The Sydney Sixers have pulled off another draft-day heist, leaping over the competition to land the No.1 pick for the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 11 Overseas Draft — and for the first time in their history too.
With just a 20% chance, the Sixers were long shots. But for the second year in a row, luck smiled on them. They’ll now have their first crack at the biggest international names in the women’s game.
Following them in the top four picks are the Adelaide Strikers (pick 2), Melbourne Stars (pick 3), and Perth Scorchers (pick 4). These picks were drawn from the teams that missed the WBBL|10 finals. The finalists — Hobart Hurricanes (pick 5), Sydney Thunder (6), Melbourne Renegades (7), and Brisbane Heat (8) — round out the first round.
This year’s draft has been fast-forwarded to June 19, over two months earlier than usual. The idea? Get squads locked in before the packed global cricket calendar starts throwing curveballs.
Big Bash Leagues boss Alistair Dobson shared why this move is a game-changer, “We’re confident the draft will again deliver fantastic international talent to both leagues with Brisbane Heat (BBL) and Sydney Sixers (WBBL) getting the first chance to land the best possible overseas signing.”
And he added, “We’re confident bringing the draft date forward will ensure greater certainty for clubs as they build their squads in the lead-up to another highly competitive season.”
The earlier draft comes just in time. Despite official “windows” for the WBBL, Women’s Premier League, and The Hundred, there are bilateral series scheduled in December for teams like India, Bangladesh, South Africa, and Ireland — right when WBBL finals are likely to take place. Thanks to the ODI World Cup running into late October, the WBBL calendar has shifted later too.
Drafting early gives teams a head start in planning for any late-season overseas absences. And yes — the “snake” format is staying. So, after the first round, pick order reverses every round, giving the Brisbane Heat the first pick in Round 3 (pick 17).
The Sixers are already stacked, with Amelia Kerr locked in on a three-year deal. They also hold retention rights for England’s Sophie Ecclestone, if she enters the draft. The Stars have locked in Marizanne Kapp until WBBL|12, the Scorchers have Sophie Devine, the Heat secured Nadine de Klerk, and the Thunder added Sri Lankan power-hitter Chamari Athapaththu. The Hurricanes signed Lizelle Lee, who’s now an Aussie resident and expected to shift to a domestic deal.
The Strikers and Renegades? They’re currently the only clubs without direct overseas signings — which opens the door for them to flex their retention picks.
The salary bands are sticking to last year’s rates: Platinum: $110,000; Gold: $90,000; Silver: $65,000; Bronze: up to $40,000
With Kerr, Kapp, Devine, de Klerk, and Athapaththu all returning, the WBBL|11 stage is already buzzing. And the Sixers? They’ve got pole position, momentum, and a superstar core. Now, it’s just a matter of who they want to add to the party.
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