The Hundred auction 2026 - Women's Hundred auction signals new dawn in English cricket A historic six-hour auction under the iconic LED screens of London’s Piccadilly Circus marked the dawn of a new era for women’s cricket in England. Newly formed franchises, backed by private investors, spent around £4 million to secure top talent, transforming players into some of the highest-paid female athletes in the UK. The event, part of The Hundred’s 2026 season, saw teams bid aggressively for star players, with several young athletes earning six-figure contracts for a tournament that spans just four weeks. The auction followed a major restructuring of the tournament, which transitioned from a draft system to a franchise model. Eight teams, now owned by external investors, have doubled their salary caps for the women’s competition to £880,000, surpassing the WBBL in pay and approaching the levels of the WPL. The influx of private capital has already helped clear debts for several county cricket clubs, with players now reaping the rewards of this financial shift. Among the standout deals was Dani Gibson’s £190,000 contract with Sunrisers Leeds, a record for an English player. Gibson, a 24-year-old batter, had been sidelined for a year due to a back injury but was seen as a high-value asset due to her potential. “I’m still in shock,” she said after the auction, describing the experience as overwhelming. Her coach, Adi Birrell, emphasized that Gibson’s deal was a top priority, highlighting her importance to the team’s strategy. The auction also brought significant attention to young, untested talent. Tilly Corteen-Coleman, an 18-year-old left-arm spinner without an international cap, was sold to Southern Brave for £105,000—a sevenfold increase from the £15,000 deals signed in 2019.#sophie_devine #the_hundred #piccadilly_circus #sunrisers_leeds #trent_rockets
