The Women’s Hundred is poised for a seismic shift as it gears up for its sixth edition from July 21 to August 16, 2026. For the first time, the tournament ditches its traditional draft system, used across the first five seasons, in favour of a high-stakes player auction on March 11, 2026, at the iconic Piccadilly Lights in London.
Modelled after the IPL’s electrifying format, this auction promises groundbreaking bids for England’s and the world’s top women’s cricket talents, fueled by the rising stocks of Indian and other overseas stars, post-WPL and the 2025 ODI World Cup in the subcontinent.
Adding IPL spice, in terms of investments, franchises have rebranded: Oval Invincibles become MI London, Northern Superchargers turn Sunrisers Leeds, and Manchester Originals reemerge as Manchester Super Giants. GMR, co-owners of IPL’s Delhi Capitals, snapped a 49% stake in Southern Brave. Expect bidding wars not just for superstars, but for underrated local gems crucial to franchise T20 success.
Auction Mechanics: Purse, Squads, and Player Categories
Each of the eight teams starts with an £880,000 purse, reduced by pre-auction signings and retentions. Squads cap at 16 players, including up to four overseas, with two Wildcard slots for strong Blast performers, keeping domestic pathways alive.
The 178 players are divided into three categories:
Hero Players: Teams nominate their top targets; the 50 most nominated (grouped by role) go under the hammer first.
Ranked Players: Teams nominate up to 25 (including unsold Heroes); bidding follows nomination tallies.
Nominated Players: Teams take turns nominating unsigned players in a random draw order. If unchallenged, she joins the team nominating her; otherwise, bids fly.
Pre-auction rosters leave these purses:
| Team | Direct Signings/Retained | Purse Remaining |
| Birmingham Phoenix | Alice Capsey, Lauren Filer, Lucy Hamilton (signings); Ellyse Perry (retained) | £520,000 |
| London Spirit | Mahika Gaur, Marizanne Kapp (signings); Charlie Dean, Grace Harris (retained) | £520,000 |
| Manchester Super Giants | Meg Lanning, Smriti Mandhana (signings); Sophie Ecclestone (retained) | £570,000 |
| MI London | Amelia Kerr, Hayley Matthews, Danni Wyatt-Hodge (signings) | £570,000 |
| Southern Brave | Jemimah Rodrigues (signing); Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Laura Wolvaardt (retained) | £520,000 |
| Sunrisers Leeds | Kate Cross, Phoebe Litchfield, Annabel Sutherland (retained) | £570,000 |
| Trent Rockets | Sophia Dunkley, Kim Garth (signings); Ash Gardner, Natalie Sciver-Brunt (retained) | £520,000 |
| Welsh Fire | Freya Kemp, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham (signings) | £570,000 |
WPL echoes shine through: MI London nabbed Mumbai Indians’ Amelia Kerr and Hayley Matthews; Southern Brave signed DC’s Jemimah Rodrigues while retaining Capitals’ Laura Wolvaardt; Super Giants secured Meg Lanning and Smriti Mandhana.
Marquee Stars Set to Spark Bidding Frenzies
Ten marquee players, five domestic, five overseas, headline the drama. Domestically, wicketkeeper Amy Jones, leg-spinner Sarah Glenn, and breakout 19-year-old Davina Perrin (who dazzled in 2025 and joined Melbourne Renegades in WBBL) top the list.
Overseas firepower includes India’s Deepti Sharma, New Zealand’s Sophie Devine, Australia’s Beth Mooney and new captain Sophie Molineux, plus South Africa’s Nadine de Klerk. Powerhouses like Caribbean hitters Chinelle Henry and Deandra Dottin, Aussie leggie Alana King, and 12 Indians (Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil, Shree Charani) will vie for deals. Notably absent is India captain Harmanpreet Kaur.
This auction isn’t just a player purchase; it’s a launchpad for the Women’s Hundred’s bold new era, blending global stars, IPL savvy, and homegrown hustle.
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