Smoke March 11, 2023 Marta Gasparotto Texas Smoke March 13, 2023 AnaMarie Bruni Texas Smoke March 17, 2023 Ally Carda USSSA Pride May 15, 2023 Delaney Spaulding USSSA Pride May 17, 2023 Ellen Roberts USSSA Pride May 18, 2023 Rylee Bayless OKC Spark May 19, 2023 Ali Aguilar USSSA Pride May 23, 2023 Emily Watson OKC Spark June 4, 2023 Taylor Roby USSSA Pride June 5, 2023 Chloe Malau'ulu OKC Spark June 7, 2023 Kelli Godin USSSA Pride June 7, 2023 Meghan Schorman SIS Vipers
Trades November 3, 2022 To OKC Spark
Jocelyn Alo To Smash It Sports Vipers
Draft picks and cash considerations
Retired Date Player August 6, 2022 Jordan Taylor August 6, 2022 Chelsea Goodacre April 7, 2023 Haley Cruse
Rosters USSSA Pride
Smash It Sports Vipers
Oklahoma City Spark
Texas Smoke
Standings
League standings Source: TeamGPWLPct.RSRADIFF Texas Smoke 36 22 14 .611177129 +48 Oklahoma City Spark 35 21 14 .600144153 -9 USSSA Pride 34 18 16 .529129118 +11 Smash It Sports Vipers 35 9 26 .257103153 -50
Schedule
All stats come from Legend PostponementBoldWinning team
Game log
Date Visiting team Score Home team Venue Win Loss Save 6/15/2023 USSSA Pride 2-3 Texas Smoke Austin, TX 6/15/2023 SIS Vipers OKC Spark Edmond, OK 6/16/2023 USSSA Pride 0-6 Texas Smoke Austin, TX 6/16/2023 SIS Vipers 1-2 OKC Spark Edmond, OK 6/17/2023 USSSA Pride 1-4 Texas Smoke Austin, TX 6/17/2023 SIS Vipers 3-4 OKC Spark Edmond, OK 6/19/2023 SIS Vipers 3-5 Texas Smoke Austin, TX 6/19/2023 USSSA Pride 0-7 OKC Spark Edmond, OK 6/20/2023 SIS Vipers 0-10 Texas Smoke Austin, TX 6/20/2023 USSSA Pride 3-6 OKC Spark Edmond, OK 6/21/2023 SIS Vipers Texas Smoke Austin, TX 6/21/2023 USSSA Pride 3-6 OKC Spark Edmond, OK 6/23/2023 Texas Smoke 6-2 SIS Vipers Oxford, AL 6/23/2023 OKC Spark USSSA Pride Viera, FL 6/24/2023 Texas Smoke 0-6 SIS Vipers Oxford, AL 6/24/2023 OKC Spark 6-3 USSSA Pride Viera, FL 6/25/2023 Texas Smoke 6-5 SIS Vipers Oxford, AL 6/25/2023 OKC Spark 1-3 USSSA Pride Viera, FL 6/27/2023 Texas Smoke 3-4 (10 Innings) USSSA Pride Viera, FL 6/27/2023 OKC Spark 3-0 SIS Vipers Oxford, AL 6/28/2023 Texas Smoke 2-1 (9 innings) USSSA Pride Viera, FL 6/28/2023 OKC Spark 1-4 SIS Vipers Oxford, AL 6/29/2023 Texas Smoke 12-6 (10 innings) USSSA Pride Viera, FL 6/29/2023 OKC Spark 3-2 SIS Vipers Oxford, AL
Date Visiting team Score Home team Venue Win Loss Save 7/1/2023 Texas Smoke 5-1 OKC Spark Oklahoma City, OK 7/1/2023 USSSA Pride 8-3 SIS Vipers Oxford, AL 7/2/2023 Texas Smoke 4-5 OKC Spark Oklahoma City, OK 7/2/2023 USSSA Pride 6-1 SIS Vipers Oxford, AL 7/3/2023 Texas Smoke 6-3 OKC Spark Oklahoma City, OK 7/3/2023 USSSA Pride 8-0 (6 innings) SIS Vipers Oxford, AL 7/10/2023 Texas Smoke 5-6 USSSA Pride Evansville, IN 7/10/2023 OKC Spark 7-4 SIS Vipers Oxford, AL 7/11/2023 Texas Smoke 1-2 USSSA Pride Evansville, IN 7/11/2023 OKC Spark 9-11 (8 innings) SIS Vipers Oxford, AL 7/12/2023 Texas Smoke 4-7 USSSA Pride Evansville, IN 7/12/2023 OKC Spark 0-8 (5 innings) SIS Vipers Oxford, AL 7/14/2023 OKC Spark 2-5 Texas Smoke Austin, TX 7/15/2023 OKC Spark 2-0 Texas Smoke Austin, TX 7/16/2023 OKC Spark 4-1 Texas Smoke Austin, TX 7/16/2023 SIS Vipers 0-2 USSSA Pride Shawnee, KS 7/17/2023 SIS Vipers 4-0 USSSA Pride Shawnee, KS 7/18/2023 SIS Vipers 0-1 USSSA Pride Shawnee, KS 7/20/2023 SIS Vipers 7-6 Texas Smoke Austin, TX 7/20/2023 SIS Vipers 0-5 Texas Smoke Austin, TX 7/20/2023 OKC Spark 4-2 USSSA Pride Peoria, IL 7/21/2023 SIS Vipers 2-6 Texas Smoke Austin, TX 7/21/2023 OKC Spark 5-6 (10 innings) USSSA Pride Peoria, IL 7/22/2023 SIS Vipers 8-10 Texas Smoke Austin, TX 7/22/2023 OKC Spark 0-6 USSSA Pride Peoria, IL 7/24/2023 USSSA Pride 11-5 Texas Smoke Austin, TX 7/24/2023 SIS Vipers 3-7 OKC Spark Oklahoma City, OK 7/25/2023 USSSA Pride 1-4 Texas