Melbourne Stars have strengthened their all-round options ahead of the 12th edition of the Women’s Big Bash League, signing experienced 27-year-old Carly Leeson for the tournament, which will run from October 29 to December 5, 2026. With only two list spots still available, the Stars have added a proven Big Bash performer whose batting (376 runs, at a strike rate of 107.12 in 37 innings), medium pace and competition experience could prove valuable as new skipper Meg Lanning’s side looks to go deeper than last season’s knockout exit.
The signing carries particular significance for a Stars outfit that finished fourth in the previous edition with 11 points from 10 league-stage games. Their campaign featured five wins, four defeats and a washed-out fixture, before it ended with a 28-run loss to the Perth Scorchers in the knockout game. Bringing in a player of Leeson’s pedigree signals a clear intent to convert promise into a stronger post-season challenge.
Melbourne Stars General Manager James Rosengarten welcomed the acquisition, highlighting both Leeson’s skill set and her familiarity with the demands of the competition. “Carly is going to be a terrific addition to our squad this season, and we’re really looking forward to seeing what she can contribute to the team,” Rosengarten said. “Her skills complement our squad nicely, and we know what she is capable of with the bat. She has plenty of experience in this competition, which is always an asset both on and off the field.”
Leeson has already made a strong early impression in Stars colours. In the club’s T20 Spring Challenge last week, she demonstrated exactly the balance Melbourne will hope she can bring to their WBBL campaign, scoring 27 and an unbeaten 23 while also returning figures of 3/25 and 2/24.
Those performances will encourage the Stars’ coaching group, particularly as they finalise their full 15-player squad in the coming week. Leeson’s ability to contribute in multiple phases of a T20 innings gives the side flexibility, whether she is required to accelerate in the latter half of the batting order or provide an additional seam option when conditions favour the bowlers.
Her WBBL journey began with the Sydney Sixers in the 2017-18 season. She then moved to the Melbourne Renegades in 2019, before joining the Perth Scorchers in 2024. That movement across three clubs has given her exposure to different team environments, playing roles and pressure situations, experience that should help her settle quickly at the Junction Oval.
For the Stars, the addition also adds depth around a squad that already includes established names such as Meg Lanning, Annabel Sutherland, Kim Garth, Amy Jones, Charlie Dean and Sophie Day. Leeson’s arrival gives the franchise another experienced domestic option as they prepare for a season opener at Junction Oval on October 29 against the Melbourne Renegades.
Melbourne Stars Contracted Players for WBBL 12:
Sophie Day, Charlie Dean, Kim Garth, Dani Gibson, Maisy Gibson, Amy Jones, Meg Lanning ©, Carly Leeson, Rhys McKenna, Indigo Noble, Georgia Prestwidge, Zoe Samuel and Annabel Sutherland.
With the WBBL 12 season less than a fortnight away, Leeson’s signing gives the Stars a timely boost. If her early form in green translates into the main tournament, Melbourne may have found an all-rounder capable of influencing matches with both bat and ball.
(Quotes sourced from the Melbourne Stars Official Press Release).
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