June 23, 2025, marked the draft day for the Women’s Caribbean Premier League. The fourth edition of the Women’s Caribbean Premier League will take place from September 6 to 17, with all games being hosted at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence.
The teams competing will be Barbados Royals, Guyana Amazon Warriors, and Trinbago Knight Riders. Each team will field a 15-player squad, made up of four international players and 11 local cricketers, as they gear up for another exciting season of women’s T20 action in the Caribbean.
The Barbados Royals, reigning champions and two-time title holders, are setting their sights on a historic third consecutive win. They have assembled a formidable squad that blends seasoned international stars with promising Caribbean newcomers.
The Barbados Royals will be captained by West Indies skipper Hayley Matthews, who is eager to lead by example and guide her team to the title. Matthews has been in exceptional form recently, both in franchise and international cricket.
In the 2025 Women’s Premier League (WPL), she played a key role in the Mumbai Indians’ championship run, finishing as the third-highest run-scorer and second only to Amelia Kerr in the Purple Cap (most wickets) standings. Her performances on the international stage have been equally impressive.
Despite the West Indies suffering a clean sweep against England, Matthews was named Player of the Series in the T20Is, leading the batting charts with a century and a half-century.
She continued her excellent run in the recently concluded series against South Africa, notching up match-winning fifties in the second and third T20I after the West Indies lost the opening game. She was named Player of the Match in both victories and secured her second consecutive Player of the Series award.
In addition to their captain, the Barbados Royals have retained key local talents such as Chinelle Henry, Afy Fletcher, and Aaliyah Alleyne. Chinelle Henry made headlines during the 2025 WPL, where she was brought in by the UP Warriorz as a replacement for Alyssa Healy.
She impressed with the bat, scoring 163 runs at a remarkable strike rate close to 200. Her ability to deliver quick runs in the lower middle order was also on display in the series against South Africa. With her all-round capabilities, Henry is expected to be a vital asset in the Royals’ bid for a third consecutive WCPL title.
For the overseas pick, the franchise signed Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu and Georgia Redmayne, who were both vital for last season’s championship run. The Sri Lankan opener has previously been part of 2 WCPL seasons and maintains an average of almost 38.
Other overseas signees are Indian off-spinner Shreyanka Patil, who previously played for the Guyana Amazon Warriors, and Australia’s Courtney Webb. Patil was the highest wicket-taker in the 2023 season, playing for the Amazon Warriors, and would like to repeat another standout performance this year.
The multi-sport athlete Webb has impressed in WBBL (1368 runs from 77 outings, and 10 wickets from 15 innings) and would like to repeat her performances and contribute for Royals with both bat and ball.
Barbados Royals squad for WCPL 2025:
Hayley Matthews, Chinelle Henry, Afy Fletcher, Aaliyah Alleyne, Kycia Knight, Steffie Soogrim, Shamilia Connell, Sheneta Grimmond, Qiana Joseph, Trishan Holder, Naijanni Cumberbatch, Chamari Athapaththu, Georgia Redmayne, Courtney Webb, Shreyanka Patil
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