The women’s competition at The Hundred will take centre stage on Wednesday 11 March, as the UK’s first-ever major sporting auction unfolds beneath the iconic backdrop of Piccadilly Lights.
More than 1000 players across the men’s and women’s competitions will go under the hammer across two days, with the women’s teams first up as they look to finalise their squads for the sixth edition of The Hundred this summer.
Salary Pot and Squad Building
Women’s teams head into the auction with a salary pot of £880,000, having already committed a portion of that budget to pre-Auction Direct Signings and Retentions. Each of the eight teams can select up to 14 players in total, meaning March 11th represents a pivotal moment in shaping the competition for 2026.
The auction will unfold across three phases: Hero Players, Ranked Players and Nominated Players, determined by the level of aggregated interest shown by teams in advance. Each side has submitted a long-list of between 75 and 100 preferred names.
Big International Names in the Frame
A number of high-profile internationals could be among the first names called on the women’s day.
Australia’s star wicketkeeper-batter Beth Mooney headlines the list, alongside India’s explosive opener Shafali Verma and South Africa all-rounder Nadine de Klerk.
England representation is strong too, with the likes of Amy Jones, Em Arlott and rising star Davina Perrin potentially attracting early bidding interest.
The auction list spans over 250 names from 12 nations, underlining the growing global growth of the women’s game. Established international match-winners and emerging domestic talent will both be in the mix as teams look to strike the right balance between star power and squad depth.
“It’s Always Exciting to See What Happens”
Mooney spoke ahead of the auction about the anticipation surrounding the squad-building process:
“From the players already pre-signed there’s a lot of world class names in The Hundred for this season, with plenty more to come during the auction. It’s always exciting to see what happens, who goes where and how teams build their lists so hopefully I’ll get another chance to be part of what is a brilliant tournament again this summer.”
How to Follow
The full women’s auction will be streamed live via The Hundred’s YouTube and social media channels.
You’ll also be able to follow all the action live on Rosa Talks Ball.
