Where Is Mo’ne Davis Now? LLWS Legend Makes History Again
Mo’ne Davis: From Little League Legend to Pro Baseball Pioneer
Updated: August 21, 2026
The 13-Year-Old Who Changed the Game
Imagine being 13 years old and suddenly the whole world knows your name. That’s exactly what happened to Mo’ne Davis in 2014.
She was a pitcher from Philadelphia playing in the Little League World Series (LLWS)—the biggest tournament for kids aged 10–12 (sometimes 13, depending on birthdays). Mo’ne did something no girl had ever done before:
- First girl to throw a shutout in LLWS history
(A "shutout" means the other team scores zero runs.) - First Little Leaguer on the cover of Sports Illustrated (the famous sports magazine)
- Instant celebrity — adults swarmed her for autographs, and cameras followed her everywhere
Important Point:
Mo’ne wasn’t just a novelty—she was dominant. In one game, she pitched 8⅓ innings and struck out 14 batters. That means she made 14 hitters miss the ball entirely!
Life After the Spotlight
After the 2014 LLWS, Mo’ne stepped away from the cameras. But life threw her some curveballs (that’s baseball talk for "unexpected challenges").
Her Journey in a Nutshell
- Dreamed of playing basketball at UConn (a powerhouse college team)
→ But she stopped growing at 5’5" — too short for elite college basketball. - Switched to softball in high school
→ Emailed college coaches → Hampton University (Virginia) gave her a shot. - COVID-19 hit in 2020
→ Only got one full college season before everything shut down. - Stayed busy off the field
- 2023: Bachelor’s in Journalism (Hampton) + internship with the LA Dodgers
- 2024: Master’s in Sports Management (Columbia University)
- 2025: Coaching softball back home in Philadelphia
Important Point:
Mo’ne always wanted multiple degrees — and she got them. She calls herself a "student of the game."
A New League, A New Chance
In summer 2025, Mo’ne got a life-changing phone call — in a Walmart parking lot.
On the other end: Justine Siegal, co-founder and commissioner of the brand-new Women’s Pro Baseball League (WPBL).
What is the WPBL?
- First women’s pro baseball league in 70+ years
(The last one was the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League — the one from the movie A League of Their Own.) - Four teams, all based in Springfield, Illinois for the first season
- Season started August 1, 2026
Mo’ne thought it over and said yes. In the inaugural draft (November 2025), the Los Angeles Queens picked her 10th overall.
Mo’ne’s words:
"I just wanted to get out there and play… feel that freedom you have as a kid… and not have any regrets in life."
Shaking Off the Rust
Mo’ne hadn’t played competitive baseball in years. So she got creative.
Spring 2026: The Indianapolis Clowns
- Revived barnstorming team (traveling exhibition team)
- Plays "Banana Ball" — a fun, fast, fan-friendly version of baseball against teams like the Savannah Bananas
- Mo’ne played center field (not pitcher) and worked on:
- Batting mechanics
- Tracking fly balls
- Reading pitchers
- Even behind-the-back catches!
Mo’ne:
"Playing with them helped me so much… I’ve been learning."
More Than Just Stats
The WPBL season started August 1, 2026. Through the first 6 games (21 at-bats):
| Stat | Number |
|---|---|
| Batting Average | .238 |
| RBIs (Runs Batted In) | 2 |
| Runs Scored | 5 |
But her manager, Eric Young Sr. (former MLB player & coach), says the numbers don’t tell the whole story.
Why Eric Young Loves Having Mo’ne
- Leadoff hitter — sets the tone for the whole lineup
- High "baseball IQ" — knows exactly what the team needs in every situation
- Quality at-bats — hits the ball hard, draws walks, makes pitchers work
- Team glue — laughs with teammates, locks in between the lines
Eric Young:
"Her knowledge of the game propels her… I know the hits will fall."
Passing the Torch
Even in a new league, fans still find Mo’ne.
- A young girl wore No. 3 jersey (Mo’ne’s number) — her dad drove hundreds of miles to watch
- Justine Siegal (WPBL Commissioner):
"There were other girls like Mo’ne striking out boys in their local leagues… but the larger question is baseball being accessible to ALL girls. That battle continues — but it’s better in 2026 than in 2014."
Mo’ne’s Advice to Young Pitchers
Kids still ask her: "How do you throw a curveball?" "What’s your best advice?"
Her answer is beautifully simple:
"Just throw strikes."
"If you don’t throw strikes, your fielders can’t make plays, and the other team scores. So just throw strikes."
The Next Generation: Kinley Rasmus
Mo’ne doesn’t watch much LLWS anymore — "life being life" — but one name caught her eye: Kinley Rasmus.
- 12-year-old from Phenix City, Alabama
- Struck out 8 batters in 6 innings — tied Mo’ne’s LLWS record for girls
- Threw a shutout (but her team lost 2–0 in extra innings)
Mo’ne:
"She’s just straight dominating. I’m really impressed."
What’s Next for Mo’ne?
She’s 25, her body feels great, and she’s not done yet.
Mo’ne:
"I probably won’t be done playing in the next three years… Whatever doors open that I want to explore, I’ll go down them. No regrets."
Quick Summary
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2014 | LLWS history: 1st girl shutout, Sports Illustrated cover |
| 2019 | Enrolls at Hampton University (softball) |
| 2020 | COVID cuts college season short |
| 2023 | Journalism degree + LA Dodgers internship |
| 2024 | Master’s in Sports Management (Columbia) |
| 2025 | Joins WPBL (drafted 10th by LA Queens) |
| Spring 2026 | Plays for Indianapolis Clowns (Banana Ball) |
| Aug 2026 | WPBL Opening Day — Mo’ne in center field for Queens |
FAQ
Who is Mo’ne Davis?
A: A trailblazing athlete who, at age 13, became the first girl to pitch a shutout in the Little League World Series (2014). Now 25, she plays center field for the Los Angeles Queens in the new Women’s Pro Baseball League.
What is the Women’s Pro Baseball League (WPBL)?
A: The first professional women’s baseball league in over 70 years. It launched in August 2026 with four teams playing in Springfield, Illinois. Think of it like the WNBA — but for baseball.
Why did Mo’ne stop pitching?
A: She chose to switch to center field to avoid the pressure of living up to her 13-year-old self. She wants to enjoy the game without that weight.
What did Mo’ne do between 2014 and 2026?
A: Went to college (Hampton U), earned two degrees (Journalism + Sports Management), interned with the LA Dodgers, coached softball, and played for the Indianapolis Clowns to prep for pro ball.
Is Mo’ne Davis still inspiring young girls?
A: Absolutely. Fans travel miles to watch her. Girls wear her No. 3 jersey. And 12-year-old Kinley Rasmus just tied her LLWS strikeout record — proving the ripple effect is real.
Final Thought:
Mo’ne Davis didn’t just make history at 13 — she kept showing up, kept learning, and now she’s helping build a future where any girl can dream of playing pro baseball. No regrets. Just strikes.