1999 Women's Pro Softball League season
| 1999 WPSL Season | |
|---|---|
| League | Women's Professional Softball League |
| Sport | softball |
| Duration | May 13, 1999 - August 22, 1999 |
| Number of teams | 6 |
| TV partner(s) | ESPN2 |
| 1999 WPSL Draft | |
| Top draft pick |
Isonette Polonius 3B East Carolina |
| Picked by | Durham Dragons |
| Regular Season | |
| Regular Season Champions | Tampa Bay FireStix |
| WPSL Champions | Tampa Bay FireStix |
| Runners-up | Akron Racers |
| Season MVP |
Kaci Clark Virginia Roadsters |
| WPSL Championship | |
| Finals MVP |
Pat Dufficy Tampa Bay FireStix |
The 1999 Women's Professional Softball League season was the third season of professional fastpitch softball for the league named Women's Professional Softball League (WPSL). In 1997 and 1998, WPSL operated under the name Women’s Pro Fastpitch (WPF).
After the 1998 season, the WPF (Women's Pro Fastpitch) changed its name to Women's Professional Softball League season (WPSL). WPSL Commissioner/CEO John Carroll said the change should improve the league's name recognition, as "The term ʻsoftballʼ is more readily recognized by our mass audience than the term ʻfastpitchʼ,” Carroll said. “We believe the name change will result in higher public recognition. It will allow people to identify with the sport we play, rather than our style of play.” Also, two-time WPF Champion Orlando Wahoos folded, and their roster was assigned to the expansion Akron Racers.
On December 22, Centenary College of Shreveport, LA softball coach Michael Bastian was hired as the full-time head coach of the Racers.
The other full-time WPSL coaches were Willie Rucker for the Carolina Diamonds, Judy Martino for the Durham Dragons, Cindy Bristow for the Georgia Pride, Linda Derk for the Tampa Bay FireStix, and Terri Pearson for the Virginia Roadsters.
On March 23, the Durham Dragons introduced Bill Miller as general manager, replacing Dena Lambert.
The WPSL cancelled all preseason games, citing that many draft picks and free agents would be participating in the Women's College World Series.
On July 16, Georgia's Desarie Knipfer pitched the second perfect game in WPSL history, beating the Dragons 6-0.
On December 5, 1998 the 1999 WPSL Senior Draft was held in St. Petersburg, Fla. The Durham Dragons selected 3B Isonette Polonius of East Carolina University with the first pick.
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The 1999 WPSL Championship Series was held at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio August 24-8. The top three teams on the standings qualified. The second- and third-place teams, the Racers and Roadsters, played a best-of-three semifinal series. The semifinal winner, the Racers, played the first-place team, the FireStix, in a best-of-three final series.
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The 1999 WPSL All-Star Game was played on June 13 in Plant City, FL at Plant City Stadium, televised on July 29 later on ESPN2. The game feature 30 players split between two teams, one called the "WPSL Stars" and the other "WPSL Stripes." The Stars included players from the Akron Racers, Durham Dragons and Virginia Roadsters, and the Stripes were made up of Carolina Diamonds, Georgia Pride and Tampa Bay FireStix.
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