The Womens Big Bash League (WBBL) is Australia’s premier women’s franchise T20 cricket competition, organised by Cricket Australia. The tournament began in 2015 and features eight teams representing major Australian cities and states, with domestic players competing alongside international cricket stars. The WBBL has become an important competition for women’s cricket, providing players with opportunities to develop their skills and compete in a professional franchise environment.
Sydney Thunder won the inaugural season, while Sydney Sixers, Brisbane Heat, Adelaide Strikers and other franchises have also lifted the trophy. Hobart Hurricanes became the latest champions after defeating Perth Scorchers in the WBBL|11 final in December 2025. The 2026–27 season, known as WBBL|12, is scheduled to begin on October 29, 2026.
What Is the Women’s Big Bash League?
The Womens Big Bash League is a professional women’s T20 tournament in Australia. It was launched in 2015 alongside the men’s Big Bash League and provides a domestic competition for Australia’s leading women cricketers and international players.
Cricket Australia operates the tournament, which features eight franchises. Each team plays league matches before the top sides advance to the finals. The competition has helped showcase Australian players such as Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Meg Lanning and Alyssa Healy, while also attracting international stars from England, India, New Zealand, South Africa and other cricket-playing nations.
The WBBL is also an important pathway for emerging players who want to establish themselves in professional cricket. Its combination of experienced internationals and young Australian talent has helped make it one of the major women’s franchise T20 competitions.
History of the Women’s Big Bash League
The WBBL began in 2015, with Sydney Thunder defeating Sydney Sixers in the inaugural final. Sydney Sixers then won consecutive titles in 2016–17 and 2017–18 before Brisbane Heat became back-to-back champions in 2018–19 and 2019–20.
Sydney Thunder returned to the top in 2020–21, followed by Perth Scorchers in 2021–22. Adelaide Strikers won consecutive championships in 2022–23 and 2023–24, while Melbourne Renegades claimed their first title in 2024–25.
Hobart Hurricanes completed the latest championship-winning campaign in December 2025. They defeated Perth Scorchers by eight wickets in the final, earning their first WBBL title. Through the first eleven seasons, seven of the eight franchises have won the competition, with Melbourne Stars still searching for their maiden championship.
Women’s Big Bash League Winners List (2015–2025)
The following table lists the WBBL champions and runners-up from the inaugural season through WBBL|11.
| Season | Winner | Runner-up |
| 2015–16 (WBBL | Sydney Thunder | Sydney Sixers |
| 2016–17 (WBBL | Sydney Sixers | Perth Scorchers |
| 2017–18 (WBBL | Sydney Sixers | Perth Scorchers |
| 2018–19 (WBBL | Brisbane Heat | Sydney Sixers |
| 2019–20 (WBBL | Brisbane Heat | Adelaide Strikers |
| 2020–21 (WBBL | Sydney Thunder | Melbourne Stars |
| 2021–22 (WBBL | Perth Scorchers | Adelaide Strikers |
| 2022–23 (WBBL | Adelaide Strikers | Sydney Sixers |
| 2023–24 (WBBL | Adelaide Strikers | Brisbane Heat |
| 2024–25 (WBBL | Melbourne Renegades | Brisbane Heat |
| 2025–26 (WBBL | Hobart Hurricanes | Perth Scorchers |
Four teams have won the WBBL twice: Sydney Thunder, Sydney Sixers, Brisbane Heat and Adelaide Strikers. Perth Scorchers, Melbourne Renegades and Hobart Hurricanes have each won one title, while Melbourne Stars remain the only team without a championship.
WBBL 2025–26: Hobart Hurricanes Win Their First Title
Hobart Hurricanes won their maiden WBBL championship after defeating Perth Scorchers by eight wickets in the WBBL|11 final on December 13, 2025, at Ninja Stadium in Hobart.
Perth Scorchers scored 137/5 in 20 overs after batting first. Hobart Hurricanes chased the target comfortably, reaching 141/2 in just 15 overs. South African batter Lizelle Lee played the decisive innings, scoring an unbeaten 77 from 44 balls and earning Player of the Match honours.
The Hurricanes’ victory completed a strong campaign in which they finished first in the league stage with seven wins from ten matches. Georgia Wareham, who represented Melbourne Renegades, won Player of the Tournament after an impressive individual season.
WBBL|11 Awards and Top Performers
| Award | Player | Team |
| Champions | Hobart Hurricanes | Hobart Hurricanes |
| Runners-up | Perth Scorchers | Perth Scorchers |
| Player of the Tournament | Georgia Wareham | Melbourne Renegades |
| Player of the Final | Lizelle Lee | Hobart Hurricanes |
| Most runs | Beth Mooney | Perth Scorchers |
| Most wickets | Ashleigh Gardner and Georgia Wareham | Sydney Sixers and Melbourne Renegades |
Beth Mooney topped the run charts with 549 runs, while Ashleigh Gardner and Georgia Wareham shared the leading wicket-taker honour with 19 wickets each.
