Sophie Devine Leads the Charge in Women's Cricket with Record Auction Bid

Sophie Devine's Historic Auction Success

New Delhi, March 13: Sophie Devine, the 36-year-old all-rounder from New Zealand, has achieved a remarkable milestone by being valued at £210,000 during the inaugural Women’s Hundred auction. This amount ties her with Australia’s Beth Mooney for the highest bid, showcasing the increasing prominence of women’s cricket.

Having recently stepped down from her role as New Zealand’s T20 captain, Devine expressed her pride in contributing to the sport's evolution. She stated, “I feel privileged and thankful for this opportunity and to be selected.”

Devine reflected on the significant progress in women’s cricket, noting, “It’s incredible to see how far the women’s game has come since I started, when players earned just 30 dollars for a weekend. The financial growth is astonishing.”

She added, “It’s hard to believe we’ve reached this level, and I’m confident it will only improve. I’m truly grateful and humbled by this moment. Many have joked that I owe them drinks for life now!”

After leading New Zealand to victory in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, Devine will now play for Welsh Fire as she navigates the later stages of her career. She also announced her retirement from One-Day Internationals late last year.

The surge in player salaries is attributed to the doubling of the salary cap for women’s teams in the Hundred, now set at £880,000 per franchise. This increase follows new private investments that have introduced external stakeholders into ownership roles across all eight teams.