Startup women’s leagues on the rise, fueled by popularity of women's sports. But will they last?

When Justine Siegal and Keith Stein envisioned the United States’ first professional women’s baseball league in 70 years, they wanted to do it right. So they examined the blueprints of successful women’s leagues and studied the pitfalls that caused promising ventures to fail.

Their research helped shape the Women’s Professional Baseball League, launching next year , the latest in a wave of ventures looking to capitalize on the unprecedented rise in popularity of women’s sports.

For such a startup to be sustainable and profitable, mainstream recognition is key. Good salaries and financial incentives may attract star players who could draw crowds and all-important TV deals. But analysts warn that exposure on television doesn’t guarantee success, and that a solid social media presence, st