The upcoming season of the Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL) kicked off on September 24 and will run till March 2 (2025), showcasing Australia’s leading domestic female cricket talent. Matches will take place across several prominent cities, including Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Hobart, at some of the nation’s most iconic cricket venues.. These diverse locations are set to provide a variety of playing conditions, from the fast-paced surfaces of the WACA to the temperate, swinging conditions in Hobart. Each venue will host six home matches for their respective teams, ensuring local fans can witness high-quality cricket action firsthand.

New South Wales: The most successful team

In the history of the WNCL, New South Wales (NSW) stands out as the most decorated team, having claimed 20 championships since the league’s inception in 1996-97. NSW’s consistent dominance over two decades has set a high bar for all competing teams. Although their form has dipped in recent years, they remain a formidable force and will be aiming to regain their supremacy. Despite not having won the title since the 2019-20 season, NSW’s pedigree in women’s cricket and their production of international stars keeps them in strong contention.

Defending champions: Tasmania’s dominance

Tasmania Women are the team to beat in the upcoming season. They have dominated the competition in recent years, winning three consecutive titles, including their latest victory in the 2023-24 final, where they convincingly defeated Queensland Women by six wickets. Tasmania’s blend of youth and experience, along with their tactical acumen, has turned them into a powerhouse in Australian domestic cricket. The likes of experienced players and emerging stars have helped them establish themselves as champions, and their quest for a fourth consecutive title will be one of the key storylines of this season.

Also READ: Women’s Big Bash League 2024/25: Squads of all 8 teams after the WBBL|10 draft

Participating teams and home grounds

This season will see seven teams competing:

Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Meteors
New South Wales
Queensland
South Australia
Tasmania
Victoria
Western Australia

Each team will host six home matches across notable venues, including Junction Oval for Victoria, Bellerive Oval for Tasmania, WACA Ground for Western Australia, and Karen Rolton Oval for South Australia. These grounds have become synonymous with women’s domestic cricket in Australia, offering world-class facilities and a stage for players to perform at their best.

Tournament structure: Double round-robin format

The 2024-25 WNCL season will follow a double round-robin format, where each team plays the others twice, ensuring 12 competitive matches per team. This format allows every team to experience both home and away fixtures, enhancing the competition’s balance and giving teams the chance to adapt to different conditions. The league will feature a total of 42 matches in the group stage, with the top two teams progressing to the grand final on March 2, 2025. If teams finish on equal points, Net Run Rate (NRR) will be the tiebreaker to determine final positions on the ladder.

Impact of international commitments

A significant storyline in this year’s WNCL is the anticipated absence of many of Australia’s top international players for the majority of the season. With Australia’s commitments in the T20 World Cup, T20I series against New Zealand, and the ODI series against India and New Zealand, as well as the multi-format Ashes series, the WNCL is expected to showcase the depth of Australia’s domestic talent. However, the final rounds of the tournament may see the return of some of these players, depending on the scheduling of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) in India. Teams will need to rely on their domestic talent in the early rounds, offering emerging players a platform to make their mark.

WNCL’s storied history and dominant teams

The WNCL has a rich legacy dating back to its inaugural season in 1996-97, when New South Wales claimed the first-ever championship by defeating Victoria in the final. Since then, the competition has witnessed several eras of dominance, with New South Wales notably winning ten consecutive titles between 2005 and 2014, a record that still stands. More recently, the competition has seen a shift, with Western Australia claiming their maiden title in 2019-20, followed by Queensland’s triumph in 2020-21, and Tasmania taking control with their three-peat from 2021 to 2024. This season promises to continue the tradition of intense competition as teams strive for supremacy.

WNCL 2024-25: Complete schedule and fixture details:

Date
Matches
Venue
IST
Local
GMT

24-Sep-24
Western Australia v Tasmania Tigers
WACA Ground, Perth
7:30 AM
10:00 AM
2:00 AM

26-Sep-24
Western Australia v Tasmania Tigers
WACA Ground, Perth
7:30 AM
10:00 AM
2:00 AM

27-Sep-24
Queensland Fire v New South Wales
Allan Border Field, Brisbane
5:00 AM
9:00 AM
11:30 PM (26-Sep-24)

South Australia Scorpions v ACT Meteors
Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide
6:00 AM
9:30 AM
12:30 AM

29-Sep-24
Queensland Fire v New South Wales
Allan Border Field, Brisbane
5:00 AM
9:00 AM
11:30 PM (28-Sep-24)

South Australia Scorpions v ACT Meteors
Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide
6:00 AM
9:30 AM
12:30 AM

03-Oct-24
Queensland Fire v Western Australia
Allan Border Field, Brisbane
5:00 AM
9:00 AM
11:30 PM (02-Oct-24)

04-Oct-24
New South Wales v Victoria
North Sydney Oval, Sydney
5:00 AM
9:00 AM
11:30 PM (03-Oct-24)

South Australia Scorpions v Tasmania Tigers
Allan Border Field, Brisbane
6:00 AM
9:30 AM
12:30 AM

05-Oct-24
Queensland Fire v Western Australia
Allan Border Field, Brisbane
5:00 AM
9:00 AM
11:30 PM (04-Oct-24)

