# 2023 Women's Professional Fastpitch season

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 a 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 Signed |
| 1 | Texas Smoke | Morgan Howe | Smash It Sports Vipers | March 9, 2023 |
| 2 | Oklahoma City Spark | Keely Rochard | USSSA Pride | |
| 3 | Texas Smoke | Samantha Show | USSSA Pride | March 9, 2023 |
| 4 | Oklahoma City Spark | Fa Leilua | Smash It Sports Vipers | |
| 5 | Texas Smoke | Shelbi Sunseri | Smash It Sports Vipers | March 9, 2023 |
| 6 | Spark waived their pick | Spark waived their pick | Spark waived their pick | Spark waived their pick |
| 7 | Texas Smoke | Ciara Bryan | Smash It Sports Vipers | March 9, 2023 |
| 8 | Spark waived their pick | Spark waived their pick | Spark waived their pick | 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 |
| Round | Pick | Player | Pos. | WPF team | College | Date signed |
| Round 1 | 1 | Alex Storako | P | Spark | Oklahoma | June 13, 2023 |
| Round 1 | 2 | Baylee Klingler | IF | Smoke | Washington | June 11, 2023 |
| Round 1 | 3 | Ashley Rogers | P | Vipers | Tennessee | June 11, 2023 |
| Round 1 | 4 | Megan Faraimo $^#$ | P | Pride | UCLA | |
| Round 2 | 5 | Rachel Becker $^#$ | | Vipers | Oklahoma State | |
| Round 2 | 6 | Kathryn Sandercock $^#$ | | Smoke | FSU | |
| Round 2 | 7 | Ally Shipman $^#$ | | Vipers | Alabama | |
| Round 2 | 8 | Kayla Kowalik | | Pride | Kentucky | May 31, 2023 |
| Round 3 | 9 | Chenice Delce | | Spark | Arkansas | May 29, 2023 |
| Round 3 | 10 | Autumn Pease | | Smoke | Minnesota | June 1, 2023 |
| Round 3 | 11 | Kiley Naomi $^#$ | | Vipers | Oklahoma State | |
| Round 3 | 12 | Brooke Yanez $^#$ | | Pride | UCLA | |
| Round 4 | 13 | Haley Lee | | Spark | Oklahoma | |
| Round 4 | 14 | Charla Echols | | Smoke | Florida | June 6, 2023 |
| Round 4 | 15 | Makena Smith | | Vipers | California | June 7, 2023 |
| Round 4 | 16 | Allee Bunker | | Pride | Oregon | June 8, 2023 |
| Round 5 | 17 | Donnie Gobourne | | Spark | South Carolina | May 25, 2023 |
| Round 5 | 18 | Mack Leonard $^#$ | | Smoke | FSU | |
| Round 5 | 19 | Karly Heath | | Vipers | Louisiana | June 7, 2023 |
| Round 5 | 20 | Caroline Jacobsen $^#$ | | Pride | Clemson | |
| Round 6 | 21 | Yvonne Whaley | | Spark | Pitt | May 22, 2023 |
| Round 6 | 22 | Grace Turk $^#$ | | Smoke | Oklahoma | |
| Round 6 | 23 | Montana Fouts $^#$ | | Vipers | Alabama | |
| Round 6 | 24 | Jordyn Rudd | | 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 Spark |
| December 29, 2022 | Chelsea Gonzales | SIS Vipers |
| December 29, 2022 | Taran Alvelo | SIS Vipers |
| December 29, 2022 | 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 |

## League standings

Source:
| Team | GP | W | L | Pct. | RS | RA | DIFF |
| Texas Smoke | 36 | 22 | 14 | .611 | 177 | 129 | +48 |
| Oklahoma City Spark | 35 | 21 | 14 | .600 | 144 | 153 | -9 |
| USSSA Pride | 34 | 18 | 16 | .529 | 129 | 118 | +11 |
| Smash It Sports Vipers | 35 | 9 | 26 | .257 | 103 | 153 | -50 |

### Schedule

All stats come from
Legend :
| | Postponement |
| Bold | Winning team |

## 2023 Game log

| Date | Visiting Team | Score | Home Team | Venue |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |

