As the sixth edition of The Hundred women’s competition unfolds in England from 21 July to 16 August 2026, the USA’s Major League Cricket (MLC) franchise Seattle Orcas are set to spotlight homegrown and international talent with a three-day Women’s T20 Exhibition from 20–23 August 2026.
The tournament features three newly minted teams, Bellevue Blazers, Washington Waves, and Redmond Raptors, each backed by a 13-player squad, a marquee signing, and an international contingent, under the stewardship of experienced coaches Sindhu Sriharsha, Prajit Mudi, and Rishi Bhardwaj, respectively.
The scheduling is deliberate: with global attention on women’s T20 cricket during The Hundred, the Orcas aim to ride the momentum and offer a high-visibility platform for American players alongside overseas recruits. The three-team format ensures compact, high-intensity fixtures across three days, ideal for broadcast and fan engagement while giving selectors a clear view of form and fitness ahead of future MLC women’s initiatives.
Bellevue Blazers are led by marquee batter Jivana Aras, with West Indian all-rounder Aaliyah Alleyne and Jannillea Glasgow forming the international core. Their 13-player squad blends local talent such as Mahek Desai, Disha Dhingra, Chetnaa G Prasad, Disha Kaveripakam, Sahasra Gorla, Shubhi Agarwal, Simiksha Sivakumar, Ritul Dwivedi, Swati Singh, and Radha Shriram under coach Sindhu Sriharsha.
Washington Waves have built around marquee batter Geetika Kodali, adding pace and variety via West Indian fast bowler Jahzara Claxton and Amarpal Kaur in the international contingent. The supporting cast includes Isani Vaghela, Nikhar Doshi, Aparna Gurumurthy, Taranum Chopra, Aadya Rawat, Yashaaditi Teki, Saanvi Sood, Aira Mohindru, Jaivi Pathak, and Rucha Khairnar, with Prajit Mudi at the helm.
Redmond Raptors anchor their lineup with marquee batter Anika Kolan and bring in West Indian top-order batter Qiana Joseph and Achini Perera as overseas picks. The domestic group comprises Ritu Singh, Camy Desai, Jessica Willathgamuwa, Lekha Shetty, Laasya Bandaru, Divya Saxena, Sahana Shivkumar, Ankita Swaminath, Shillan Khan, and Vaishnavi Mangeshkar, guided by coach Rishi Bhardwaj.
MLC’s men’s competition has completed four editions since its 2023 inception, with the Seattle Orcas’ runner-up finish in the inaugural season remaining their best result to date. The women’s exhibition signals a logical next step for the franchise, leveraging existing infrastructure and fanbase while testing a scalable model for women’s T20 in America.
Beyond the marquee names, keep an eye on how the international contingent integrates with local players in high-pressure T20 roles: Alleyne’s power-hitting and medium pace, Claxton’s new-ball threat, and Perera’s control in the middle overs could define tight contests.
For the USA pipeline, batters like Aras, Kodali, and Kolan will be under scrutiny to set the tempo, while the depth of bowling options across the three squads offers a rich pool for talent identification. With The Hundred keeping women’s cricket in the global spotlight, the Seattle Orcas’ exhibition arrives as a timely showcase bridging domestic development and international flair on American soil.
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