The tournament has seen five different winners in the past nine seasons. It has been fairly competitive, attracting new players from around the world every year and increasing competition. It is difficult to pick up a winner at the start of the season as every team starts fresh with a bunch of young and experienced players. But digging into the past performances can give us some insight into the capabilities of each of the eight teams and their potential to bag the title this season.
# Adelaide Strikers Women
The defending champions will look for their third consecutive title this season and become the first team to do so. Tahlia McGrath leads a powerful and confident team that has dominated in the last three seasons, reaching the finals. While they finished runner-up in 2021-22, the side has been phenomenal in the last two years. The team will look to start from where it left off last year and expect good performances from players like Amanda-Jade Wellington, Laura Wolvaardt, Smriti Mandhana, Megan Schutt, and Katie Mack. They have a good balance in their batting and bowling and shall start favorites.
Squad – Tahlia McGrath (c), Jemma Barsby, Darcie Brown, Maggie Clark, Ellie Johnston, Eleanor Larosa, Katie Mack, Smriti Mandhana, Anesu Mushangwe, Bridget Patterson, Maddie Penna, Orla Prendergast, Megan Schutt, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Laura Wolvaardt
# Brisbane Heat Women
Brisbane Heat Women would like to get over the upset of the last season, where they lost in the final by 3 runs. They have won the title twice in the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons and aim for their third this year. Georgia Redmayne, the leading run-scorer for the franchise, will take over the captaincy this season and shall look to lead from the front. The team has a strong batting lineup and shall leverage this advantage. Jemimah Rodrigues, Grace Harris, and Nadine de Klerk will be the players to watch out for. The bowling attack doesn't look all that convincing, and former skipper Jess Jonassen must put her weight behind others and do well for the team.
Squad – Georgia Redmayne (c), Bonnie Berry, Nadine de Klerk, Sianna Ginger, Lucy Hamilton, Nicola Hancock, Grace Harris, Laura Harris, Ellie Johnston, Jess Jonassen, Charli Knott, Grace Parsons, Mikayla Wrigley, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shikha Pandey
# Sydney Sixers Women
The Sixers had a poor tournament by their standards last season. They finished 5th on the points table and didn't qualify for the playoffs. They have been the most consistent team, playing in the final five times and winning the title twice. Alyssa Healy is an inspiring leader, and she would have her eyes set on the third title for the franchise. They have the right balance in batting and bowling and shall start as one of the favorites to win the tournament. Hollie Armitage, Sophie Ecclestone, Ashleigh Gardner, Amelia Kerr, and Ellyse Perry are big match players who will look to do well for the franchise.
Squad – Alyssa Healy (c), Hollie Armitage, Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Mathilda Carmichael, Lauren Cheatle, Sophie Ecclestone, Ashleigh Gardner, Amelia Kerr, Isabella Malgioglio, Kate Pelle, Ellyse Perry, Kate Peterson, Courtney Sippel
# Perth Scorchers Women
The Scorchers Women made it to the playoffs last season but couldn't go beyond that. The 2021-22 title winners will look to add another crown to their jewel this season. Sophie Devine, who led New Zealand Women to a recent World Cup triumph, will draw inspiration from her current form and use it as a springboard for success. While the team may be short of the batting firepower like their opponents, they compensate for it with a strong bowling attack that can test any opponent. Amy Jones, Alana King, Hemalatha Dayalan, and Beth Mooney would look to inspire the youngsters in the camp with consistent performances.
Squad – Sophie Devine (c), Chloe Ainsworth, Stella Campbell, Piepa Cleary, Maddy Darke, Hemalatha Dayalan, Amy Edgar, Mikayla Hinkley, Ebony Hoskin, Amy Jones, Alana King, Carly Leeson, Lilly Mills, Beth Mooney, Chloe Piparo
# Sydney Thunder Women
The Scorchers Women made it to the Eliminator last season but failed against the Brisbane Heat. They have won the title twice, with their last win coming back in 2020-21. The team has been inconsistent since then, and skipper Tahlia Wilson would look to change that. They have a strong batting lineup and good variety in the bowling attack. With match-winners like Georgia Adams, Chamari Athapaththu, Heather Knight, Phoebe Litchfield, and Shabnim Ismail in the squad, they will be one of the teams to watch out for this season.
Squad – Tahlia Wilson (c), Georgia Adams, Chamari Athapaththu, Sam Bates, Hannah Darlington, Sienna Eve, Saskia Horley, Shabnim Ismail, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Heather Knight, Anika Learoyd, Phoebe Litchfield, Claire Moore, Taneale Peschel, Georgia Voll
# Hobart Hurricanes Women
The Hobart Hurricanes Women have been one of the bottom rankers in this tournament. Apart from making it to the semifinals in the first two seasons, the side hasn't done much to be proud of. Last season, they finished 6th on the points table and didn't make the playoffs. Skipper Elyse Villani would like her players to put these upsets behind them and put up a good show this season. They have experienced players like Heather Graham, Lizelle Lee, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Chloe Tryon, and Suzie Bates and expect them to deliver strong performances throughout the season.
Squad – Elyse Villani (c), Nicola Carey, Heather Graham, Ruth Johnston, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Amy Smith, Lauren Smith, Molly Strano, Rachel Trenaman, Lizelle Lee, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Chloe Tryon, Tabatha Saville, Callie Wilson, Suzie Bates
# Melbourne Stars Women
The Melbourne Stars have been the bottom hunters in the points table. They have the worst record among all the teams and finished 7th last season. Apart from finishing runner-up in 2020-21, the side has never gone beyond the league stage in any other season. They have a habit of making poor starts, which has cost them dearly. Sasha Moloney will look to turn her team’s fortunes and put up strong performances against their more formidable opponents. Marizanne Kapp, Meg Lanning, Annabel Sutherland, and Kim Garth are experienced players and must do well in the tournament.
Squad – Sasha Moloney (c), Yastika Bhatia, Sophie Day, Tess Flintoff, Kim Garth, Maisy Gibson, Hasrat Gill, Liv Henry, Marizanne Kapp, Meg Lanning, Rhys McKenna, Sophie Reid, Deepti Sharma, Annabel Sutherland
# Melbourne Renegades Women
The Melbourne Renegades would like to get over the horrors of the last season. The side won only two games and struggled with their form and confidence. They have been one of the weakest teams in this tournament and qualified for the Top 4 only thrice in nine seasons. Sophie Molineux, who has led the team in the last two seasons, would look for a turnaround this year. They have big names like Georgia Prestwidge, Georgia Wareham, Deandra Dottin, and Alice Capsey and need a good show from them.
Squad – Sophie Molineux (c), Sarah Coyte, Emma de Broughe, Josie Dooley, Nicole Faltum, Ella Hayward, Milly Illingworth, Hayley Matthews, Sophie Molineux, Georgia Prestwidge, Naomi Stalenberg, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham, Courtney Webb, Deandra Dottin, Alice Capsey
The Women's Big Bash League is the world's most successful and competitive franchise league in women's cricket. We are all set for the 2024-25 season of the tournament as the best women cricketers fight it out for the title. It is the 10th edition of the tournament and marks a major milestone. WBBL has offered women's cricket the stage it needed and sowed seeds for other successful tournaments, such as The Hundred Women's Competition in England and the Women's Premier League in India.
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