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Sophie Devine Tops Women's Hundred Auction with Record £210,000 Deal

New Zealand all-rounder Sophie Devine expressed feeling "privileged and grateful" after being bought for £210,000, the highest bid in the inaugural Women's Hundred player auction. She reflected on the remarkable growth of the women's game, contrasting it with earning minimal amounts at the start of her career. The record bids follow a major financial boost for the tournament, with team salary caps doubling due to new private investment. Devine, who recently stepped down as New Zealand's T20 captain, will now play for Welsh Fire.

Key Points: Sophie Devine Gets £210K, Top Bid in Women's Hundred Auction

  • Record £210,000 bid for Sophie Devine
  • Beth Mooney also valued at same price
  • Salaries reflect doubled franchise salary cap
  • Devine recently stepped down as NZ T20 captain
2 min read

"I'm privileged and grateful:" Sophie Devine after topping Women's Hundred auction with £210,000 deal

New Zealand's Sophie Devine expresses gratitude after fetching a record £210,000 in The Hundred auction, highlighting the growth of women's cricket.

"I'm certainly really privileged and grateful for the opportunity and to be snapped up. - Sophie Devine"

New Delhi, March 13

Sophie Devine, the 36-year-old New Zealand all-rounder, has been valued at £210,000, the highest bid in the inaugural Women's Hundred auction, alongside Australia's Beth Mooney, reflecting on the growth of women's cricket.

Devine, who recently stepped down as New Zealand's T20 captain, expressed her pride in being part of this growth, saying, "I am privileged and grateful for the opportunity and to be snapped up."

"Look, certainly exceeded expectations by a fair stretch. The really cool thing for me is just to see where the women's game's gone, from back when I first started, and you got paid 30 bucks for a weekend, to some of the money that was getting thrown around. So, look, I'm certainly really privileged and grateful for the opportunity and to be snapped up," Devine said as per ESPNcricinfo.

"But more importantly, to see where the women's game's got to... It's hard to believe that it's got to this point, and it's only going to continue to get better. So, yeah, really grateful and humbled. I'm sure I've already had about five or six people come up to me saying it's my shout for the rest of my life. So, yeah, I think it's all good. But for me, it's a really proud moment for the women's game," she added.

Devine, who recently stepped down as New Zealand's T20 captain after leading the side to victory in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024, will now feature for Welsh Fire as she enters the later stage of her career at 36. She also retired from One-Day Internationals late last year.

The significant rise in player salaries comes after the salary cap for women's teams in the Hundred doubled to £880,000 per franchise. The increase follows new private investment in the tournament, which has brought external investors into ownership or co-ownership roles across all eight teams.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
£210,000! That's a life-changing amount. From "30 bucks for a weekend" to this... what a journey. Hope the BCCI is taking notes. Our women cricketers like Harmanpreet and Smriti deserve similar big-money leagues and recognition.
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Aman W
Good for her, she seems humble about it. But let's be real, this is still peanuts compared to what the men get in the IPL. The gap is closing, but there's a long road ahead for true pay parity in cricket.
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Sarah B
As a cricket fan living in Delhi, this makes me so happy. The Women's Premier League (WPL) is also doing great things. This global rise in investment creates more opportunities and better competition. The future is bright!
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Karthik V
She's 36 and getting the top bid! That's respect for experience and skill. In India, we sometimes focus too much on youth. Veterans like Jhulan Goswami paved the way; their value is immense.
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Nisha Z
"I'm sure I've already had about five or six people come up to me saying it's my shout for the rest of my life." 😂 Relatable! On a serious note, this financial security is crucial. Athletes have short careers. This allows them to focus purely on the game.

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