Woman Makes History as First Female Umpire in Major League Baseball
Jen Pawol Makes History as First Woman to Umpire in a Regular-Season MLB Game
In a groundbreaking moment for baseball and women in sports, Jen Pawol made history on August 9, 2025, by becoming the first woman to umpire in a regular-season Major League Baseball (MLB) game.
Pawol, who began her umpiring career in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2016, steadily advanced through the ranks over nearly a decade. Her journey was a "10-year interview process," as she described, requiring hard work, patience, and continuous improvement.
During the historic game at Truist Park in Atlanta, Pawol umpired three games, including the first base and home plate positions. She inspected Atlanta starting pitcher Hurston Waldrep's hands for foreign substances as part of her game duties.
Pawol's path to the MLB was marked by significant milestones. In 2021, she became the first woman umpire in a pre-season spring training game since Ria Cortesio in 2007. The following year, she umpired MLB Spring Training games, becoming the third woman ever to do so. In 2023, she was promoted to Triple-A—the highest level before MLB—becoming the first female umpire at that level in 34 years and serving as home plate umpire for the Triple-A National Championship Game.
Pawol has been a symbol of progress for women in umpiring, among only a few female umpires in professional baseball. She credited pioneering female umpires Pam Postema, Christine Wren, and Ria Cortesio as important mentors and inspirations.
After the game, Pawol expressed her focus on getting her calls right and gratitude towards those who helped her improve as an umpire. She stated, "Just incredible. The dream came true. The dream actually came true today." Regarding the historical significance of her achievement, she said, "I'm aware of the gravity. I'm aware of the magnitude."
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred praised Pawol for her dedication and the example she sets for women and girls aspiring to on-field roles in baseball. Pawol's cap from the historic outing will be donated to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Pawol's milestone comes 28 years after Violet Palmer became the first woman to referee an NBA game in October 1997. More recently, Stephanie Frappart of France was the first woman to referee a men's World Cup match in 2022. Shannon Eastin was the NFL's first female on-field official, hired as a replacement in September 2012 during a contract dispute. Sarah Thomas became the NFL's first full-time female on-field official in an unspecified year. Last year, two women worked on the officiating crew of the same game for the first time in the NFL.
Looking forward, Pawol believes, "This is a viable career, to become a professional umpire, for men and women, girls and boys." She emphasized her dedication to improving every day. On Sunday, Pawol will be calling balls and strikes behind home plate in the contest between the Braves and the Miami Marlins.
Jen Pawol's historic achievement of umpiring in a regular-season MLB game sets an example for women and girls interested in pursuing careers in sports, particularly baseball. With her promotion to Triple-A in 2023, she became the first female umpire at that level in 34 years, further cementing her place in sports history.
