Women’s Cricket Tournaments: An Overview
An overview of the main women’s cricket tournaments, from the Women’s World Cup and T20 World Cup to the Ashes and franchise leagues such as WBBL and WPL.
Women’s cricket has a long history and a growing calendar of tournaments. International competitions bring national teams together, while franchise leagues have created new opportunities for players to earn a living and for fans to follow the sport. This overview covers the major events and explains how they fit together.
The Women’s Cricket World Cup
The Women’s Cricket World Cup, played in the 50-over format, is the oldest global tournament in the women’s game. The first edition took place in England in 1973, two years before the first men’s World Cup. England won that tournament, and Australia has become the most successful team over the years, with England, New Zealand and India among other champions. The competition is held roughly every four years, and the format has changed over time. In recent editions, the tournament has featured eight teams in a round-robin stage followed by knockout matches. As of 2024, the most recent completed final was the 2022 edition in New Zealand, won by Australia.
The Women’s T20 World Cup
The Women’s T20 World Cup began in 2009 in England, with England winning the first title. It has since been held at regular intervals, and teams such as Australia, West Indies and England have lifted the trophy. In the 2024 edition, played in the United Arab Emirates, New Zealand won the title for the first time. The T20 version has helped to widen the sport’s audience because its shorter format suits television schedules and travelling crowds.
Bilateral series and the Women’s Ashes
Outside the global events, many countries play bilateral series. The best known is the Women’s Ashes, contested between England and Australia. It has been played in several formats, and since 2013-14 it has used a points-based system that combines results from Test, ODI and T20 matches. The series draws strong interest because of the long rivalry between the two nations.
The International Cricket Council also runs a women’s championship in the ODI format that serves as a qualification route for the World Cup. Test matches are less frequent in the women’s game, though several countries have played them in recent years.
Multi-sport events
Women’s cricket has featured at multi-sport events. T20 cricket was included at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022, where Australia won gold. It also appeared at the Asian Games, and cricket is due to appear at the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028 in the T20 format. These events give the sport additional visibility.
Franchise leagues
Franchise tournaments have grown in importance. Key leagues include:
- The Women’s Big Bash League in Australia, which began in the 2015-16 season
- The Women’s Premier League in India, which started in 2023
- The Hundred in England, which includes a women’s competition alongside the men’s from 2021
- Earlier English competitions such as the Kia Super League, which ran from 2016 to 2019
- Other regional leagues in the Caribbean and elsewhere
These tournaments offer professional contracts, bring in overseas players and attract broadcasters and sponsors. They have also helped to raise the standard of play by exposing players to different conditions and opponents.
Domestic competitions
Each country also runs its own domestic competitions, which provide a pathway into the national team. England, Australia, India and New Zealand have structured domestic seasons with multiple formats, and many other nations are expanding theirs. Development programmes and youth tournaments, including the Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup, which began in 2023, feed talent into the system.
The bigger picture
The women’s game has seen growing crowds, media coverage and investment in recent years. The calendar continues to evolve, and some formats and competitions have changed since their introduction. This guide covers developments up to the end of 2024, and later changes are not included.
Frequently asked questions
When was the first Women’s Cricket World Cup?
The first Women’s World Cup was held in England in 1973, two years before the first men’s World Cup.
What is the Women’s Ashes?
It is a series between England and Australia that, since 2013-14, awards points across Test, ODI and T20 matches.
Which franchise leagues exist for women’s cricket?
Examples include the Women’s Big Bash League, the Women’s Premier League and the women’s competition in The Hundred.