Smoke Austin, TX 7/25/2023 SIS Vipers 6-2 OKC Spark Oklahoma City, OK 7/26/2023 SIS Vipers 1-7 OKC Spark Oklahoma City, OK 7/26/2023 USSSA Pride 1-2 (9 innings) Texas Smoke Austin, TX 7/26/2023 SIS Vipers 1-4 OKC Spark Oklahoma City, OK 7/28/2023 Texas Smoke 6-5 (8 innings) SIS Vipers Oxford, AL 7/28/2023 USSSA Pride 3-4 OKC Spark Oklahoma City, OK 7/29/2023 Texas Smoke 3-1 SIS Vipers Oxford, AL 7/29/2023 USSSA Pride 6-4 OKC Spark Oklahoma City, OK 7/30/2023 Texas Smoke 4-0 SIS Vipers Oxford, AL 7/30/2023 USSSA Pride 15-4 (5 innings) OKC Spark Oklahoma City, OK
Date Visiting team Score Home team Venue Win Loss Save 8/1/2023 Texas Smoke 5-6 OKC Spark Oklahoma City, OK 8/1/2023 SIS Vipers 4-5 (9 innings) USSSA Pride Viera, FL 8/2/2023 Texas Smoke 8-1 OKC Spark Oklahoma City, OK 8/2/2023 SIS Vipers 1-2 USSSA Pride Viera, FL 8/3/2023 Texas Smoke 8-9 OKC Spark Oklahoma City, OK 8/3/2023 SIS Vipers 6-0 USSSA Pride Viera, FL 8/5/2023 OKC Spark 5-10 Texas Smoke Austin, TX 8/5/2023 USSSA Pride 0-1 SIS Vipers Oxford, AL 8/6/2023 OKC Spark 7-6 (10 innings) Texas Smoke Austin, TX 8/6/2023 USSSA Pride 5-0 SIS Vipers Oxford, AL 8/7/2023 OKC Spark 3-1 Texas Smoke Austin, TX 8/7/2023 USSSA Pride SIS Vipers Oxford, AL
Statistical leaders
2023 WPF Playoffs and Championships
The 2023 WPF Playoffs and Championships were held at Signature Field at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Alabama August 9–13. All four teams qualify and were seeded based on the final standings. The first seed played the fourth seed on a best-of-three series, and the second seed played the third seed in another best-of-three series. The winners played each other in a best-of-three series that determined the champion.
Source: 2023 WPF SemifinalsUSSSA Pride defeat Oklahoma City Spark 2–0 Game Date Score Series 1 August 9 USSSA Pride 1, Oklahoma City Spark 0 1-02 August 10 USSSA Pride 2, Oklahoma City Spark 0 2-0
2023 WPF SemifinalsTexas Smoke defeat Smash It Sports Vipers 2–1 Game Date Score Series1 August 10 Smash It Sports Vipers 2, Texas Smoke 0 1–02 August 10 Smash It Sports Vipers 4, Texas Smoke 6 1-13 August 11 Smash It Sports Vipers 1, Texas Smoke 2 1–2
2023 WPF Championship SeriesTexas Smoke defeat USSSA Pride 2–0 Game Date Score Series 1 August 12 USSSA Pride 4, Texas Smoke 5 0–12 August 13 USSSA Pride 2, Texas Smoke 14 0–2
2023 WPF Championship Series MVP PlayerClubJanae JeffersonTexas Smoke
Women's Professional Fastpitch Awards Night Source:
AwardPlayerTeamPlayer of the Year Janae JeffersonTexas SmokePitcher of the YearAutumn PeaseTexas SmokeRookie of the Year Kayla KowalikUSSSA PrideDefensive Player of the YearSydney SherrillOklahoma City SparkOffensive Player of the YearMorgan HoweTexas SmokeStolen Base LeaderKayla KowalikUSSSA PrideCoaching Staff of the Year Texas Smoke -- Tori Tyson (HEAD COACH), Monique White (ASSISTANT COACH), Cat Tavin (ASSISTANT COACH)
2023 All-WPF TeamPositionNameTeam InfieldFa LeiluaOklahoma City Spark Infield Janae JeffersonTexas Smoke InfieldAli AguilarUSSSA Pride InfieldCharla EcholsTexas Smoke InfieldSydney SherrillOklahoma City Spark Outfield Michelle MoultrieOklahoma City Spark OutfieldMorgan HoweTexas Smoke OutfieldKayla KowalikUSSSA PridePitcherSamantha ShowTexas Smoke PitcherAutumn PeaseTexas Smoke PitcherAlly CardaUSSSA Pride PitcherHope TrautweinUSSSA Pride At-LargeBaylee KlinglerTexas Smoke At-LargeJocelyn AloOklahoma City Spark At-LargeMakena SmithSmash It Sports Vipers At-LargeSilentRain EspinozaUSSSA Pride At-LargeSuzy BrookshireSmash It Sports Vipers At-LargeDonnie GobourneOklahoma City Spark At-LargeHaley LeeOklahoma City Spark
Trade Notes Round 1:
Round 2:
Round 3:
Round 4:
Round 5:
Round 4:
References
Gamesheets
External links WPF Official Site