Some performances demand to be remembered, and the 2025-26 Australian women’s domestic season was filled with those largely because of two all-rounders who kept showing up, delivering when it mattered, and making the game feel alive. Nicola Carey and Caoimhe Bray were rewarded at the Australian Cricket Awards, their honours telling two powerful stories of excellence and emergence.
For Nicola Carey, this was a season where everything fell in place. The Women’s Domestic Player of the Year award felt less like a surprise and more like a moment of acknowledgement for just how influential she was across formats. In 12 Women’s National Cricket League matches during the voting period, Carey piled up 338 runs at an average of 30.73. The numbers were impressive, but the moments were even bigger like her superb century against Queensland, an innings built on composure, intent, and complete control.
Carey’s value, however, went far beyond her batting. With the ball in hand, she was relentless, finishing the WNCL campaign with 17 wickets at an average of 25.24. Time and again, she stepped in to break partnerships and swing momentum back in her team’s favour, proving why she is trusted in pressure situations.
Her form didn’t dip as the formats changed. In the T20 Spring Challenge, Carey was outstanding, scoring 191 runs at a remarkable average of 47.75. Whether steadying an innings or accelerating at the death, she made every run count, while also contributing with three wickets at the average of 34.67.
Riding on the same boat as she carried the form straight into Weber WBBL|11, where Carey became a cornerstone of the Hobart Hurricanes’ title winning campaign. She scored 186 runs at an average of 46.50 and claimed 10 wickets at an average of 25.60, playing a crucial role as the Hurricanes lifted their first WBBL trophy. Calm, confident, and composed, Carey delivered when it was needed the most.
If Carey’s award celebrated sustained brilliance, the Betty Wilson Young Cricketer of the Year spotlighted a glimpse into the future. At just 16, Caoimhe Bray announced herself as a name Australian cricket will be hearing for a long time.
Balancing commitments with the NSW Breakers and Sydney Sixers, Bray showed remarkable maturity. In eight WNCL matches, she scored 71 runs at an average of 23.67 and took eight wickets at an average of 25.38, holding her own against seasoned professionals. She added further impact in the T20 Spring Challenge, contributing both runs and wickets with growing confidence.
Her breakout moment arrived during the WBBL|11, where she stunned the crowd with figures of 4-15, including a hat-trick against the Sydney Thunder. Across nine WBBL appearances in WBBL 11, Bray played with fearless freedom, never once looking overawed by the occasion.
Together, Nicola Carey and Caoimhe Bray represent the heart of Australian women’s cricket, experience guiding the present, youth shaping the future, and a shared hunger to keep pushing the game forward.
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