Top 5 Women World Cup Stars to be featured in WPL Auction 2026

The WPL 2026 mega auction might be a big turning point in the league’s journey, as all five franchises prepare for a massive squad overhaul. The player auction is scheduled to kick off on November 27, beginning at 3:30 PM, with New Delhi set to host the event. This year, teams have been allowed to retain up to five players with clear limits on capped Indians, overseas stars, and uncapped Indians.

If a franchise opts to keep all five, at least one must be an uncapped Indian. A full set of five retentions results in a total deduction of ₹9.25 crore from the standard ₹15-crore purse. This year, the spotlight naturally falls on several standout performers from the recently concluded Women’s Cricket World Cup. Among these World Cup heroes, let's have a look at the top Women's World Cup Stars to be featured in the WPL auction.

List of Women's World Cup Stars in WPL Auction

Some of the standout stars from the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 will go under the hammer during the WPL auction 2026. Players like Deepti Sharma were India’s all-round powerhouse, scoring crucial runs and taking key wickets, earning Player of the Tournament.

Alyssa Healy dominated for Australia with her batting, while Laura Wolvaardt, who is among the best women cricketers, was South Africa’s most consistent run-scorer, taking her side to the finals of the tournament. Amelia Kerr made her mark with spin and handy contributions with the bat for New Zealand while Sophie Ecclestone emerged as England’s leading wicket-taker. All these marquee players are expected to get massive bidding during the mega auction.

Top 5 World Cup Stars in WPL Auction 2026

There were some shocking releases made by the WPL franchises ahead of the auction. Some key players like Deepti Sharma, Alyssa Healy, Laura Wolvaardt, Amelia Kerr and Sophie Ecclestone are expected to grab a handful during the mega auction as they are genuine matchwinners and have leadership experience.

5. Sophie Ecclestone | England

The England left-arm spinner and one of the most consistent wicket-takers in the league, Sophie Ecclestone, was released by UP Warriorz. With the introduction of Right-to-Match (RTM) cards, the franchise now holds four RTMs and a ₹14.5 crore auction purse, giving them the flexibility to bring her back if they choose. Ecclestone’s track record in the WPL is impressive; she has taken 36 wickets in 25 matches while maintaining an economy of around 6.68.

4. Amelia Kerr | New Zealand

Amelia Kerr, the New Zealand all-rounder known for her leg-spin and powerful finishing with the bat, will feature in the WPL 2026 mega auction. The Mumbai Indians chose not to retain her, despite her being a key overseas all-rounder. Several franchises are expected to bid aggressively for Amelia Kerr, as she offers the rare combination of wicket-taking ability and lower-order firepower.

3. Laura Wolvaardt | South Africa

Proteas skipper, Laura Wolvaardt, was recently released by the Gujarat Giants ahead of the WPL 2026 mega auction. Despite her outstanding performances, including being the top run-scorer in the recent ODI World Cup, the franchise made the tough decision due to retention rules that allow only two overseas players per team. Gujarat chose to retain Australians Beth Mooney and Ashleigh Gardner, freeing up auction funds and flexibility for the team’s rebuild. Wolvaardt is now part of the marquee player pool for the upcoming auction, with a base price of ₹30 lakh.

2. Alyssa Healy | Australia

Alyssa Healy WPL team can be one of the most trending topics during the WPL auction. The Aussie skipper was recently released by the UP Warriorz ahead of the WPL 2026 mega auction. Alyssa Healy WPL auction buzz is expected to be intense with several franchises eyeing to include her in the team.

Despite being a marquee player and one of the most explosive batters in women’s cricket, the franchise decided to let her go as part of a larger strategy to rebuild the team from scratch. UP Warriorz retained only one player, Shweta Sehrawat, freeing up a ₹14.5 crore purse and four Right-to-Match (RTM) cards for the auction.

1. Deepti Sharma | India

Deepti Sharma WPL team is not fixed yet and it remains to be seen which team she joins next. India's star all-rounder, after a stellar World Cup where she scored 215 runs and took 22 wickets, was named Player of the Tournament. Deepti Sharma WPL Auction release was the most talked-about thing ahead of the mega event. In a surprising move, her franchise UP Warriorz chose not to retain her, and the team now has ₹14.5 crore in their budget and four Right-to-Match (RTM) cards, leaving the door open to potentially bringing her back.