Cricket Victoria has announced its women’s contract list for the 2025-26 WNCL season, with this year’s squad headlined by the return of experienced Molly Strano. This contract also highlights a strategic mix of seasonal and promising players.
After a challenging season in 2024, Victoria Women’s cricket team is poised for a resurgence this year. Last year Victoria faced difficulties finishing outside the top four with a record even of 6 loses and 6 wins, placing them fifth on the points table. The team struggled with consistency, particularly in the absence of key players due to international commitments.
Strano, the three-time WNCL winner and former Australian international, captured an impressive 66 wickets across 44 matches with Tasmania, since moving from Victoria after the concluding season of 2020-21. She brings in a wealth of experience, leadership and winning pedigree, and she proves to be a crucial asset for Andy Christie’s side, as Victoria looks to continue its growth from last season.
Strano’s valuable addition to the bowling unit will be crucial for Victoria, alongside Sophie Day, Ella Hayward, Georgia Prestwidge, Milly Illingworth, Rhys McKenna and Tess Flintoff. Young Flintoff impressed last season, racking up 330 runs and picking up 8 wickets, thus receiving her first Australian contract.
Tess Flintoff stands amongst six Victorians with Australian contracts, joining Kim Garth, Sophie Molineux, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham and reigning Belinda Clark medallist, Annabel Sutherland.
Backing up Victoria’s seasoned squad, young guns Samara Dulvin and Indigo Noble have been handed full state contracts after standout seasons in Premier Cricket with Ringwood and Melbourne Cricket Club, respectively.
Meanwhile, Mia Perrin from Geelong Cricket Club earned her maiden contract, with selection as a rookie for the upcoming season. The return of Strano, combined with the emergence of young talents like Samara Dulvin and Indigo Noble, who have been rewarded with full state contracts for their outstanding Premier Cricket performances, signals a new era for the team. However, Poppy Gardner and Jas Nevins were not offered contracts.
“We’re incredibly proud of the contribution Victorian cricket continues to make on the national stage and the strides our squad made last season, not just with results, but the way they’ve continued to grow as athletes. To see players like Tess Flintoff and Ella Hayward rewarded for their performance has been really pleasing and reflects the strength of our pathways and the success of our coaching and development system.
“We’re really looking forward to having Molly Strano back to the squad. Molly bleeds navy blue and to see talents like Samara and Indigo stepping up and earning full state contracts is an endorsement of what we’re doing. Combined, the squad blends high-level experience with exciting youth, ensuring we’re building a squad with the depth, versatility and long-term potential to achieve sustained success for Victorian women’s cricket,” expressed Graham Manou, the Victorian General Manager of Cricket Performance.
Victorian Women’s Squad of 2025/26 Season:
State Contracts
Sophie Day, Samara Dulvin, Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff*, Kim Garth*, Hasrat Gill, Ella Hayward, Olivia Henry, Milly Illingworth, Meg Lanning, Rhys McKenna, Sophie Molineux*, Sasha Moloney, Indigo Noble, Georgia Prestwidge, Sophie Reid, Annabel Sutherland*, Molly Strano, Tayla Vlaeminck*, Georgia Wareham*
Rookie Player Contract
Mia Perrin (Geelong)
*Denotes Australian contracted player
It is to be noted that Ellyse Perry who has been with Victoria since 2018 has decided to return to her home state of New South Wales for this upcoming season and Sara Kennedy has moved to Tasmania. During Perry’s tenure with Victoria, she made significant contributions, amassing 1,052 runs and taking 13 wickets in 20 WNCL matches. Her departure marks the end of a notable chapter in Victoria’s history.
