Denae Benites

Denae Benites
New York Heights – No. 2
Catcher
Born: (2001-09-10) September 10, 2001 (age 25)
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
WPBL debut
August 1, 2026, for the New York Heights
WPBL statistics
(through September 4, 2026)
Batting average.552
Home runs11
Runs batted in38
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Medals
Women's baseball
Representing  United States
Women's Baseball World Cup
Silver medal – second place2024 CanadaTeam

Denae Michelle Benites (born September 10, 2001) is an American professional baseball catcher. She currently plays for and captains the New York Heights of the Women's Pro Baseball League. She also plays for the United States women's national baseball team and the Loco Beach Coconuts of the Banana Ball Championship League.

Early life and education

Benites attended Centennial High School in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she was the first female student to play on the baseball team. She graduated in 2019.

After graduating high school, Benites became an EMT and volunteer firefighter in Delaware.

Playing career

National team

Benites joined the US women's national baseball team in 2019. At the 2024 Women's Baseball World Cup, she won the silver medal with the rest of the national team.

In 2025, Benites was one of many international female baseball players featured in the documentary See Her Be Her.

Banana Ball

In 2026, Benites began playing for the Loco Beach Coconuts of the Banana Ball Championship League.

Women's Pro Baseball League

In the inaugural Women's Pro Baseball League draft, Benites was selected sixth overall by WPBL New York (later renamed the New York Heights). On July 31, 2026, it was announced that she would serve as the team's captain.

On August 1, 2026, Benites hit the first home run in WPBL history. In the inaugural 2026 season, Benites became the first player to win the batting Triple Crown in WPBL history, leading the league with a .552 batting average, 11 home runs (tied with Kelsie Whitmore), and 38 runs batted in (RBI).

Personal life

Benites is LGBTQ.

References

  1. ↑ Schoen, David (April 10, 2017). "Centennial sophomore Denae Benites chases her field of dreams". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  2. ↑ Helfand, Betsy (April 13, 2018). "Diamond girl's best friend for Centennial baseball player". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  3. ↑ Kantowski, Ron (June 29, 2019). "Centennial grad eyes women's baseball breakthrough on World Cup team". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  4. ↑ Warren, Matt (October 7, 2025). "Denae Benites: Catching the WPBL Dream". Women's Pro Baseball League. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  5. ↑ Herman, Howard (September 22, 2023). "Denae Benites is helping bring women's baseball into the spotlight". The Berkshire Eagle. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  6. ↑ "USA Baseball confirms final roster for WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup Finals 2024". World Baseball Softball Confederation. July 21, 2024. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  7. ↑ Clair, Michael (August 23, 2024). "USWNT stars Hugo and Lansdell reflect on silver medal at Women's Baseball World Cup". MLB. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  8. ↑ Hewitt, Owen (June 9, 2025). "'See Her Be Her': Documentary focuses on women's baseball. Can it grow the game?". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  9. ↑ de la Cretaz, Frankie (July 28, 2026). "The Girls Are Ready To Play Hardball". Autostraddle. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  10. ↑ Tan, Cecilia (2026). "Women in Banana Ball, 2022–2025". Baseball Research Journal. Phoenix, Arizona: Society for American Baseball Research.
  11. ↑ "Fourteen Alumni Selected in Inaugural Women's Professional Baseball League Draft". USA Baseball. November 20, 2025. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  12. ↑ Cohen, Jay (August 1, 2026). "WPBL looking for longevity as players take the field amid rising popularity for women's sports". FOX Sports. Associated Press. Retrieved September 10, 2026.
  13. ↑ Cohen, Jay (August 1, 2026). "Women's Pro Baseball League makes its debut in front of an enthusiastic crowd". NBC News. Associated Press. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  14. ↑ "2026 Women's Pro Baseball League Statistics". Women's Pro Baseball League. Retrieved September 6, 2026.
  15. ↑ Thompson, Abbie (June 30, 2026). "Meet All of the Out Queer Players of the WPBL". GO Magazine. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  16. ↑ "How Incredible (Gay) Is the New Women's Professional Baseball League?". Autostraddle. November 24, 2025. Retrieved July 28, 2026.