The Hundred Women’s competition held its first-ever player auction on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at Piccadilly Lights in central London, marking a transformative moment for women’s cricket. A total of 178 women cricketers went under the hammer, with 28 players already retained or directly signed by franchises before the auction. The eight franchises assembled formidable squads featuring international superstars, seasoned domestic performers, and emerging T20 specialists.
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The Hundred Women’s 2026 Eight Franchises
The 2026 season represents unprecedented investment in women’s cricket, with salary caps doubled to £880,000 per team—double the previous amount. This transformative investment reflects major strategic partnerships with IPL owners, tech entrepreneurs, and private equity firms, with team valuations exceeding £975 million collectively.
| Team | Location | Home Venue | Notable Stars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham Phoenix | England | Edgbaston | Ellyse Perry (captain), Alice Capsey, Lauren Filer |
| London Spirit | England | Lord’s | Charlie Dean, Grace Harris, Marizanne Kapp |
| Manchester Super Giants | England | Old Trafford | Sophie Ecclestone, Meg Lanning, Smriti Mandhana |
| MI London | England | The Oval | Nat Sciver-Brunt, Sophia Dunkley, Ash Gardner |
| Southern Brave | England | The Rose Bowl | Hayley Matthews, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Nicola Carey |
| Sunrisers Leeds | England | Headingley | Deepti Sharma, Asmara Chakravarty |
| Trent Rockets | England | Trent Bridge | Nat Sciver-Brunt, Kim Garth |
| Welsh Fire | Wales | Sophia Gardens | Freya Kemp, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham |
Auction Highlights and Most Expensive Signings
| Player | Nationality | Team Signed | Price | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sophie Devine | New Zealand | Welsh Fire | £210,000 | Batsman |
| Beth Mooney | Australia | Trent Rockets | £210,000 | Wicket-keeper/Batsman |
| Paige Scholfield | England | Manchester Super Giants | £115,000 | Middle-order batsman |
| Alice Capsey | England | Birmingham Phoenix | £130,000 | Batsman |
| Linsey Smith | England | Birmingham Phoenix | £100,000 | Left-arm spinner |
| Richa Ghosh | India | Manchester Super Giants | £50,000 (INR 61 lakh) | Wicket-keeper/Batsman |
| Deepti Sharma | India | Sunrisers Leeds | £27,500 (INR 34 lakh) | All-rounder |
Tournament Structure and Timeline
The Hundred Women’s 2026 season runs from July 21 to August 16, 2026, spanning 33 matches across all eight franchises. Each team plays four matches in the league stage, followed by eliminator playoffs and finals. The tournament maintains its signature 100-ball format, offering explosive cricket and rapid match-days.
Birmingham Phoenix opens against Trent Rockets on July 24, while Manchester Super Giants commence their campaign against London Spirit at Lord’s on July 23. Strategic scheduling positions marquee fixtures throughout the competition window, maximizing viewership and engagement.
Squad Composition and Strategic Signings
Manchester Super Giants emerged as title contenders with a core featuring world-class spinner Sophie Ecclestone, Indian vice-captain Smriti Mandhana (directly signed), and Australian legend Meg Lanning. Young Indian wicket-keeper Richa Ghosh (£50,000) provides explosive batting capability with a 107.64 strike rate.
Birmingham Phoenix built around Australian superstar Ellyse Perry as captain, complemented by rising English talent Alice Capsey and pace sensation Lauren Filer. Direct signing of Australian all-rounder Lucy Hamilton strengthened their bowling attack depth.
London Spirit retained England spinner Charlie Dean and Australian power-hitter Grace Harris, while adding South African all-rounder Marizanne Kapp and England pacer Mahika Gaur. Trent Rockets assembled formidable batting with England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt, Sophia Dunkley, and Australian all-rounder Ash Gardner providing balance.
Investment and Ownership Structure
Strategic partnerships with major stakeholders transformed franchise valuations. Reliance Industries backs MI London, while Sun TV Network supports Sunrisers Leeds. These partnerships signal global cricket’s expanding commercial appeal and institutional investment confidence in women’s cricket’s future growth trajectory.
Read More: IPL 2026: KKR Sign Blessing Muzarabani to Replace Mustafizur Rahman
FAQs
When was The Hundred Women’s 2026 player auction held?
The first-ever Hundred Women’s player auction was held on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at Piccadilly Lights in central London, with 178 players auctioned.
How much is the salary cap for each The Hundred Women’s 2026 franchise?
The salary cap for each of the eight franchises is £880,000 per team, which has been doubled compared to previous editions of The Hundred.
Who were the most expensive signings at The Hundred Women’s 2026 auction?
Sophie Devine (New Zealand) and Beth Mooney (Australia) were the joint most expensive signings at £210,000 each, signed by Welsh Fire and Trent Rockets respectively.
When does The Hundred Women’s 2026 tournament commence?
The Hundred Women’s 2026 tournament commences on July 21, 2026, and concludes on August 16, 2026, featuring all eight franchises competing in the 100-ball format.
Which Indian players were directly signed or retained before the auction?
Smriti Mandhana was directly signed by Manchester Super Giants, while Richa Ghosh (£50,000) and Deepti Sharma (£27,500) were among the prominent Indian players auctioned, with Yastika Bhatia and Sree Charani going unsold.
