Cricket has become the first sport in Australia to break the six-figure wage mark for domestic female athletes with players earning an average of $151,000 beginning next season.
In what will be the most lucrative team sport for Australian women, it will see a 66% increase in payments.
Announced today, a five-year MOU agreement between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers' Association will see the WBBL salary cap double, further improvements in parental leave policy and an increase in retirement support.
Under the agreement, women players will share $133 million, increasing from $80 million. This will reward all WBBL and state-contracted female players.
As the WBBL salary cap has doubled, each team will now have $732,000 to spend each year, with the top players earning up to $133,000. The average WBBL player's retainer will increase by 30% to $26,900.
Improving the Parental Leave Policy, the agreement will help cover match fees foregone and introduce flexibility and support.
“We are delighted to have reached an agreement on behalf of Australian Cricket that fairly rewards professional cricketers, while aligning with our strategy to grow and nurture the game at all levels," CA CEO Nick Hockley said in a media statement provided by Cricket Australia.
"I am particularly pleased this MOU represents another major step forward in the rise of women's cricket, with significant increases in remuneration for the inspirational role models of the world champion Australian Women's team and the WBBL who are driving substantial growth in female participation."
"Cricket now clearly offers the best earning opportunities of any team sport for elite female sportspeople."
