Women Cricketers Become UK's Highest-Paid Female Athletes

Twenty-four-year-old Danielle Gibson just became one of the UK's highest-paid sportswomen with a £190,000 cricket contract. She's not alone.

The Hundred cricket league held its first-ever auction this week in London, and the results are making history for women's sports. Three English players, including 18-year-old spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman, signed deals exceeding £100,000.

The transformation happened quickly. Just five years ago in 2021, the highest salary available to women in the Hundred was £15,000. Now, after private investors bought stakes in all eight teams last year for more than £500 million, that money is flowing directly to the players.

Corteen-Coleman's journey captures the moment perfectly. Last year, the teenage spinner earned £12,500. This week, she signed for £105,000, an eight-fold increase that reflects her talent and the league's new investment power.

Other British stars also cashed in. Pace bowler Issy Wong, 23, secured £130,000 from Southern Brave. Spinner Linsey Smith, all-rounder Em Arlott, and batter Paige Scholfield all topped six figures too.

International stars commanded even bigger fees. Australian wicketkeeper Beth Mooney and former New Zealand captain Sophie Devine both signed for £210,000, while England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt earned £140,000 in pre-auction negotiations.

The Ripple Effect

The Hundred is now the second most lucrative women's cricket league globally, behind only India's Women's Premier League. Each team has £880,000 to build their squad, creating opportunities across the board.

Some franchises expect to break even within two years, proving that investing in women's sports isn't just the right thing to do. It's good business too.

The auction model attracted some criticism for creating salary gaps between top and bottom earners. The lowest base price remains £15,000, which some argue creates too much disparity compared to the previous draft system.

But the overall investment tells a powerful story. The eight franchises are putting £7.2 million into women's salaries for 2026 alone. That's real money backing real talent in a sport where women have historically been paid a fraction of their male counterparts.

For young athletes watching from home, the message is clear: professional women's sports can offer genuine career opportunities. Gibson, Wong, and Corteen-Coleman aren't just playing for passion anymore.

Women's cricket in Britain just proved that equal investment creates equal opportunity, and everyone wins.