Major League Cricket (MLC): USA's Professional T20 Cricket League
The complete guide to Major League Cricket — its IPL-backed franchises, first season results, international players, and what MLC means for cricket's growth in North America.
Major League Cricket (MLC) launched in July 2023 as the USA's first professional T20 cricket league. Backed by several IPL franchise owners, the league aimed to establish professional cricket in North America and grow the sport beyond its immigrant community base into mainstream American sports culture.
The Six Founding Franchises
- MI New York — backed by Mumbai Indians ownership; based in New York
- LA Knight Riders — backed by Kolkata Knight Riders ownership; based in Los Angeles
- Seattle Orcas — based in Washington State, targeting the Pacific Northwest
- San Francisco Unicorns — based in the Bay Area; focused on tech community engagement
- Texas Super Kings — backed by Chennai Super Kings; based in Dallas/Fort Worth
- Washington Freedom — based in Washington D.C., covering the East Coast
Inaugural Season (2023)
The inaugural MLC season ran in July 2023. MI New York won the first MLC Championship, defeating Seattle Orcas in the final. The league attracted international marquee players including Dwayne Bravo, Corey Anderson, and several Associate nation internationals. Match venues were cricket-specific grounds including Church Street Park in Morrisville, North Carolina (a dedicated cricket venue built for MLC) and Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas.
The Development Mission
MLC has a specific mission beyond commercial cricket: each franchise must include American-born or USA-registered players in their squad, creating a development pathway for local players. The league partnered with USA Cricket to identify and develop talent. Young players who played in the USA diaspora leagues — particularly in New York and New Jersey — now have a visible professional pathway that simply did not exist before 2023.
Frequently asked questions
What is Major League Cricket?
Major League Cricket (MLC) is the USA's first professional T20 cricket league, launched in July 2023 with six IPL-backed franchises. Its aim is to establish professional cricket in North America and develop local American players.
Which team won the first MLC championship?
MI New York won the inaugural MLC championship in 2023, defeating Seattle Orcas in the final — making it the first professional T20 cricket title in North American history.