South African Women’s Baseball is set for a defining year in 2026, building on the momentum of recent international tours to Uganda and Zimbabwe, with both senior and junior programmes preparing for major tours to the United Kingdom and the United States.

The initiative, driven by Head of South African Women’s Baseball Hayley Scott Maree, will see the Senior Women and U23 teams travel to London in the United Kingdom from 29 May to 9 June, where they are scheduled to compete against top European opposition including Great Britain, the Czech Republic and France. The tour marks a significant step in aligning the women’s programme with international competition structures and increasing exposure at elite level.

The recent South African National Women’s Baseball Championships provided an important platform for player assessment, with Maree, in her role as Gauteng Head Coach, able to evaluate both senior and junior talent first-hand as part of the broader national pathway.

On the back of this, the Senior Women’s programme has launched a national fundraising drive, calling on the South African baseball community to assist in raising R1.6 million to support the UK tour.

Working alongside South African Baseball U15 Girls head coach Zulpha Stellenboom, Maree has been instrumental in creating awareness and media opportunities for young players. The Junior Girls teams will travel to Rockford, Chicago in the United States from 17 to 27 July to participate in international competition, with a fundraising target of R3.2 million required to make the tour possible.

South African Women’s Baseball now also carries its own identity across dedicated social media platforms, allowing supporters to follow both senior and junior teams. Fans can engage with the journey by following @SAWomenInBaseball on TikTok and Instagram.

Supporters are encouraged to back the programme through the available Back a Buddy campaigns, helping to ensure that these athletes have the opportunity to compete internationally and continue growing the women’s game in South Africa

Click here to donate to the Junior SA Women’s tour to the USA  on Back a Buddy 

Click here to donate to the Senior Women’s tour to the UK