The Hundred Women’s 2026 season is set to begin on July 21, bringing a fresh chapter to the competition following its first-ever player auction. With revamped squads, increased salary caps and some of the biggest names in women’s cricket on display, fans can expect several outstanding individual performances over the coming weeks.
As teams prepare for the race to the title, the battle for the Golden Bat and Golden Ball awards is also expected to be highly competitive. Based on current form, team balance and playing conditions, here are the top predictions for the tournament’s leading run-scorer and wicket-taker.
Leading Run-Scorer in The Hundred Women’s 2026
The favourite for the leading run-scorer in the Hundred Women’s 2026 is Australian opener Beth Mooney of Trent Rockets.
Mooney has built a reputation as one of the most consistent batters in world cricket across all formats. Her ability to combine patience with aggressive stroke play makes her perfectly suited to the 100-ball format.
Trent Rockets have also built a strong batting lineup around Mooney. With all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt providing support in the middle order, Mooney should have the freedom to anchor the innings while maintaining a healthy scoring rate.
Trent Bridge has traditionally been one of the highest-scoring venues in English cricket, offering quick outfields and shorter boundaries. Those conditions are expected to suit Mooney’s style of batting and could help her produce several big scores during the tournament.
The biggest challenger is likely to be Smriti Mandhana, who joins Manchester Super Giants after arriving in excellent form. Following her impressive performances against England, Mandhana enters the competition with plenty of confidence and will open alongside the experienced Meg Lanning.
A dark horse for the award is Laura Wolvaardt of Southern Brave. The South African captain enjoys batting in English conditions and has the technique to score consistently throughout the tournament.
Leading Wicket-Taker in The Hundred Women’s 2026
The race for the leading wicket-taker in the Hundred Women’s 2026 promises to be equally exciting.
While England fast bowler Lauren Bell remains one of the tournament’s greatest wicket-takers and will once again lead Southern Brave’s attack, Sophie Ecclestone is backed to finish with the most wickets this season.
The England left-arm spinner joins Manchester Super Giants and is expected to play a key role throughout the competition. Her exceptional control, ability to bowl in every phase of the innings and experience in pressure situations make her one of the most complete bowlers in women’s cricket.
Old Trafford often provides assistance to spinners as tournaments progress, giving Ecclestone an additional advantage. She is projected to finish with around 14 to 16 wickets while maintaining an economy rate below 6.5 runs per over.
Another player capable of making an impact is Jess Jonassen of SunRisers Leeds. The experienced Australian spinner has enjoyed an impressive domestic season and could emerge as one of the tournament’s surprise performers.
The Hundred Women’s Golden Bat Prediction
The Hundred Women’s Golden Bat prediction goes to Beth Mooney, whose consistency and experience give her a slight edge over the rest of the field. Meanwhile, Sophie Ecclestone is the strongest candidate to claim the Golden Ball after leading Manchester Super Giants’ bowling attack.
With world-class players spread across every franchise and stronger squads than ever before, the Hundred Women’s 2026 promises a thrilling race for both individual awards alongside the battle for the championship trophy.
