Women's T20 Leagues: WPL, WBBL, and Cricket's Gender Pay Gap
Women's T20 franchise cricket has expanded significantly since 2019 — the Women's Premier League (WPL) launched in India in 2023, joining the Women's Big Bash League (Australia) and The Hundred (England/Wales). This guide covers the state of women's franchise cricket, pay structures, and the progress toward equity.
Women's franchise T20 cricket existed primarily in Australia (WBBL, 2015) and England (The Hundred women's competition, 2021) before India's entry transformed the landscape. The Women's Premier League (WPL) launched in March 2023 with five franchises and $572 million total franchise fees — an amount that dwarfed any previous women's cricket commercial transaction. The WPL's launch reflected India's commercial power in cricket: even a new women's league attracts broadcast and franchise investment that established leagues in other countries cannot match.
Women's Big Bash League (WBBL)
The WBBL (launched 2015) was the first professional women's T20 league globally. It started with 6 games broadcast on free-to-air; by 2020, Cricket Australia had secured a dedicated broadcast deal for the WBBL — making it the first women's sports league in Australia with its own broadcast rights. WBBL players receive match fees (not full contracts) of AUD 1,000-2,500 per match; international players receive higher rates. The WBBL has produced players like Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, and Alyssa Healy who are genuine box-office attractions.
The Pay Gap in Women's Cricket
The pay gap between men's and women's cricket remains enormous globally. A male Indian international player earns several crore rupees from BCCI contracts; a female international player earned a fraction until the 2022 contract reforms. At franchise level: WPL auction prices reached $340,000 for Smriti Mandhana in 2023, dwarfing anything possible in WBBL or The Hundred. However, even Mandhana's WPL fee is a fraction of top IPL auction prices (Rishabh Pant's $2.2 million base bid equivalent). The structural revenue gap — men's cricket generating 50-100x more broadcast revenue — makes immediate pay equity economically challenging without cross-subsidisation.
The 86,174 MCG Final
The 2020 ICC Women's T20 World Cup final between Australia and India at the MCG drew 86,174 spectators — the largest crowd ever for a women's cricket match and one of the largest for any women's sporting event globally. Australia won the match and the World Cup. The crowd demonstrated the potential audience for women's cricket — unlocked by Australia hosting and the India vs Australia final. The MCG attendance remains the high-water mark for women's cricket's commercial and cultural potential.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Women's Premier League (WPL)?
The Women's Premier League (WPL) is India's women's T20 franchise competition — launched in March 2023 with five franchises. The franchise auction raised $572 million in total fees, transforming women's cricket's commercial landscape. The WPL's launch reflected India's dominance in cricket broadcasting revenue — even a new women's league attracted investment surpassing established international competitions.
What is the biggest crowd ever at a women's cricket match?
The 2020 ICC Women's T20 World Cup final between Australia and India at the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) drew 86,174 spectators — the largest crowd ever for a women's cricket match and one of the largest for any women's sporting event globally. Australia won the match and the World Cup title.
Which cricket board first achieved pay equity for women?
New Zealand Cricket achieved pay equity in 2022, becoming the first major cricket board to pay men's and women's contracts at equivalent rates. Most other cricket boards still have significant pay gaps, though the BCCI introduced central contracts for women in 2022 and England and Australia have moved toward partial equivalency for contracted players.