Sunrisers Leeds Women 2026 Squad & Schedule: The Hundred Fixtures, Dani Gibson & Defending Champions

Sunrisers Leeds Women 2026: Defending Champions, a New Captain, and the Squad Chasing Back-to-Back Titles

Q: Why are Sunrisers Leeds Women called that and not Northern Superchargers?

The team formerly known as the Northern Superchargers were rebranded to Sunrisers Leeds ahead of the 2026 season. It followed the England and Wales Cricket Board's sale of equity stakes in Hundred franchises to private investors — including IPL franchise owners. The Sun Group, owned by Kalanithi Maran and the same family behind the Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL franchise, took a controlling stake in the Leeds-based team and rebranded it in line with the global "Sunrisers" identity. Two other franchises were rebranded at the same time — the Oval Invincibles became MI London, and Manchester Originals became Manchester Super Giants. Sunrisers Leeds still play their home games at Headingley in Leeds, the same iconic ground the Superchargers called home.

Q: How did Sunrisers Leeds Women perform last season?

They won it. The Sunrisers Leeds women's team — competing as Northern Superchargers in 2025 — won their first-ever Hundred Women's championship. Annabel Sutherland was named Player of the Match in the final for her all-round performance. The title was the culmination of years of building at Headingley, and it means Sunrisers Leeds enter the 2026 season as defending women's champions. They open their title defence on the tournament's opening day, July 21, against MI London at the Kia Oval — a marquee curtain-raiser between two of the competition's biggest franchises.

The New Era

The Hundred has entered a genuinely new chapter in 2026. The March 2026 auction replaced the old draft system with IPL-style bidding wars, and Sunrisers Leeds made a statement — signing England all-rounder Dani Gibson for £190,000, the most expensive women's pick in the auction. Gibson doesn't just join the squad; she captains it.

The rebrand from Northern Superchargers to Sunrisers Leeds is about more than a name. It is about carrying a championship legacy forward under a global identity, with the resources and ambition that IPL ownership brings. The 100-ball format remains the same — 100 balls per side, fast, frenetic, easy to follow — but the stakes and the investment have never been higher.

The Coach and Captain

Head Coach: Adrian Birrell The experienced South African coach was appointed for the 2026 season, replacing Lisa Keightley. Birrell brings a wealth of international coaching experience and takes charge of a squad that already knows how to win — his job is to guide the defending champions to back-to-back titles under their new identity.

Captain: Dani Gibson The England all-rounder was the most expensive signing in the women's auction at £190,000 and will skipper Sunrisers Leeds in 2026. Gibson leads a squad packed with World Cup-winning experience and international quality. Her leadership, combined with her genuine all-round ability, makes her one of the most important figures in the entire tournament.

The Squad

Key Players to Watch

Phoebe Litchfield

The Australian top-order batter is one of the most exciting young talents in world cricket. Litchfield's elegant left-handed strokeplay and ability to accelerate through the middle overs make her the fulcrum of the Sunrisers batting order. Fresh off Australia's T20 World Cup triumph, she arrives with the confidence and form of a champion.

Annabel Sutherland

The Player of the Match in the 2025 final. Sutherland is one of the best all-rounders in the world — her pace bowling takes wickets in every phase and her batting can rebuild or accelerate an innings. She was part of Australia's T20 World Cup-winning side and brings that big-match temperament to Headingley. When Sutherland performs, Sunrisers win.

Dani Gibson

The captain and record signing. Gibson's all-round ability — aggressive middle-order batting and useful medium pace — gives Sunrisers flexibility in every game. But it is her leadership that matters most. Leading the defending champions under a new identity, with a £190,000 price tag and the weight of expectation, is a significant challenge she is well equipped to handle.

Deepti Sharma

One of the best spin-bowling all-rounders in the world. The India star's off-spin is a wicket-taking threat through the middle overs and her lower-order batting adds crucial depth. Deepti's experience in high-pressure global tournaments makes her invaluable in the knockout stages.

Jess Jonassen

The Australian left-arm spinner is a control-and-wickets specialist. In a format where every ball counts, Jonassen's ability to slow the run rate and take wickets when the opposition is trying to accelerate is enormously valuable. Her lower-order hitting is a bonus.

Kate Cross

The England fast bowler leads the Sunrisers pace attack. Cross's ability to take wickets with the new ball and execute at the death gives Sunrisers a genuine seam threat in all conditions. Her experience and consistency make her the anchor of the bowling unit.

Sunrisers Leeds Women's Full Schedule — The Hundred 2026

Sunrisers Leeds Women play eight league-stage matches — meeting six sides once and their local rivals twice. All fixtures are double-headers, with the women's game preceding the men's fixture at the same venue.

Timezone guide: All match times are BST (British Summer Time, UTC+1). IST = UTC+5:30. ET = UTC-4 (July-August).

Exact dates and times for the back end of the group stage are subject to final confirmation by The Hundred. The opening fixture against MI London at the Kia Oval on July 21 is locked in as the tournament curtain-raiser.

The Format and What Sunrisers Need to Do

The Hundred runs from July 21 to August 16, 2026. Each team plays eight league-stage matches. The team finishing top of the table qualifies directly for the Final at Lord's on August 16. The second and third-placed teams meet in the Eliminator on August 14 for the remaining place in the title clash.

Sunrisers Leeds open their title defence against MI London at the Kia Oval on opening day — a genuine test against one of the tournament's most storied franchises. As defending champions, they carry a target on their backs. Every opponent will be desperate to knock them off their perch.

But the squad is built to defend the crown. Litchfield and Sutherland give them two Australian World Cup winners at the top and in the middle. Deepti Sharma and Jess Jonassen provide world-class spin. Kate Cross leads a capable pace attack. And Dani Gibson brings the leadership and all-round quality to hold it all together.

The name is new. The champions are the same. Sunrisers Leeds Women are built to win back-to-back.

📋 Download the Full Sunrisers Leeds Women Squad PDF

All players, roles, and the complete Hundred 2026 fixture list in one printable page.

⬇ Download Sunrisers Leeds Women 2026 Squad PDF

📋 Download the Full Sunrisers Leeds Women Schedule PDF

All Dates, Opponent, and the Venue Hundred 2026 fixture list in one printable page.

⬇ Download Sunrisers Leeds Women 2026 Schedule PDF

📋 View The Hundred's 2026 Women's Complete Guide

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