Now Reading: Sophie Molineux Cashes In: Australia Captain Lands Six-Figure WPL Deal
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Sophie Molineux Cashes In: Australia Captain Lands Six-Figure WPL Deal
Sophie Molineux walked into the Women’s Premier League mini auction as a world champion captain and walked out as the biggest buy of the day. UP Warriorz won the bidding battle in Kochi, paying A$164,000 for the Australian all-rounder and sending the room into a frenzy.
Molineux Smashes Her Base Price
Molineux, a left-handed bowling all-rounder, led Australia to this year’s T20 World Cup title in July. That success made her one of the most closely watched names on the auction list.
Her base price was A$74,500. By the time the hammer fell, UP Warriorz had paid more than double that figure.
Her former team, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, also showed interest. The bidding contest ended with Warriorz getting their player and claiming the headline deal of the auction.
Why Warriorz Had the Firepower
Warriorz arrived at the mini auction with the biggest budget of the five franchises. That financial muscle proved decisive when the bidding for Molineux heated up.
The franchise is led by Australian veteran Meg Lanning. Molineux now joins a squad with a strong Australian presence heading into the fifth edition of the tournament.
All-Rounders Rule the Day
Molineux was not the only all-rounder to draw attention. The auction was dominated by players who can contribute with both bat and ball, and several franchises spent accordingly.
Another Australian all-rounder, Grace Harris, returned to Warriorz with a deal worth A$44,500. It is a familiar landing spot for a player who knows the setup.
Ireland’s Orla Prendergast Makes History
Orla Prendergast became the first player from Ireland to land a WPL deal. She heads to Gujarat Giants for A$44,500.
It is a landmark moment for Irish cricket and a sign of how widely the league is now casting its net for talent.
Kiran Navgire Is the Second-Costliest Buy
India batter Kiran Navgire was the second-costliest buy of the auction. Delhi Capitals secured her for A$111,700.
That price placed her well behind Molineux but comfortably ahead of the other headline signings of the day.
Auction Highlights at a Glance
Here is how the key deals stack up, along with the all-time WPL auction record for context.
| Player | Team | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sophie Molineux | UP Warriorz | A$164,000 |
| Kiran Navgire | Delhi Capitals | A$111,700 |
| Grace Harris | UP Warriorz | A$44,500 |
| Orla Prendergast | Gujarat Giants | A$44,500 |
| Smriti Mandhana (2023 record) | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | A$538,850 (34 million rupees) |
Molineux’s deal is a big one, but it still sits far below the record. India’s Smriti Mandhana remains the most expensive player ever sold at a WPL auction after Bengaluru paid 34 million rupees in 2023.
A League Growing Fast
The WPL staged its first edition in 2023. Since then it has become a financial powerhouse for the Indian cricket board.
Franchise and media rights alone have delivered roughly A$1 billion. Those deals made the WPL the world’s second-most valuable women’s sports league, behind only the WNBA in the United States.
What Comes Next
The fifth edition of the tournament begins on January 14. The final is scheduled for February 7.
Reigning champions Bengaluru and Mumbai Indians have won two titles each in the four editions so far. With squads now finalised, the race to break that deadlock is officially on.
For Molineux, the next challenge is turning a six-figure price tag into match-winning performances. With a World Cup-winning captaincy on her résumé and a big-spending franchise behind her, expectations will be sky high.
