The Rise of Women’s Cricket Leagues: WPL and Beyond

There was a time when women’s cricket was little more than a footnote in the sport’s grand narrative — underfunded, under-televised, and underappreciated. But that era is quickly fading. Today, women’s cricket leagues are rising not just in number, but in influence, viewership, and commercial appeal. What was once an amateur landscape has rapidly evolved into a thriving, professional environment.

And nowhere has this transformation been more visible than in franchise cricket. From the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) in Australia to The Hundred in England, and most recently the Women’s Premier League (WPL) in India, women’s cricket is finally getting the structure — and the spotlight — it deserves.

The implications go beyond the boundary. These leagues are redefining what’s possible for women athletes in cricket, building pathways for young talent, shifting how brands and media engage with the sport, and changing how fans around the world perceive the women's game.

This article explores the ascent of women’s cricket leagues, from early pioneers to modern juggernauts, examining their growth, challenges and future potential. As cricket strives for global expansion and equity, women’s leagues are no longer a side note — they’re the main event.

1. A Long Time Coming: The Journey to Professional Women’s Cricket Leagues

To understand the explosion of women’s cricket leagues in the 2020s, one must first appreciate how long the sport’s female players operated in obscurity. For much of the 20th century, women’s cricket existed in the shadows — played with passion but rarely seen, paid or prioritised.

The first Women’s World Cup in 1973 actually predates the men’s equivalent, but it lacked sustained investment. National boards gave only piecemeal support. Even in the early 2000s, most elite women’s players juggled full-time jobs with international duties.

This began to shift in the 2010s. Australia led the charge by fully integrating the women’s game into its cricket board and launching the WBBL in 2015 — the first fully professional T20 league for women. England soon followed with central contracts and, eventually, The Hundred. The ICC’s decision to expand global women’s tournaments also brought unprecedented exposure.

Still, the lack of franchise opportunities remained a barrier. Talented players had few platforms to earn or evolve. Tours were irregular. Fans struggled to engage consistently.

The creation of high-profile, city-based women’s cricket leagues has changed all that. Now, young girls can dream not just of wearing the national jersey, but of thriving in professional leagues around the world — backed by sponsors, cheered by crowds, and paid what they’re worth.

2. WPL: India’s Women’s Premier League and Its Instant Impact

If any event marked a tipping point for women’s cricket leagues, it was the launch of India’s Women’s Premier League (WPL) in 2023. Fuelled by the success of the IPL and India’s growing appetite for women’s cricket, the WPL was an immediate blockbuster — commercially, culturally, and competitively.

The league sold franchise rights for over ₹4,600 crore and media rights for ₹950 crore. Major IPL franchises such as Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore extended their brands to the women’s format, bringing legitimacy and visibility.

But beyond the numbers, the WPL created moments. Harmanpreet Kaur’s leadership. Hayley Matthews’ all-round brilliance. Packed crowds in Mumbai cheering for both Indian and overseas stars. For young girls in India, the WPL wasn’t just cricket on TV — it was aspiration, played out in prime time.

The impact was immediate. More contracts. More grassroots buzz. More serious domestic preparation. The BCCI — often criticised for neglecting the women’s game — was now firmly backing it with investment and intent.

Perhaps most importantly, the WPL raised the ceiling for what women’s cricket leagues could be. No longer just development tools or goodwill gestures, they were viable, marketable, and thrilling products. And with India’s scale, the WPL may soon become the central pillar of the global women’s cricket calendar.

3. The Hundred and Beyond: England’s Domestic Revolution

While the WPL made headlines, England had already begun reshaping the conversation around women’s cricket leagues with The Hundred. Launched in 2021, The Hundred gave men’s and women’s teams equal billing — same team names, same venues, same matchdays — a pioneering move in cricket broadcasting.

This equal staging wasn’t just symbolic; it led to tangible shifts. Women’s matches saw record crowds, often in the tens of thousands. Televised on prime channels, players like Nat Sciver-Brunt, Sophia Dunkley and Alice Capsey became household names.

Unlike the WBBL or WPL, The Hundred is centrally owned by the ECB, which allowed them to enforce equal promotional coverage. That decision paid off. By the second season, women’s matches were setting attendance and viewership records in the UK.

Financially, The Hundred still trails its male equivalent, but salaries are climbing and the standard of play is visibly improving. Young players now know there’s a visible path from county cricket to a major stage — complete with crowds, cameras, and competitive parity.

Crucially, The Hundred has proven that if you market women’s cricket leagues properly, fans will come. The “build it and they will watch” theory? The Hundred is proof.

4. Australia’s WBBL: The Blueprint for Sustainability

Before The Hundred and before the WPL, there was the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL). Launched in 2015, Australia’s WBBL is the longest-running and arguably the most structurally sound of all women’s cricket leagues. It has shown how consistency, investment and narrative-building can create a sustainable product.

From its early days, Cricket Australia ensured the WBBL wasn’t a token gesture. Matches were televised, teams had full coaching staff, and players were contracted with increasing levels of pay. The league worked hard to align itself with the BBL brand — from graphics to venues — and the result was instant credibility.

Today, WBBL matches are must-watch events in Australia. Players like Ellyse Perry, Alyssa Healy and Ash Gardner have become not only national icons but global ambassadors for the women’s game. Crowds are healthy. Sponsorships are steady. And importantly, the talent pipeline from youth cricket into the WBBL is now firmly established.

What sets the WBBL apart is its balance — between elite sport and community feel, between broadcasting deals and local development. It has proven that women’s cricket leagues don’t just need explosive launches; they need time, trust and thoughtful strategy.

For newer leagues like the WPL and The Hundred, the WBBL remains the model — not just for what to do in year one, but in year ten.

