The Capitol press corps defeated the congressional delegation 22-16 in the 18th annual Congressional Women’s Softball Game held at Audi Field. The high-scoring contest, which took place on Wednesday night, marked the first time in recent years that the media team, known as the Bad News Babes, outscored the lawmakers from Team Congress.
The event is a long-standing tradition in Washington, D.C., designed to showcase the bipartisan and professional relationships between legislators and the media. This year’s game featured captains Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), Rep. Julia Fedorchak (R-N.D.), and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), who led the congressional team against the assembled press corps.
What the Right Is Saying
Republican captains, led by Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, focused on the bipartisan spirit of the event. Conservative commentators highlighted the participation of lawmakers from both parties, such as Rep. Julia Fedorchak, as evidence that cross-aisle cooperation remains possible despite deep ideological divides in Congress.
Right-leaning voices acknowledged the loss with sportsmanship, noting that the primary objective was not the score but the opportunity for informal dialogue. Some conservative observers suggested that the high scoring reflected a lack of serious defensive effort, reinforcing the view that the event is a ceremonial tradition rather than a genuine athletic competition.
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic organizers and participants, including Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, emphasized the game's role in maintaining a human connection between politicians and the journalists who cover them. Supporters of the event argued that the playful, high-energy atmosphere helps to mitigate the often adversarial nature of political reporting.
Progressive voices within the press corps noted that the victory by the Bad News Babes served as a lighthearted counter-narrative to the intense scrutiny they face. The win was framed by some left-leaning commentators as a demonstration of the media's ability to 'hold the line' against the legislative branch, albeit in a sporting context.
What the Numbers Show
The final score was 22-16 in favor of the Bad News Babes, a total of 38 runs scored between the two teams. The 18th iteration of the game continues a tradition that dates back nearly two decades, with the press corps and congressional teams rotating captains and participants annually.
Historical data on the event indicates that the press corps has won the majority of recent matchups, often by wide margins due to the amateur nature of the congressional team's roster. The 22-16 result represents a closer contest than several previous years, though it remains a high-scoring affair typical of the event's format.
The Bottom Line
The Congressional Women’s Softball Game remains a fixture in the Washington social calendar, serving as a rare moment of informal interaction between the Fourth Estate and the legislative branch. While the Bad News Babes secured the victory, the event's primary impact lies in the visibility it provides for bipartisan lawmakers and the ongoing relationship between government and media.
Future iterations of the game will likely continue to feature high-profile captains from both parties, maintaining the tradition's focus on unity and entertainment over competitive athletics. The outcome underscores the enduring nature of this annual ritual, which persists regardless of the political climate in the Capitol.