Australia’s Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) is back with another season. The 2026 edition gets underway in late October, with several Australian and overseas players in action.
So here’s a rundown on the Women’s Big Bash League 2026.
When does the WBBL 2026 start?
The WBBL 2026 begins on October 29 in Melbourne with a double-header. Melbourne Renegades will face Sydney Thunder in the season opener at 3:40 PM local time (10:10 AM IST).
Later in the evening, defending champions Hobart Hurricanes will take on Melbourne Stars at 7:10 PM (1:40 PM IST).
How many teams are participating in the WBBL 2026?
The usual eight WBBL clubs will be in action. Adelaide Strikers, Brisbane Heat, Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers are the other four participants.
Alright, what’s the format of the WBBL 2026?
There’s no change in format as such. So each team will play 10 matches in the league stage, facing three opponents twice and four opponents once.
Once the league stage concludes, the top four teams will advance to a three-match finals series.
The table toppers seal their slot in the final, while the second-placed team slots in the challenger, potentially facing one of the third- and fourth-placed teams advancing from the knockout. The winner of the challenger enters the final.
So how many matches will take place in the WBBL 2026?
It’s a 43-match tournament, with 40 league stage games, followed by the three-match finals series.
Which venues will host the WBBL 2026?
The WBBL 2026 will take place across eight Australian venues, the same as last season.
Here are the venues for WBBL 2026:
- Adelaide Oval (one match)
- Allan Border Field, Brisbane (five matches)
- Bellerive Oval, Hobart (four matches)
- Drummoyne Oval, Sydney (six matches)
- Junction Oval, Melbourne (ten matches)
- Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide (four matches)
- North Sydney Oval, Sydney (six matches)
- Western Australia Cricket Association Ground, Perth (four matches)
Okay, what’s the full WBBL 2026 schedule?
So the league stage runs for a month, from October 29 to November 29. Then the knockout is slated for December 1, followed by the challenger on December 3 and the final on December 5.
Women’s Big Bash League 2026 Schedule
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (Local/IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 29, 2026 | Melbourne Renegades Women vs Sydney Thunder Women | Melbourne | 3:40 PM/10:10 AM |
| Oct 29, 2026 | Melbourne Stars Women vs Hobart Hurricanes Women | Melbourne | 7:10 PM/1:40 PM |
| Oct 30, 2026 | Brisbane Heat Women vs Sydney Sixers Women | Brisbane | 6:10 PM/1:40 PM |
| Oct 31, 2026 | Adelaide Strikers Women vs Melbourne Stars Women | Adelaide | 3:10 PM/10:10 AM |
| Oct 31, 2026 | Perth Scorchers Women vs Melbourne Renegades Women | Perth | 4:10 PM/1:40 PM |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Sydney Thunder Women vs Brisbane Heat Women | Sydney | 3:40 PM/10:10 AM |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Sydney Sixers Women vs Hobart Hurricanes Women | Sydney | 7:10 PM/1:40 PM |
| Nov 2, 2026 | Melbourne Stars Women vs Perth Scorchers Women | Melbourne | 7:10 PM/1:40 PM |
| Nov 4, 2026 | Hobart Hurricanes Women vs Melbourne Renegades Women | Hobart | 7:10 PM/1:40 PM |
| Nov 5, 2026 | Adelaide Strikers Women vs Brisbane Heat Women | Sydney | 3:40 PM/10:10 AM |
| Nov 5, 2026 | Sydney Thunder Women vs Perth Scorchers Women | Sydney | 7:10 PM/1:40 PM |
| Nov 6, 2026 | Melbourne Stars Women vs Sydney Sixers Women | Melbourne | 7:10 PM/1:40 PM |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Melbourne Renegades Women vs Adelaide Strikers Women | Melbourne | 3:40 PM/10:10 AM |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Brisbane Heat Women vs Hobart Hurricanes Women | Brisbane | 6:10 PM/1:40 PM |
| Nov 8, 2026 | Sydney Sixers Women vs Sydney Thunder Women | Sydney | 1:40 PM/8:10 AM |
| Nov 8, 2026 | Perth Scorchers Women vs Melbourne Stars Women | Sydney | 5:10 PM/11:40 AM |
| Nov 10, 2026 | Hobart Hurricanes Women vs Adelaide Strikers Women | Hobart | 7:10 PM/1:40 PM |
| Nov 11, 2026 | Perth Scorchers Women vs Sydney Thunder Women | Perth | 4:10 PM/1:40 PM |
| Nov 12, 2026 | Melbourne Stars Women vs Brisbane Heat Women | Melbourne | 3:40 PM/10:10 AM |
| Nov 12, 2026 | Melbourne Renegades Women vs Sydney Sixers Women | Melbourne | 7:10 PM/1:40 PM |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Hobart Hurricanes Women vs Brisbane Heat Women | Hobart | 3:40 PM/10:10 AM |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Perth Scorchers Women vs Adelaide Strikers Women | Perth | 4:10 PM/1:40 PM |
