Women’s The Hundred Auction Signals New Era for Women’s Cricket

During the first-ever auction of the women’s Hundred, franchises spent around £4 million (≈ ₹42 crore) to sign players. Many of those players are now among the highest-paid female athletes in the UK, showing how quickly women’s cricket is growing.

The Hundred’s New Franchise Era

This auction also marked the beginning of a new chapter for The Hundred tournament. The eight teams are now run as franchises, with outside investors owning full or partial stakes in them.

The investment has already helped several English counties clear their debts. Now, for the first time, players are also starting to see the financial benefits of this new money coming into the sport.

One big change is the salary cap for women’s teams.

Year	Salary Cap per Team
Earlier Seasons	Around half the current limit
2026 Season	£880,000 (≈ ₹9.2 crore)

The new salary cap is double the previous amount. This makes the women’s Hundred one of the best-paying cricket leagues in the world.

Women’s Cricket League Pay Comparison

League	Status
WPL (India)	Highest paying
Women’s Hundred (England)	Second highest
WBBL (Australia)	Below Hundred

Record Salaries in the Auction

Some players had already signed big deals before the auction. For example:

Player	Contract Value
Lauren Bell	£140,000 (≈ ₹1.47 crore)
Nat Sciver-Brunt	£140,000 (≈ ₹1.47 crore)

However, the auction soon produced even bigger numbers.

Biggest Auction Deals

Player	Team	Price
Sophie Devine	Welsh Fire	£210,000 (≈ ₹2.2 crore)
Beth Mooney	Trent Rockets	£210,000 (≈ ₹2.2 crore)
Danielle Gibson	Sunrisers Leeds	£190,000 (≈ ₹2 crore)

For many players, these amounts were hard to believe.

Danielle Gibson said she was shocked when she saw the bidding go so high. She even said she had to take a cold shower to calm down after the auction.

Interestingly, Gibson has not bowled competitively for a year because of a back injury and scored just 33 runs in eight innings last season. Still, teams believe she has huge potential as an all-round player.

Young Players Also Earn Big Contracts

The auction was not only about international stars. Several young English players also earned life-changing contracts.

One of the most exciting stories was Tilly Corteen-Coleman.

Player	Age	Team	Salary
Tilly Corteen-Coleman	18	Southern Brave	£105,000 (≈ ₹1.1 crore)

The young spinner does not even have an international cap yet. After the auction, she said she and her friends were jumping on the bed in excitement while watching the bidding rise.

Another young player, Davina Perrin, was sold to Birmingham Phoenix for £50,000 (≈ ₹52 lakh).

Her coach said the team expected interest in her talent and were very happy to secure her.

Other Notable Signings

Player	Team	Salary
Kira Chathli	MI London	£80,000 (≈ ₹84 lakh)
Charis Pavely	London Spirit	£85,000 (≈ ₹89 lakh)
Cassidy McCarthy	Sunrisers Leeds	£65,000 (≈ ₹68 lakh)

Many of these players have limited international experience, but teams are investing in them because of their long-term potential.

Why Are Teams Targeting Young Players?

One reason teams are signing younger players is the contract system.

Franchises will be able to keep the same players for the next two seasons at the same price. Because of this rule, teams are trying to sign young talent early before their value increases.

This strategy could help teams build strong squads for the future.

A Huge Growth in Women’s Cricket Earnings

The financial growth of women’s cricket in England has been dramatic.

Year	Total Player Earnings
2019	Around £1 million (≈ ₹10.5 crore)
2026	Close to £20 million (≈ ₹210 crore)

This huge increase shows how quickly the sport is developing.

According to the Professional Cricketers’ Association, there is now a clear path for women to earn a good living from cricket.

Big Salaries Also Bring Pressure

While the new contracts are exciting, they also bring new challenges. Many players admitted that being auctioned publicly was a strange and uncomfortable experience.

Coaches believe it is important to support players so they can handle the pressure that comes with big contracts and high expectations.

The Hundred was originally created to attract new fans and grow the game. This auction shows that the tournament is now also creating real financial opportunities for players.

It also sends a strong message to young athletes. Women’s cricket is no longer just a hobby or recreational sport. It can now become a serious professional career.

If the growth continues, this auction could be remembered as the moment when women’s cricket in England truly entered a new era.

                                               

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