The Women’s Hundred is set for a major transformation as it prepares for its sixth season, scheduled from July 21 to August 16, 2026. In a significant departure from previous editions, the competition will move away from its traditional draft format — used during the first five seasons — and introduce a high-profile player auction on March 11, 2026, to be staged at Piccadilly Lights in London.
Inspired by the format popularised in the IPL, the new auction system is expected to generate intense bidding for leading women’s cricketers from England and across the globe. The growing influence of Indian and other overseas players, particularly following the Women’s Premier League and the 2025 ODI World Cup in the subcontinent, is likely to shape the dynamics of the event.
Franchise investments have also led to notable rebranding ahead of the new season. Oval Invincibles will compete as MI London, Northern Superchargers have been renamed Sunrisers Leeds, and Manchester Originals will take the field as Manchester Super Giants. Additionally, GMR — co-owners of the IPL franchise Delhi Capitals — has acquired a 49% stake in Southern Brave. The auction is expected to spark strong competition not only for established stars but also for emerging domestic players regarded as vital to franchise success in the T20 format.
Auction Format, Team Purse and Squad Composition
Each of the eight teams will enter the auction with a purse of £880,000, with the available balance adjusted based on pre-auction retentions and signings. Squads will be limited to a maximum of 16 players, including up to four overseas recruits. Teams will also have access to two Wildcard selections, designed to reward standout performers in domestic competitions such as the Blast and maintain pathways for local talent.
A total of 178 players have been divided into three auction categories:
- Hero Players: Franchises nominate priority targets, with the 50 most nominated players — grouped by role — going under the hammer first.
- Ranked Players: Teams can nominate up to 25 players, including unsold Hero Players, with bidding order determined by the number of nominations received.
- Nominated Players: In a randomly determined sequence, franchises nominate remaining unsigned players. If no competing bid is made, the player joins the nominating team; otherwise, a bidding process follows.
Key Signings and Marquee Names
Several notable moves have already been confirmed. MI London secured the services of Mumbai Indians’ Amelia Kerr and Hayley Matthews. Southern Brave added Delhi Capitals’ Jemimah Rodrigues while retaining Laura Wolvaardt. Meanwhile, Manchester Super Giants finalised deals for Meg Lanning and Smriti Mandhana.
Ten marquee players — five domestic and five overseas — are expected to draw considerable attention during the auction. Among the English contingent, wicketkeeper Amy Jones, leg-spinner Sarah Glenn and promising youngster Davina Perrin, who impressed in 2025 and later joined Melbourne Renegades in the WBBL, headline the list.
International stars set to feature include India’s Deepti Sharma, New Zealand’s Sophie Devine, Australia’s Beth Mooney and newly appointed captain Sophie Molineux, along with South Africa’s Nadine de Klerk. Power hitters from the Caribbean such as Chinelle Henry and Deandra Dottin, Australian leg-spinner Alana King, and a group of 12 Indian players — including Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil and Shree Charani — are also part of the auction pool. India captain Harmanpreet Kaur is notably absent from the list.
The introduction of the auction marks a defining moment for The Hundred Women’s competition, signalling a fresh phase that combines global star appeal, franchise investment and opportunities for emerging domestic talent.
