Australian women’s cricket captain Alyssa Healy has been the subject of growing speculation after her withdrawal from the upcoming Women’s Premier League (WPL) and her husband, Mitchell Starc, pulling out of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
Rumors swirled that the couple might be expecting their first child, but Healy has firmly put those claims to rest, clarifying that her absence from the WPL has nothing to do with pregnancy and that Starc’s decision is purely personal.
Speaking on the Willow Talk podcast, Healy directly addressed the speculation, ensuring fans that there’s no truth to the claims.
However, Healy made it clear that his decision had nothing to do with her, “Don’t look at me. I don’t know (laughs). I haven’t asked him yet,” she joked on the podcast. “He went to Sri Lanka as well and did that leg of the tour. So yeah, he is fine everyone, I am fine.”
With Starc’s withdrawal being labeled as “personal reasons” by Cricket Australia, fans quickly jumped to conclusions. However, Healy dismissed all speculation, emphasizing that Starc simply needed some time off.
“Hadds (Brad Haddin) suggested maybe I was pregnant, but I can guarantee that I’m not. Yeah, we’re fine… Move on,” she said.
While the pregnancy rumors have been debunked, Healy has indeed been dealing with significant challenges—particularly on the injury front. Her most serious injury came during the 2024 T20 World Cup when she ruptured her plantar fascia, forcing her to miss Australia’s final group-stage game and the semi-final against South Africa. That was followed by a knee injury in the WBBL, which saw her miss the remainder of the domestic season and the ODI series against India.
Despite her injuries, Healy has shown immense resilience. She managed to push through fitness struggles to play as a specialist batter in Australia’s ODI series against New Zealand in December. While she was initially ruled out of the T20 portion of the Ashes, she made a return and even took the gloves in the first three ODIs.
In Healy’s absence, the Warriorz have appointed Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma as captain, while West Indies’ Chinelle Henry has been signed as Healy’s replacement. It’s a big change for the franchise, as Healy has been their top run-scorer in WPL history, amassing 428 runs in 17 matches.
As Healy continues her recovery, her focus remains on regaining full fitness for Australia’s upcoming international commitments, particularly the World Cup later this year in India. While her absence from the WPL is a blow for the UP Warriorz, it provides her with valuable time to rest and prepare for a busy year.
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