The Women's Pro Baseball League begins its first season in the United States on Saturday, with nearly a dozen Canadian athletes in the chase to become the league's first champions. The season opener marks the first women's professional baseball game in nearly three decades. Before the game, a rendition of the national anthem by Martha Reeves and two other women drew social media criticism. The league's launch brings together players from multiple countries, including the Canadian contingent, as they compete for the inaugural title. The anthem performance, which was widely criticized online, did not overshadow the historic nature of the event for many fans and players. The season is set to run through the summer, with teams vying for the championship. The league represents a milestone for women's professional baseball, which has been absent from the American sports landscape for close to 30 years. Further details about the schedule and team rosters were not immediately available.