06-Oct-24
New South Wales v Victoria
North Sydney Oval, Sydney
4:30 AM
8:30 AM
11:00 PM (05-Oct-24)

South Australia Scorpions v Tasmania Tigers
Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide
5:00 AM
8:30 AM
12:00 AM

14-Dec-24
Tasmania Tigers v New South Wales
Bellerive Oval, Hobart
4:30 AM
9:00 AM
11:00 PM (13-Dec-24)

16-Dec-24
Tasmania Tigers v New South Wales
Bellerive Oval, Hobart
4:30 AM
9:00 AM
11:00 PM (15-Dec-24)

20-Dec-24
ACT Meteors v Queensland Fire
Solar Park, Canberra
4:30 AM
9:00 AM
11:00 PM (19-Dec-24)

Victoria v South Australia Scorpions
CitiPower Center, Melbourne
4:30 AM
9:00 AM
11:00 PM (19-Dec-24)

22-Dec-24
ACT Meteors v Queensland Fire
Solar Park, Canberra
4:30 AM
9:00 AM
11:00 PM (21-Dec-24)

Victoria v South Australia Scorpions
CitiPower Center, Melbourne
4:30 AM
9:00 AM
11:00 PM (21-Dec-24)

12-Jan-25
ACT Meteors v Victoria
Solar Park, Canberra
4:30 AM
9:00 AM
11:00 PM (11-Jan-25)

Queensland Fire v Tasmania Tigers
Allan Border Field, Brisbane
5:00 AM
9:00 AM
11:30 PM (11-Jan-25)

Western Australia v New South Wales
WACA Ground, Perth
7:30 AM
10:00 AM
2:00 AM

14-Jan-25
ACT Meteors v Victoria
Solar Park, Canberra
4:30 AM
9:00 AM
11:00 PM (13-Jan-25)

Queensland Fire v Tasmania Tigers
Allan Border Field, Brisbane
5:00 AM
9:00 AM
11:30 PM (13-Jan-25)

Western Australia v New South Wales
WACA Ground, Perth
7:30 AM
10:00 AM
2:00 AM

27-Jan-25
Victoria v Western Australia
CitiPower Center, Melbourne
4:30 AM
9:00 AM
11:00 PM (26-Jan-25)

28-Jan-25
South Australia Scorpions v Queensland Fire
Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide
5:00 AM
9:30 AM
11:30 PM (27-Jan-25)

29-Jan-25
Victoria v Western Australia
CitiPower Center, Melbourne
4:30 AM
9:00 AM
11:00 PM (28-Jan-25)

30-Jan-25
Tasmania Tigers v ACT Meteors
Bellerive Oval, Hobart
4:30 AM
9:00 AM
11:00 PM (29-Jan-25)

South Australia Scorpions v Queensland Fire
Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide
5:00 AM
9:30 AM
11:30 PM (29-Jan-25)

01-Feb-25
Tasmania Tigers v ACT Meteors
Bellerive Oval, Hobart
4:30 AM
9:00 AM
11:00 PM (31-Jan-25)

07-Feb-25
New South Wales v South Australia Scorpions
Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney
4:30 AM
9:00 AM
11:00 PM (06-Feb-25)

ACT Meteors v Western Australia
Solar Park, Canberra
4:30 AM
9:00 AM
11:00 PM (06-Feb-25)

Victoria v Queensland Fire
CitiPower Center, Melbourne
4:30 AM
9:00 AM
11:00 PM (06-Feb-25)

09-Feb-25
New South Wales v South Australia Scorpions
Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney
4:30 AM
9:00 AM
11:00 PM (08-Feb-25)

ACT Meteors v Western Australia
Solar Park, Canberra
4:30 AM
9:00 AM
11:00 PM (08-Feb-25)

Victoria v Queensland Fire
CitiPower Center, Melbourne
4:30 AM
9:00 AM
11:00 PM (08-Feb-25)

19-Feb-25
New South Wales v ACT Meteors
Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney
4:30 AM
9:00 AM
11:00 PM (18-Feb-25)

Tasmania Tigers v Victoria
Bellerive Oval, Hobart
4:30 AM
9:00 AM
11:00 PM (18-Feb-25)

Western Australia v South Australia Scorpions
WACA Ground, Perth
7:30 AM
10:00 AM
2:00 AM

21-Feb-25
New South Wales v ACT Meteors
Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney
4:30 AM
9:00 AM
11:00 PM (20-Feb-25)

Western Australia v South Australia Scorpions
WACA Ground, Perth
7:30 AM
10:00 AM
2:00 AM

Tasmania Tigers v Victoria
Bellerive Oval, Hobart
8:30 AM
1:00 PM
3:00 AM

02-Mar-25
TBC v TBC (Final)
TBC
4:30 AM
TBC
11:00 PM (01-Mar-25)

Broadcast and Live Streaming details:

Every match of the 2024-25 Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL) will be live-streamed for free to fans across Australia via cricket.com.au and the CA Live app, providing seamless access to all the on-field action. For those who prefer watching on larger screens or missed the live action, all matches will also be streamed on Kayo Sports, with full match replays available for convenience. Beyond streaming, fans can stay updated with live ball-by-ball scoring on cricket.com.au and the CA Live app.

Also READ: Here is why England players will miss the later stages of Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 2024

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

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