New Zealand's Sophie Devine and Beth Mooney of Australia topped the bidding in the inaugural auction for English cricket's women's Hundred on Wednesday, each securing deals worth £210 000 ($282 000)
Allrounder Dani Gibson went for £190 000 to Sunrisers Leeds to become the highest-paid Englishwoman while South Africa allrounder Nadine de Klerk, who starred at the recent 50-over World Cup, went to London Spirit for £170 000.
Former New Zealand captain Devine will play for the Welsh Fire while Trent Rockets won the race to sign star batter and wicketkeeper Mooney, 32.
HUGE bids 🤯
— The Hundred (@thehundred) March 11, 2026
Presenting the 3 most expensive players in #TheHundredAuction pic.twitter.com/Yl4RSIVDUg
The Hundred has changed the way teams pick players this year. In the first auction of its kind in a major British sport, held in London, spending on women players skyrocketed.
Last year's cap, under a draft system, was £65 000.
Stakes in the eight city-based franchises – which all have men's and women's teams – were sold last year to private investors, raising huge sums for cricket in England and Wales.
Four of the franchises – Manchester Super Giants, Sunrisers Leeds, MI London and Southern Brave – are at least part-owned by companies that control Indian Premier League teams.
Women's teams each have £880 000 available to fill their squads while men's sides have a budget of £2.05 million. Their auction takes place on Thursday.
The 2026 edition of the Hundred starts on July 21 and runs for four weeks.