| Nov 15, 2026 | Sydney Sixers Women vs Melbourne Renegades Women | Sydney | 11:00 AM/5:30 AM |
| Nov 16, 2026 | Sydney Thunder Women vs Melbourne Stars Women | Sydney | 7:10 PM/1:40 PM |
| Nov 17, 2026 | Adelaide Strikers Women vs Sydney Sixers Women | Adelaide | 6:40 PM/1:40 PM |
| Nov 19, 2026 | Hobart Hurricanes Women vs Perth Scorchers Women | Brisbane | 2:40 PM/10:10 AM |
| Nov 19, 2026 | Brisbane Heat Women vs Sydney Thunder Women | Brisbane | 6:10 PM/1:40 PM |
| Nov 20, 2026 | Adelaide Strikers Women vs Melbourne Renegades Women | Adelaide | 6:40 PM/1:40 PM |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Hobart Hurricanes Women vs Sydney Thunder Women | Hobart | 12:00 PM/6:30 AM |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Sydney Sixers Women vs Perth Scorchers Women | Sydney | 3:30 PM/10:00 AM |
| Nov 22, 2026 | Brisbane Heat Women vs Adelaide Strikers Women | Brisbane | 2:40 PM/10:10 AM |
| Nov 22, 2026 | Melbourne Stars Women vs Melbourne Renegades Women | Melbourne | 7:10 PM/1:40 PM |
| Nov 25, 2026 | Melbourne Renegades Women vs Brisbane Heat Women | Melbourne | 7:10 PM/1:40 PM |
| Nov 26, 2026 | Sydney Thunder Women vs Adelaide Strikers Women | Sydney | 3:40 PM/10:10 AM |
| Nov 26, 2026 | Sydney Sixers Women vs Melbourne Stars Women | Sydney | 7:10 PM/1:40 PM |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Perth Scorchers Women vs Hobart Hurricanes Women | Perth | 6:10 PM/3:40 PM |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Melbourne Renegades Women vs Melbourne Stars Women | Melbourne | 3:40 PM/10:10 AM |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Sydney Thunder Women vs Sydney Sixers Women | Sydney | 7:10 PM/3:40 PM |
| Nov 29, 2026 | Brisbane Heat Women vs Perth Scorchers Women | Adelaide | 11:30 AM/6:30 AM |
| Nov 29, 2026 | Adelaide Strikers Women vs Hobart Hurricanes Women | Adelaide | 3:00 PM/10:00 AM |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Knockout: 3rd vs 4th | TBA | TBA |
| Dec 3, 2026 | Challenger: 2nd vs Knockout Winner | TBA | TBA |
| Dec 5, 2026 | Final: 1st vs Challenger Winner | TBA | TBA |
What are the squads?
Here are the squads of all WBBL 2026 teams:
Adelaide Strikers
Maia Bouchier, Darcie Brown, Emma de Broughe, Sophie Ecclestone, Ellie Johnston, Eleanor Larosa, Tahlia McGrath (c), Anesu Mushangwe, Bridget Patterson, Maddie Penna, Megan Schutt, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Ella Wilson, Laura Wolvaardt
Brisbane Heat
Lily Bassingthwaighte, Bonnie Berry, Lucinda Bourke, Sianna Ginger, Sarah Glenn, Lucy Hamilton, Grace Harris, Charli Knott, Annie O’Neil, Orla Prendergast, Georgia Redmayne (c), Mikayla Wrigley
Hobart Hurricanes
Chamari Athapaththu, Nicola Carey (c), Heather Graham, Ella Hayward, Chinelle Henry, Ruth Johnston, Lizelle Lee, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Amy Smith, Lauren Smith, Linsey Smith, Molly Strano, Rachel Trenaman, Callie Wilson
Melbourne Renegades
Deandra Dottin, Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff, Milly Illingworth, Sara Kennedy, Hayley Matthews, Sophie Molineux (c), Olivia Porter, Sophie Reid, Chloe Tyron, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham, Courtney Webb, Annie Wikman
Melbourne Stars
Sophie Day, Charlie Dean, Kim Garth, Dani Gibson, Maisy Gibson, Amy Jones, Meg Lanning (c), Carly Leeson, Rhys McKenna, Indigo Noble, Georgia Prestwidge, Zoe Samuel, Naomi Stalenberg, Annabel Sutherland
Perth Scorchers
Chloe Ainsworth, Sophie Devine (c), Amy Edgar, Mikayla Friday, Ebony Hoskin, Freya Kemp, Alana King, Katie Mack, Lilly Mills, Beth Mooney, Chloe Piparo, Fatima Sana, Ruby Strange
Sydney Sixers
Caoimhe Bray, Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Alice Capsey, Lauren Cheatle, Sarah Coyte, Maddy Darke, Sophia Dunkley, Ashleigh Gardner (c), Elsa Hunter, Melie Kerr, Frankie Nicklin, Ellyse Perry, Courtney Sippel
Sydney Thunder
Jemma Barsby, Sam Bates, Lauren Bell, Hannah Darlington, Nadine de Klerk, Lucy Finn, Hasrat Gill, Nicola Hancock, Laura Harris, Heather Knight, Anika Learoyd, Phoebe Litchfield (c), Georgia Voll, Tahlia Wilson
Where to watch the WBBL 2026?
Foxtel and 7 will broadcast the WBBL 2026 on TV in Australia, with live streaming available on Kayo Sports and 7+.
Indian fans, meanwhile, can catch all the WBBL action live on FanCode (OTT) and Euro Sports (TV).
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