WA Cricket’s Women’s program will enter the 2024-25 domestic season armed with a stable playing list, bolstered by a trio of exciting additions.
WA Women's Squad Locked In For 2024-25
The squad consists of 14 primary State-listed players, as well as Alana King and Beth Mooney, who both hold Cricket Australia contracts.
Twenty-five-year-old Mikayla Hinkley joins from Queensland, where she played 45 Women’s National Cricket League matches over five seasons.
A hard-hitting middle-order batter who possesses match-winning traits, Hinkley tallied 1064 runs at 35.46 including six half-centuries and a powerful century (121 off 141 balls) against WA in March 2022.
Hinkley will be returning to familiar surroundings at the WACA Ground, having represented Perth Scorchers on five occasions during WBBL|03.
WA allrounder Bhavi Devchand returns to the State program for the first time since 2018-19, following a career-best season for Wanneroo in WA Premier Cricket.
A classy top-order batter and capable spin-bowling option, Devchand’s performances earned her a maiden Karen Read Medal as the dominant player in the Female A Grade competition, after compiling 664 runs at 36.88 and 11 wickets across all formats.
The versatility of Hinkley and Devchand will add to the group’s promising batting stocks, which includes prolific wicketkeeper-batter Maddy Darke, two-time Zoe Goss Medallist Amy Edgar and experienced trio Chloe Piparo, Mathilda Carmichael, and Lisa Griffith.
Meantime, exciting teenager Shay Manolini earns a State contract for the first time, having made her WNCL debut against a star-studded Victorian outfit last summer.
A prodigiously talented legspinner, Manolini played four WNCL matches in 2023-24, showcasing excellent control and the ability to turn the ball sharply.
The 19-year-old also impressed during several performances for Midland-Guildford in Premier Cricket, where she played a vital role in her side claiming both T20 and 50-over titles
Ashley Day, Georgia Wyllie, and Poppy Stockwell are the omissions from last season’s contract list.
WA will enter season 2024-25 off the back of six wins from twelve 50-over matches, which saw them finish fourth in the competition standings.
Comments attributable to WA Women’s Head Coach Becky Grundy:
“We’re very happy with the balance of our list, and we believe we’re well placed to build upon our development from last season.
“Securing middle-order batting depth was a massive priority for us, so to add someone with the quality and experience Mikayla possesses, we are absolutely delighted to welcome her into our program.
“Shay is a highly-talented legspinner who showed plenty of promise during her four WNCL matches for us last summer. We can’t wait to see her evolution over the next couple of seasons.
“It’s great to welcome back Bhavi into the fold. She is a wonderful story of perseverance after taking out the Karen Read Medal in WA Premier Cricket last season. She can bat anywhere in the top six and adds valuable experience to our batting group.”
WA Women's Squad For 2024-25
Chloe AINSWORTH
Charis BEKKER
Zoe BRITCLIFFE
Mathilda CARMICHAEL
Piepa CLEARY
Maddy DARKE
Bhavi DEVCHAND (new)
Amy EDGAR
Lisa GRIFFITH
Mikayla HINKLEY (new)
Alana KING (Cricket Australia)
Shay MANOLINI (new)
Lilly MILLS
Beth MOONEY (Cricket Australia)
Taneale PESCHEL
Chloe PIPARO