## 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.
| WPF Semifinals (Best-of-3) | WPF Semifinals (Best-of-3) | WPF Semifinals (Best-of-3) | WPF Championship (Best-of-3) | WPF Championship (Best-of-3) | WPF Championship (Best-of-3) |
| 1 | Texas Smoke | 2 | | | |
| 4 | Smash It Sports Vipers | 1 | | | |
| 4 | Smash It Sports Vipers | 1 | 1 | Texas Smoke | 2 |
| | | | 3 | USSSA Pride | 0 |
| 2 | Oklahoma City Spark | 0 | 3 | USSSA Pride | 0 |
| 3 | USSSA Pride | 2 | | | |
Source:
2023 WPF Semifinals USSSA Pride defeat Oklahoma City Spark 2-0 :
| Game | Date | Score | Series (USSSA-OKC) |
| 1 | August 9 | USSSA Pride 1, Oklahoma City Spark 0 | 1-0 |
| 2 | August 10 | USSSA Pride 2, Oklahoma City Spark 0 | 2-0 |
2023 WPF Semifinals Texas Smoke defeat Smash It Sports Vipers 2-1 :
| Game | Date | Score | Series (SIS-TEX) |
| 1 | August 10 | Smash It Sports Vipers 2, Texas Smoke 0 | 1-0 |
| 2 | August 10 | Smash It Sports Vipers 4, Texas Smoke 6 | 1-1 |
| 3 | August 11 | Smash It Sports Vipers 1, Texas Smoke 2 | 1-2 |
2023 WPF Championship Series Texas Smoke defeat USSSA Pride 2-0 :
| Game | Date | Score | Series (USSSA-TEX) |
| 1 | August 12 | USSSA Pride 4, Texas Smoke 5 | 0-1 |
| 2 | August 13 | USSSA Pride 2, Texas Smoke 14 | 0-2 |
2023 WPF Championship Series MVP :
| Player | Club |
| Janae Jefferson | Texas Smoke |

## Women's Professional Fastpitch Awards Night

Source:
| Award | Player | Team |
| Player of the Year | Janae Jefferson | Texas Smoke |
| Pitcher of the Year | Autumn Pease | Texas Smoke |
| Rookie of the Year | Kayla Kowalik | USSSA Pride |
| Defensive Player of the Year | Sydney Sherrill | Oklahoma City Spark |
| Offensive Player of the Year | Morgan Howe | Texas Smoke |
| Stolen Base Leader | Kayla Kowalik | USSSA Pride |
| Coaching Staff of the Year | Texas Smoke -- Tori Tyson (HEAD COACH), Monique White (ASSISTANT COACH), Cat Tavin (ASSISTANT COACH) | Texas Smoke -- Tori Tyson (HEAD COACH), Monique White (ASSISTANT COACH), Cat Tavin (ASSISTANT COACH) |
2023 All-WPF Team :
| Position | Name | Team |
| Infield | Fa Leilua | Oklahoma City Spark |
| Infield | Janae Jefferson | Texas Smoke |
| Infield | Ali Aguilar | USSSA Pride |
| Infield | Charla Echols | Texas Smoke |
| Infield | Sydney Sherrill | Oklahoma City Spark |
| Outfield | Michelle Moultrie | Oklahoma City Spark |
| Outfield | Morgan Howe | Texas Smoke |
| Outfield | Kayla Kowalik | USSSA Pride |
| Pitcher | Samantha Show | Texas Smoke |
| Pitcher | Autumn Pease | Texas Smoke |
| Pitcher | Ally Carda | USSSA Pride |
| Pitcher | Hope Trautwein | USSSA Pride |
| At-Large | Baylee Klingler | Texas Smoke |
| At-Large | Jocelyn Alo | Oklahoma City Spark |
| At-Large | Makena Smith | Smash It Sports Vipers |
| At-Large | SilentRain Espinoza | USSSA Pride |
| At-Large | Suzy Brookshire | Smash It Sports Vipers |
| At-Large | Donnie Gobourne | Oklahoma City Spark |
| At-Large | Haley Lee | Oklahoma City Spark |

## Trade Notes

Round 1:
Round 2:
* ↑ Smash It Sports Vipers → OKC Spark. Vipers acquired the second-round pick in the 2023 WPF Draft as well as cash considerations with other picks from Spark in exchange for the rights to Jocelyn Alo.
Round 3:
Round 4:
Round 5:
Round 4: