Inaugural. Historic. Landmark. Trailblazing.
Whatever word you would like to use, Madison Willan has been living it every single day since she heard her name get called in the second round by New York in the first-ever Women’s Pro Baseball League draft.
It was a moment she could have only imagined as a five-year-old girl growing up in Edmonton and even as she made her way up through the ranks of the Confederation Cubs, Baseball Alberta and, eventually, Baseball Canada’s Women’s National Team.
She can now call herself a professional baseball player and, having signed a contract with New York, she’s getting ready for the inaugural WPBL season.
“It’s honestly pretty surreal,” she told Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast.
“It feels like we’re stepping into history. I’m just super-proud and grateful and excited to represent New York and play at the highest level.”
Willan is also keenly aware of how significant the upcoming baseball season will be for women’s baseball and the future stars of the game.
ICE, DIAMONDS AND GRAD CAPS
Success has been a trademark of Willan’s as she has continued to chase her multi-sport dream over the years.
She has become a staple of the provincial and national teams since she first became eligible to join.
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Meantime, her hockey dreams have included winning the Esso Cup with the St. Albert Slash and suiting up with the University of Alberta Pandas, who won a Canada West championship in her first season (2019-2020) and her last (2024-2025).
Willan was named the USports Rookie of the Year in her first year and was named Canada West Second Team All-Star in her final campaign.
Oh … and she also helped Canada win gold at the 2023 FISU Winter Games.
The student-athlete, who also played golf with the Pandas, was able to celebrate all of her successes when she graduated in the spring.
GRINDING IT OUT
When it came time for the annual trade-in of the skates for the cleats to start the 2025 baseball season, getting drafted wasn’t really on Willan’s radar.
She moved to Quebec to play for the Jackies of the Ligue Canada-Est and fine-tune her game so she was ready to represent Alberta again at the Women’s Open Nationals in Quebec City.
The 24-year-old is also hoping to represent her country at the Women’s Baseball World Cup, which is slated for July 22-26, so she had a lot on her mind to begin with.
“There’s obviously no guarantees on being drafted,” Willan said. “Honestly, I have been super-busy in my personal life so I didn’t have too much time to think about it.”
However, she wasn’t about to pass up the opportunity to potentially get selected or at least be on the WPBL radar, so she sent in a video.
FROM JITTERS TO JUBILATION
The idea of becoming a pro baseball player started to sink in for Willan when her name was included in the initial list of top 160 draft-eligible players in the fall.
With the baseball season over and not having to worry about her studies, she admits to feeling a bit of the jitters heading into the November 20th draft.
Surrounded by family, they watched each round and selection, but they luckily didn’t have to wait too long to see Willan’s name on the board: second round and 35th overall.
“They did such a great job with presenting who got drafted and everything,” Willan smiled. “You hear your name get called and you’re like, ‘Oh my goodness, it’s actually me.’ Then you get some time to soak it in with family.”
Just a few minutes later, the selection of a fellow Albertan also made her excitedly run to her phone.
“My first text was to Sydney Barry,” Willan said of the Fort McMurray native, who was taken in the fourth round by Los Angeles.
“I’m excited for the province and the girls who are watching as they don’t have to wonder if baseball is going to continue for them.”
In all, 20 Canadians were chosen in the inaugural draft, many of whom she has played with and against during her career.
‘KEEP LOVING THE GAME’
And now the work begins as Willan and the other draftees get themselves ready for the first WPBL season.
The 5-foot-2 infielder says her offseason training plan is no different than it usually is, with plenty of gym time as well as ground ball reps and sessions in the batting cage.
In her mind, she’s just trying to stay on top of everything.
At the same time, Willan understands this season won’t be like the others as women finally have a professional league to call their own.
“I’ve been playing baseball since I was a kid and, like a lot of players in the draft, we weren’t really sure where the sport would take us,” she said. “We put in years of work without knowing if a professional opportunity would ever exist.”
“It feels like we’re stepping into something that generations before us pushed to make possible and the best part is the next generation won’t have to wait as long as we did.”
Would that little girl patrolling the diamonds of Alberta’s capital in the years leading up to becoming a professional baseball player believe how far she’s come?
“I don’t think that girl would have believed me if I told her – but I’m so proud of that version of me,” Willan said. “To any young girl in baseball, there is a space for you in this sport, so keep showing up, keep loving the game, and don’t be afraid to dream big because what’s happening right now is proof that those dreams are very real.”
Opening day in the Women’s Pro Baseball League is set for August.
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