5. From Fringe to Prime-Time: How Investment Is Changing the Game

The rapid rise of women’s cricket leagues wouldn’t be possible without one critical shift: serious investment. For decades, women’s cricket operated on shoestring budgets, with little media visibility and minimal commercial backing. That is no longer the case.

Private equity firms, national boards and corporate sponsors are now seeing what was long ignored — the business potential of women’s sport. In 2023, the Women’s Premier League attracted franchise bids exceeding ₹1,200 crore. The Hundred ensured broadcast parity and sponsor visibility. The WBBL brought in long-term deals with major Australian brands.

Media rights have played an especially transformative role. For the first time, networks are paying to showcase women’s cricket — not as filler, but as premium content. This visibility fuels everything: higher player salaries, increased grassroots interest, and greater societal validation.

Players, too, are becoming individual brands. Athletes like Smriti Mandhana, Ellyse Perry and Sophie Ecclestone command their own fanbases, endorsement deals, and influencer status. This commercialisation, when managed equitably, can elevate the entire ecosystem.

The shift from fringe to prime-time isn’t just about money. It’s about respect. Investment sends a signal that women’s cricket leagues are worth backing, worth watching, and worth celebrating — not as a novelty, but as elite sport.

6. Star Power and Role Models: The Player Impact in Women’s Cricket Leagues

If leagues are the platform, the players are the heartbeat. One of the most powerful aspects of women’s cricket leagues has been the creation of new heroes — not just for girls, but for cricket fans everywhere.

Consider the WBBL’s role in elevating Meg Lanning and Beth Mooney to global recognition. Or the WPL introducing India’s Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues to broader audiences. These players aren’t just competing — they’re inspiring, influencing, and transforming how the next generation sees women in sport.

The global nature of these leagues has further amplified their reach. When overseas players join leagues abroad — like England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt in India, or South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt in Australia — it creates cross-cultural fanbases and raises standards across the board.

Beyond the field, players have taken on ambassadorial roles. They speak out on gender equity, mental health, and pay parity. Their visibility matters not just for the sport, but for society. Young fans seeing women lead teams, earn contracts, and dominate on global stages? That’s a seismic cultural shift.

Simply put, the stars of women’s cricket leagues are reshaping the narrative. They’re not exceptions anymore — they’re the standard.

7. Fans, Followers, and Fandoms: How the Audience Is Evolving

You can’t grow a sport without fans — and women’s cricket leagues have found them in new and exciting places. What once drew only hardcore enthusiasts now attracts families, young viewers, and digital-first audiences who value storylines as much as scorelines.

The WBBL has become a family-friendly fixture in the Australian summer, with accessible ticket prices and inclusive atmospheres. The Hundred saw thousands stay after men’s matches just to support the women — and soon, those matches became the main draw. The WPL’s crowds, too, shattered expectations: packed stadiums for a brand-new tournament, driven by curiosity, pride, and FOMO.

Social media has accelerated this fandom. Clips of Sophie Devine’s six-hitting, Smriti Mandhana’s cover drives, or Rashmi de Silva’s fielding brilliance go viral — reaching millions who might never sit through a full match. Player-led content and team storytelling are making women’s cricket leagues culturally sticky.

Most critically, fans now follow teams, not just countries. That’s a mindset shift borrowed from men’s franchise leagues — and it’s working. Mumbai Indians (WPL), Oval Invincibles (The Hundred), Sydney Thunder (WBBL) all now enjoy loyal female-led fanbases.

The new audience isn’t passive. It’s vocal, engaged and growing — and it’s helping redefine what cricket fandom looks like in the 21st century.

8. The Global Push: What’s Next for Women’s Cricket Leagues Worldwide

As the WPL, WBBL and The Hundred surge forward, a bigger question looms: what’s next for women’s cricket leagues on a global scale?

The ICC has already taken encouraging steps — expanding the Women’s World Cup and T20 World Cup, introducing an Under-19 World Cup, and backing development in non-traditional markets like Thailand and Brazil. But now, there’s appetite for more.

Could Pakistan, Sri Lanka or South Africa launch their own franchise leagues? Could we see a Champions League-style competition uniting the best of WBBL, WPL and The Hundred? Will franchise windows become a permanent fixture in the women’s calendar, as they are for men?

There’s also room to grow in the US, where Major League Cricket could soon include a women’s arm — especially ahead of the 2028 Olympics. Similarly, cricket’s inclusion in the LA Games will likely accelerate investment in emerging regions.

One challenge: calendar congestion. As leagues multiply, boards must ensure player workloads are managed, and bilateral cricket isn’t sacrificed.

Still, the future feels boundless. Women’s cricket leagues have moved from concept to cornerstone — and now, they’re poised to drive the sport’s next phase of global growth.

Conclusion: Why Women’s Cricket Leagues Matter More Than Ever

The rise of women’s cricket leagues isn’t just a sporting success story — it’s a cultural reckoning. For too long, women’s cricket was viewed as an afterthought, a side project to the men’s game. Now, it is claiming its own spotlight — not by mimicking the men’s format, but by forging its own identity.

Leagues like the WBBL, WPL and The Hundred have shown what happens when talent meets opportunity. They’ve created heroes, built audiences, and proved beyond doubt that the appetite for women’s cricket isn’t just real — it’s growing.

This growth matters. It matters to young girls dreaming of contracts. It matters to broadcasters seeking new markets. It matters to sponsors who understand authenticity and social value. Most of all, it matters to the game — because a cricketing world that uplifts its women is a stronger, richer, more relevant one.

In the coming years, women’s cricket leagues won’t just expand — they’ll redefine what the sport looks like, who plays it, and who watches it. And that evolution is not just overdue — it’s unstoppable.