For Sophie Devine, the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 is more than just another tournament – it is a farewell to the format that has defined much of her career. The 36-year-old New Zealand captain confirmed that this will be her last ODI World Cup, marking her fifth appearance in the competition, and she is determined to savour every moment.
“I feel in a really good space to go out and enjoy every moment of my last World Cup,” Devine told ICC Media. “That is something I am really proud of, to be in a space now where I feel so comfortable and confident in my own abilities but also to lead this team with a lot of pride.”
Devine made her international debut as a teenager, and nearly 20 years on, she admits it is remarkable to look back on her journey. “It is crazy to think nearly 20 years have passed and to think how much I’ve grown. Not just as a player, which has been pretty obvious – I have filled lots of different positions in this White Ferns team – but more importantly the person I have become,” she reflected.
Her connection to the Black Ferns has only deepened with time. While chasing a long-awaited title – New Zealand’s sole triumph came in 2000 – Devine also has one eye on the future. She values helping develop the younger core of the side in what is increasingly a fast-evolving landscape for women’s cricket.
“We want everyone to get better, and we look out for each other. It doesn’t matter what team I’m playing for; I want to make myself and my teammates better,” she said.
She spoke about how far the women’s game has come and how quickly it has evolved in recent years, seeing enormous potential ahead. She highlighted that being able to contribute to its growth and inspire younger players is what makes the women’s cricket community so unique. She added that once her playing career ends, she will continue to be its biggest supporter, following the game as it develops further.
For a nation still buoyed by their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup win, there is optimism that the White Ferns could ride their momentum into the 50-over edition. Devine acknowledged the shift in confidence within the squad after that achievement.
“It has certainly given us confidence, but we know this is a different format, it’s a new tournament so everyone starts back on zero,” she said. “It was pretty well documented that we didn’t have the greatest run of results leading into the T20 World Cup, but we had such a strong belief in the group that we were doing the right things behind closed doors. It taught us a lot of resilience and winning that World Cup proved to us that we have the ability to beat anyone in the world.”
Australia and England have dominated World Cup history, winning 11 of the 12 titles since 1973. New Zealand’s triumph in 2000 remains the lone exception. Yet, Devine insists that her team is unfazed by history or external expectations.
She noted that Kiwis are happy to stay under the radar, valuing people in the squad. She added that the exciting aspect of the World Cup, compared to the start of her career, is that any team can win, making the tournament a thrilling place to be.
For Devine, however, personal legacy and team growth matter far more than records. Whether New Zealand manage a fairytale finish or not, her passion for the sport – and the White Ferns – remains unshakable.
New Zealand Squad: Sophie Devine (C), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Flora Devonshire, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, Bella James, Melie Kerr, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Georgia Plimmer, Lea Tahuhu
(Quotes sourced from ICC media release)
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