The inaugural Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL) game created a historic moment on Saturday, Aug. 1, but it was Martha Reeves’ performance of the national anthem that quickly became one of the day’s biggest talking points online.
Before the first pitch, the Motown legend took the field alongside two backup singers to perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” during the league’s opening ceremony. As Reeves sang, the television broadcast repeatedly showed players and fans in the crowd appearing to suppress laughter, with several covering their mouths or smiling as the performance continued.
The clip quickly spread across social media, where viewers shared countless reactions. One post on X, which received more than 3 million views and 24,000 likes, joked, “Nothing will prepare you for the national anthem at the first women’s professional baseball game. And I mean nothing.”
Another viewer focused on one player’s reaction, writing, “That player was FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE,” referring to her visible effort to keep a straight face during the anthem.
Many users also compared Reeves’ performance to Fergie’s widely discussed rendition of the national anthem before the 2018 NBA All-Star Game, when stars including LeBron James, Draymond Green, and Kevin Durant were caught on camera trying not to laugh.
Despite the online reaction, Reeves completed the performance confidently before leaving the field.
The 85-year-old singer, who rose to fame as the lead vocalist of Martha and the Vandellas, addressed the viral moment the following day in a statement to TMZ.
“Having just celebrated my 85th birthday, I’ve learned a great deal over more than 60 years of performing live,” Reeves said.
She added that she was honored to be part of the league’s historic debut.
“It was an incredible honor to be invited to perform at the inaugural Women’s Professional Baseball League event and to help celebrate such a historic moment for women in sports. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”
Reeves also explained that difficult weather and technical issues affected her ability to hear herself while singing.
“The field conditions were wet and windy, and without stage monitors I wasn’t able to hear myself as I normally would,” she said. “While it wasn’t the performance I had hoped for, I’m grateful to have been there in support of these remarkable athletes and this groundbreaking league.”
Although the anthem sparked widespread discussion online, the WPBL still marked a major milestone by launching its first professional season, opening a new chapter for women’s professional baseball.