Womens Big Bash League Teams
Eight franchises compete in the WBBL. Each team represents an Australian city or state and builds its squad using domestic and international players.
| Team | Abbreviation |
| Adelaide Strikers | AS |
| Brisbane Heat | BH |
| Hobart Hurricanes | HH |
| Melbourne Renegades | MR |
| Melbourne Stars | MS |
| Perth Scorchers | PS |
| Sydney Sixers | SS |
| Sydney Thunder | ST |
Adelaide Strikers
Adelaide Strikers won consecutive WBBL titles in 2022–23 and 2023–24. The franchise has featured leading Australian players, including Megan Schutt and Amanda-Jade Wellington, who have played important roles in its bowling attack.
Brisbane Heat
Brisbane Heat won consecutive championships in 2018–19 and 2019–20. The team has benefited from the contributions of players such as Jess Jonassen, Beth Mooney and Grace Harris.
Hobart Hurricanes
Hobart Hurricanes won their first WBBL title in 2025–26. The team defeated Perth Scorchers in the final, with Lizelle Lee’s unbeaten 77 leading the successful chase.
Melbourne Renegades
Melbourne Renegades claimed their maiden championship in 2024–25. Their title-winning campaign was a significant turnaround after the team finished last in the previous season.
Melbourne Stars
Melbourne Stars have competed in every WBBL season but have not won the championship. They have reached the final, including their appearance against Sydney Thunder in 2020–21, but are still seeking their first title.
Perth Scorchers
Perth Scorchers won their first WBBL championship in 2021–22. They have also reached several other finals, including the 2025–26 decider, where Hobart Hurricanes defeated them.
Sydney Sixers
Sydney Sixers won the second and third WBBL seasons in succession. Their early success established them as one of the competition’s strongest franchises, and they remain among the league’s multiple-time champions.
Sydney Thunder
Sydney Thunder became the first WBBL champions in 2015–16 and won their second title in 2020–21. Their inaugural victory helped establish the competition as a major event in Australian women’s cricket.
Women’s Big Bash League Format
The WBBL features a league stage followed by a three-match finals series. In the 2025–26 edition, all eight teams played ten league matches, facing each of their seven opponents at least once and meeting selected opponents twice. The season featured 43 matches in total, including the league stage and finals.
The top four teams qualify for the finals. The third-placed team faces the fourth-placed team in the Knockout, and the winner advances to the Challenger against the second-placed team. The Challenger winner then meets the team that finished first in the league stage in the final.
Teams receive two points for a win and one point for a match that ends without a result. A defeat earns no points. If teams finish level on points, net run rate helps determine their positions in the standings.
WBBL 2026–27: Upcoming Season
The twelfth edition of the WBBL, known as WBBL|12, is scheduled to begin on October 29, 2026. The season is set to feature 43 matches across 38 days, with the tournament scheduled to run until December 5.
The new season will give Hobart Hurricanes the opportunity to defend their first WBBL championship. The eight franchises will compete for a place in the finals, while Melbourne Stars will continue their search for a maiden title.
Women’s Big Bash League Records
The WBBL has produced several notable individual records since its first season in 2015. Beth Mooney leads the career run-scoring charts, while Jess Jonassen is the competition’s leading wicket-taker in the available records through the 2025–26 season.
| Record | Player or team | Achievement |
| Most WBBL titles by a team | Four teams tied | 2 titles each |
| Most career runs | Beth Mooney | 5,600 runs |
| Second-most career runs | Ellyse Perry | 5,101 runs |
| Most career wickets | Jess Jonassen | 184 wickets |
| Second-most career wickets | Molly Strano | 172 wickets |
| Highest individual score | Lizelle Lee | 150 not out |
| Best bowling figures | Megan Schutt | 6/19 |
| Most recent champions | Hobart Hurricanes | WBBL 11 |
Lizelle Lee’s unbeaten 150 came against Perth Scorchers during WBBL|10 and remains the highest individual score listed in the available competition records. Megan Schutt’s 6/19 is the best bowling performance by figures, making her the only player to take six wickets in a WBBL match.
Women’s Big Bash League at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
| Full name | Women’s Big Bash League |
| Abbreviation | WBBL |
| Governing body | Cricket Australia |
| First season | 2015–16 |
| Format | Women’s Twenty20 |
| Number of teams | 8 |
| Latest completed season | 11 (2025–26) |
| Latest champions | Hobart Hurricanes |
| Latest runners-up | Perth Scorchers |
| Most titles by a team | 2 |
| Upcoming season | 12 (2026–27) |
| Scheduled start of next season | October 29, 2026 |
FAQs
Q. When did the WBBL begin?
A. The WBBL began in 2015.
Q. Which team won the latest WBBL title?
A. Hobart Hurricanes won the 2025–26 title.
Q. How many teams play in the WBBL?
A. Eight teams compete in the tournament.
Q. Which WBBL teams have won the most titles?
A. Sydney Thunder, Sydney Sixers, Brisbane Heat and Adelaide Strikers have two titles each.
Q. When does WBBL|12 begin?
A. The 2026–27 season is scheduled to begin on October 29, 2026.
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