In Her Own League (2026) is a contemporary sports romance by Liz Tomforde that follows the first female team owner in Major League Baseball, Reese Remington, as she navigates institutional sexism while also falling in love with her team’s coach, Emmett Montgomery. The novel explores themes such as Female Authority Tested by Institutional Sexism, The Importance of Leading With Compassion, and The Duality of Independence and Interdependence. 

This guide is based on the 2026 e-book edition by Golden Boy Publishing.

Content Warning: The source material and this guide feature depictions of illness, death, emotional abuse, sexual harassment, gender discrimination, sexual content, and cursing.

Plot Summary

When longtime Chicago Windy City Warriors owner, Arthur Remington, retires and hands the MLB franchise to his granddaughter, Reese Remington, she—at 35 years old—becomes both the youngest owner in the MLB and the first female owner in league history.

Although Reese is highly educated and deeply familiar with the organization, many people within the sport doubt her capabilities simply because she is a woman. Among those wary of the transition is Emmett Montgomery, the Warriors’ field manager. Emmett has devoted years to the franchise and worries that Reese’s budget cuts signal the end of his career when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Almost immediately after taking control, Reese discovers the team is operating within a financial deficit due to poor budgeting and expensive player contracts. To stabilize the organization, she begins making difficult business decisions—such as firing one of Emmett’s three video coaches despite his protests. Emmett views the decision as heartless and becomes convinced Reese sees the team only as a business rather than a family as he does.

Meanwhile, Reese struggles to establish authority in the male-dominated industry. Members of the advisory board Arthur created—particularly Scott—constantly undermine her and question her leadership. Scott resents Reese reclaiming the role of President of Baseball Operations, which he informally controlled while Arthur was the owner. Reese also faces disrespect from Harrison Kaiser, an arrogant outfielder whose expensive contrast strains the organization financially. Reese believes Harrison negatively affects team chemistry and wants to replace him with Milo Jones—a talented but inexperienced center-fielder from the minor leagues. Emmett initially opposes the idea because he believes he knows the team’s dynamics better than she does, but after observing Harrison more, he realizes her instincts are correct and supports her decision.

As Reese and Emmett continue working together, their relationship gradually shifts from antagonism to mutual respect to something more. During a league owners’ event in Las Vegas, Reese is repeatedly ignored by male executives. Emmett witnesses this treatment firsthand and becomes protective of her. When Reese’s ex-husband Jeremy appears at the event, Emmett intervenes after noticing Reese’s discomfort. Reese later explains that Jeremy manipulated and belittled her throughout their marriage, such as telling her that no one in baseball would ever take her seriously as the face of a franchise. Jeremy also attempted to claim 50% ownership of the Warriors, which delayed Reese’s ability to take over the team from Arthur until they were divorced.

Reese and Emmett connect further during a trip to a Triple-A game to watch Milo. Reese reveals that she spent years traveling to minor league games and learning about players’ families because she genuinely cares. Emmett realizes she is far more compassionate and invested in the franchise than he originally believed.

During an away series in San Diego, Reese’s hotel room loses heat overnight. With no other rooms available, Emmett offers her his bed. Forced to share the space, they spend the night talking intimately about their lives. Emmett reveals that his late partner, Claire, died of cancer over two decades ago. Although Miller is not biologically his daughter, Emmett adopted and raised her after Claire’s death. He retired early from professional baseball to provide Miller with a stable childhood before eventually accepting Arthur’s offer to coach the Warriors.

Their growing attraction over the course of the season becomes complicated after a Reddit post claims Reese was seen leaving Emmett’s hotel room. Already insecure due to the constant criticism surrounding her position, Reese fears the rumors will damage her credibility. She distances herself from Emmett and stops traveling with the team for a period of time. Reese attempts to distract herself from her attraction to Emmett by going on a date with Michael, the son of advisory board member Ed, but quickly realizes she is only interested in Emmett. Emmett becomes jealous and it leads to a passionate kiss inside an elevator. Though they initially agree to stay apart for the sake of Reese’s reputation, neither can maintain the distance.

Outside their relationship, Reese faces a media firestorm after officially trading Harrison Kaiser and bringing up Milo Jones from the minors. Sports media personalities and fans criticize the decision relentlessly, portraying Reese as incompetent and claiming she is ruining the franchise. Milo initially struggles under the pressure, performing poorly in his first games with the team. Reese begins doubting herself for the first time, but Emmett consistently reassures her that she made the correct decision. He comforts her during moments of vulnerability, while Reese slowly learns to care for Emmett emotionally in return instead of always relying on him to support everyone else.

With encouragement from Emmett, Kai Rhodes, and the rest of the team, Milo regains his confidence and becomes a valuable player. The Warriors begin winning games again, and Emmett publicly credits Reese for scouting and acquiring Milo, directly challenging the media’s claims that Arthur was responsible for the decision. Reese gradually earns the respect of both the players and the organization as the team recognizes the genuine care she shows toward employees and their families. Earlier assumptions that she was cold or ruthless are disproven through various acts of generosity, such as helping former employees find new jobs and supporting players’ personal milestones by inviting family members to games and paying for their travel.

Eventually, Reese and Emmett stop resisting their feelings and begin a secret relationship. After Arthur’s retirement party, where Emmett openly admits he is willing to risk everything to be with her, Reese brings him back to her penthouse and confesses the depth of her own feelings. They begin dating privately. Over time, Reese becomes integrated into Emmett’s close-knit family, including Miller, Kai, their son Max, Isaiah, and Kennedy. Emmett also allows himself emotional vulnerability for the first time since Claire’s death, realizing he is ready to fully move forward with someone new. Their relationship becomes more serious during a trip to Colorado, where Emmett shows Reese the home where he raised Miller and invites her to be his date to Miller’s wedding.

At the wedding reception, Reese and Emmett finally display affection openly around trusted friends and family. However, the emotional high of the celebration is spoiled the following day when Scott confronts Reese with photographs of the couple together. Scott blackmails Reese, threatening to leak the photos publicly unless she relinquishes her role as President of Baseball Operations and allows him to take control. Fearing the scandal could destroy Reese’s reputation and credibility, Emmett decides he will resign from the Warriors to protect her career.

During an advisory board meeting, Scott attempts to force a vote removing Reese from power. Emmett interrupts by announcing his resignation, but Reese takes control of the meeting and exposes Scott’s blackmail. She condemns the advisory board for undermining and disrespecting her throughout the season before firing everyone involved except Ed, who consistently supported her leadership. Reese restructures the hierarchy at work. Ed’s new job duties are to directly oversee coaching staff matters, eliminating the conflict of interest between Reese and Emmett’s relationship. Reese also preempts media scandal by giving an interview to a female journalist, in which she openly discusses her experiences as the first female MLB owner and publicly confirms her relationship with Emmett on her own terms. Rather than allowing tabloids to control the narrative, Reese reclaims power over her own story.

In the Epilogue, Emmett officially moves into Reese’s penthouse. Although the media initially reacts negatively to their relationship, public interest eventually fades as the team continues succeeding. One year later, the Warriors win the World Series after Milo delivers the game-winning hit. Amid the celebration on the field, Reese impulsively demands that Emmett marry her. Already carrying a ring with the intention of proposing himself, Emmett officially asks Reese to marry him, and she accepts as their family and team celebrate around them.