Australia will become only the second country in the world to have a dedicated national women's baseball competition.

Key points: Scheduled to start in 2021, the new league will be only the second of its kind in the world

Scheduled to start in 2021, the new league will be only the second of its kind in the world Organisers are hopeful the competition will attract star players internationally and capitalise on market gaps in the US and Asia

Organisers are hopeful the competition will attract star players internationally and capitalise on market gaps in the US and Asia But observers say it may be difficult for a niche sport like women's baseball to compete, given the number of popular sports already on the market

Four teams — from Victoria, the ACT, South Australia and Queensland — have signed up to the inaugural season in 2021.

Baseball Victoria, as well as current men's teams the Adelaide Giants, Brisbane Bandits and Canberra Cavalry, have been granted licences and will fund and run the teams.

They will participate in a number of exhibition games in 2020 before the league officially launches in the second half of the following year.

Opportunities for semi-professional and professional women's baseballers in Australia are currently slim.

There is a national tournament once a year and the women's World Cup every two years.

Shae Lillywhite has played baseball since she was a young girl. ( Supplied: Baseball Australia )

A dream come true

Australian Emeralds player Shae Lillywhite said playing in a dedicated league would be a dream come true.

"It's just a great chance to showcase the hard work that everyone puts in," she said.

"I think it'd be nice just for people to see the girls actually play, and great for us to get more high-level competition."

Baseball Australia chief executive Cam Vale said the women would be paid in the new league for the first time.

"I think it gives a great opportunity of respect to those athletes who dedicate as much time as the men but currently in a user-pays system" he said.

Vale is hopeful the competition will attract star players from around the world, given that Japan is the only country with a dedicated women's league.

"Internationally, there is a clear void and gap in the market," he said.

"The big leagues that dominate baseball come from the US, Japan, Korea and Taiwan, and for various reasons there is not a huge appetite in those four big professional leagues to create a women's league."

Success not guaranteed

But leading business and sports journalist John Stensholt said securing long-term funding could be difficult.

"There's a lack of money, full stop, these days coming from sponsors and broadcasters, and it's going to the top echelon of sports," he said.

The Australian Emeralds greet world number one Japan at the Bendigo Challenge earlier this month. ( Supplied: Baseball Australia )

Baseball Australia has managed to raise about $30,000 so far, well short of its $250,000 target.

It is hopeful the new licence holders can secure some sponsorship and state government funding before the season begins.

Stensholt said it would be difficult for a niche sport like women's baseball to compete, given the number of popular sports already on the market.

He said the league wouldn't be successful unless baseball built its domestic fan base.

"It needs like a Ben Simmons in the NBA — an Australian player to break through into the major leagues and be an absolute superstar."

Vale said he believed the new competition could ride off the momentum that AFL, rugby league and cricket had built for women's sport.

"If we get the quality right, we have the chance to be an international leader in this space," he said.

"We don't need to be the biggest or the best; this is not about challenging somebody else's space, this is about creating our own."