Molineux ruled out as Aussie stars light up WNCL round one

Australia captain Sophie Molineux and rising quick Lucy Hamilton will miss the opening round of women's domestic one-day matches this week, while a host of other top players have been confirmed to feature.

Molineux had been expected to feature for Victoria but will miss due to an injury to her hip joint, and her involvement in Australia's upcoming white-ball series against Bangladesh and New Zealand is under a cloud, with a CA spokesperson saying the spinner's fitness would continue to be assessed.

Australia's squads for the three ODIs against the Tigers, starting in Brisbane on October 9, and three T20Is against New Zealand, are set to be named this week before the squad assembles next Monday.

Hamilton meanwhile has been ruled out of Queensland's games against NSW due to a minor quad strain suffered at training.  

The 2026-27 Women's National Cricket League season gets underway on Tuesday with a triple header, with star players including Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Ellyse Perry and Phoebe Litchfield to make rare domestic one-day appearances.

Round one will see Victoria host South Australia in a pair of games under lights at Junction Oval, while reigning champions Queensland will travel to Sydney for set of final rematches against New South Wales. 

Tasmania meanwhile will play Western Australia on Tuesday and Thursday at the WACA Ground.

Only one round will be played before the start of the T20 Spring Challenge and Weber WBBL|12, with the season to resume on December 14. That means the ACT Meteors, who have the bye in the first round, will need to wait to begin their campaign. 

Every match of the 2026-27 season will be live streamed free for fans in Australia on cricket.com.au and the CA Live app, while all games will also be streamed on Kayo Sports, with replays will be available for those who can't watch live.

Victoria v South Australia, Junction Oval, September 29 & October 1

Victoria squad: Rhys McKenna (c), Sophie Day, Tia Davidge, Samara Dulvin, Kim Garth, Hasrat Gill, Olivia Henry, Mia Perrin, Georgia Prestwidge, Zoe Samuel, Molly Strano, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham

While Molineux will miss due to her hip injury, Victoria will be boosted by the inclusion of Sutherland, Kim Garth and Georgia Wareham for their historic first women's matches under lights at Junction Oval.

Rhys McKenna will captain Victoria, with regular skipper Nicole Faltum currently touring India with Australia A, alongside Tess Flintoff, Milly Illingworth and Tayla Vlaeminck.

South Australia squad: Jemma Barsby (c), Hollie Armitage, Maggie Clark, Emma de Broughe, Ellie Johnston, Eleanor Larosa, Isabella Malgioglio, Tahlia McGrath, Bridget Patterson, Maddie Penna, Megan Schutt, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Beth Worthley

CA-contracted players Tahlia McGrath and Megan Schutt will play in South Australia's opening games against Victoria, while Darcie Brown is unavailable due to Australia A's tour of India. Courtney Webb also misses the first round due to 'A' commitments, as does head coach Mick Delaney with assistant coach Nicole Bolton to take the reins for the start of the season.

NSW v Queensland, Cricket Central, September 29 & October 1

NSW squad: Samantha Bates, Caoimhe Bray, Erin Burns, Lauren Cheatle (c), Sarah Coyte, Lucy Finn, Tara French, Ashleigh Gardner, Elsa Hunter, Phoebe Litchfield, Emma Manix-Geeves, Claire Moore, Ellyse Perry (vc), Eva Ragg

T20 World Cup champions Litchfield, Ashleigh Gardner and Perry headline a strong Breakers' squad for the rematch of last summer's WNCL final, while the uncapped trio of Tara French, Emma Manix-Geeves and Eva Ragg are a chance of making their NSW debut.

Ragg has earned her maiden WNCL call-up from outside the Breakers' contract list following impressive performances in NSW Premier Cricket and during preseason trial games.

Katie Mack, Anika Learoyd, Frankie Nicklin and Tahlia Wilson are unavailable for selection due to Australia A duties in India, while Maitlan Brown is still recovering from a hamstring injury that ruled her out of the 'A' tour.

Queensland squad: Georgia Redmayne (c), Annie O'Neil (vc), Lily Bassingthwaighte, Lucy Bourke, Grace Collins, Nicola Hancock, Grace Harris, Jess Jonassen, Aya Stafford, Filippa SueSee, Georgia Voll, Catherine White, Lauren Winfield-Hill

The Fire will return to the scene of their 2025-26 WNCL title triumph, led by new full-time captain Georgia Redmayne.

Australia batters Voll and Grace Harris have been named, but rising quick Lucy Hamilton will miss due to a minor squad strain suffered at training, and allrounders Charli Knott and Sianna Ginger are on duties with Australia A in India.

Mikayla Wrigley is rehabbing a hamstring strain while Bonnie Berry and Grace Parsons will also miss but both have made good progress after suffering off-season niggles.

Pace bowler Catherine White and Australian U19 representatives Aya Stafford and Flilippa SueSee have been included in the 13-player squad will debut if chosen in the starting XI.

Western Australia v Tasmania, WACA Ground, September 29 & October 1

Western Australia squad: Chloe Piparo (c), Chloe Ainsworth, Bhavi Devchand, Amy Edgar, Heather Graham, Mikayla Hinkley, Ebony Hoskin, Alana King, Rebecca McGrath, Ines McKeon, Beth Mooney, Taneale Peschel, Ruby Strange

Beth Mooney and Alana King will feature for Western Australia at the WACA Ground this week, alongside fellow CA-contracted players Heather Graham and Chloe Ainsworth.

Mooney has played just five WNCL matches since switching allegiances to WA ahead of season 2022-23, the most recent of those in September 2023.

King played two matches against Victoria last season, taking three wickets while going at a tidy economy rate of 4.45.

Chloe Piparo has assumed the captaincy of the side once again, as they look to build on the strong form displayed in the second half of the 2025-26 season.

Tasmania squad: Maisy Gibson (c), Ava Curtis, Nicola Carey, Ella Hayward, Ruth Johnston, Sara Kennedy, Lizelle Lee, Caitlin Mair, Kate Pelle, Tabatha Saville, Courtney Sippel, Lauren Smith, Naomi Stalenberg

Three players are in line to make their Tasmania debuts after being named in the Tigers' 13-player squad that has travelled to Perth.

Off-season recruits Ella Hayward and Kate Pelle, along with second year left-arm quick Sara Kennedy have all been named, while Australia allrounder Nicola Carey is also available.

Rachel Trenaman and Hayley Silver-Holmes are unavailable for selection due to Australia A's tour of India, while Mia Barwick is also in India for an U19 Australian training camp.

International recruit Alice Davidson-Richards will miss the start of the WNCL season after suffering an injury in England, while Callie Wilson is also injured.

The WACA matches will mark Maisy Gibson's first matches as Tigers captain, after the experienced allrounder was appointed to the role ahead of the new season as Elyse Villani prepares to welcome her first child.