Martha Reeves’ national anthem performance sparks debate during historic Women’s Pro Baseball League opener
The Women’s Professional Baseball League celebrated a historic milestone with its inaugural game on Saturday, but much of the online conversation quickly shifted to the opening national anthem performed by Motown legend Martha Reeves.
Reeves, 85, took the field at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois, to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” before the league’s first-ever game.
The singer rose to fame in the 1960s as the lead vocalist of Martha and the Vandellas, earning a place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame thanks to classic hits such as “Heat Wave” and “Dancing in the Street.”
However, her rendition of the anthem quickly went viral after clips from the ceremony spread across social media, attracting tens of millions of views and generating thousands of reactions.
Many viewers criticized the performance.
“Probably should’ve got together beforehand and picked a key and tempo,” one person wrote on X.
“This was a terrible way to kick off the new league,” another commenter posted.
Others, however, defended Reeves, pointing to her decades-long career and legendary status in music.
“My Mom was a fan so I grew up with her beautiful, silky voice filling our home. I wish they would have honored her in some way instead of allowing her to be humiliated,” one supporter wrote.
Another added, “What’s sad is she was a great singer in the 1960s.”
The broadcast also fueled discussion by repeatedly cutting to players and fans during the anthem, with several appearing to smile or struggle to maintain straight faces. Those reaction shots quickly became a source of memes and online commentary.
Despite the viral attention surrounding the opening ceremony, the day marked an important moment for women’s baseball.
The inaugural WPBL game featured the Los Angeles Queens facing the New York Heights, officially launching the first women’s professional baseball league in nearly 30 years.
All games during the league’s 2026 inaugural season are being played at Robin Roberts Stadium.
The Queens, led by Sports Illustrated cover star Mo’ne Davis, rallied from an 8-4 deficit to defeat the Heights 10-8, scoring six unanswered runs to complete a dramatic comeback victory.
Los Angeles will return to the field on August 5, when the Queens take on the Boston Hunters in the league’s next matchup.
