The 2026 edition of the Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) has locked in its full roster of domestic players after the conclusion of its annual player draft, marking a major milestone as the tournament enters an exciting new era of expansion.
This year, top-tier women’s cricket in the Caribbean grows from three competing franchises to four, with the newly formed Jamaica Empress making its debut in the tournament. To accommodate the arrival of the expansion side, league organizers adjusted the traditional draft structure to ensure fair team building across all four competing units.
Under the revised framework, each franchise was first allocated one designated Heritage player, a standout domestic talent drawn from the franchise’s home territory. That allocation saw Barbados Tridents secure Hayley Matthews, the region’s globally recognized star all-rounder, while Jamaica Empress claimed Chinelle Henry, Guyana Amazon Warriors locked in Shemaine Campbelle, and Trinbago Knight Riders earned Karishma Ramharack.
Following the Heritage player allocation, the three returning, established franchises were given the opportunity to protect two additional domestic players from their 2025 tournament rosters, locking in key core talent ahead of the open selection round. After that protection phase concluded, new entrant Jamaica Empress selected two players from the remaining available domestic pool, picking up veteran star Stafanie Taylor and all-rounder Aaliyah Alleyne to build its initial foundation.
After the completion of the early protection and selection phases, the draft moved into its final round to fill out the full local roster for each side. The full confirmed local squads for 2026 are:
– **Barbados Tridents**: Hayley Matthews, Qiana Joseph, Afy Fletcher, Shawnisha Hector, Shabika Gajnabi, Mandy Mangru, Cherry-Ann Fraser, Naijanni Cumberbatch, Asabi Callender, Amrita Ramtahal
– **Jamaica Empress**: Chinelle Henry, Stafanie Taylor, Aaliyah Alleyne, Rashada Williams, Zaida James, Djenaba Joseph, Kate Wilmott, Celina Whyte, Abigail Bryce, Shriya Jairam
– **Guyana Amazon Warriors**: Shemaine Campbelle, Realeanna Grimmond, Ashmini Munisar, Shamilia Connell, Eboni Brathwaite, Sheneta Grimmond, Chedean Nation, Reniece Boyce, Latoya Williams, Tilleya Madramootoo
– **Trinbago Knight Riders**: Karishma Ramharack, Deandra Dottin, Jahzara Claxton, Jannillea Glasgow, Steffie Soogrim, Earnisha Fontaine, Samara Ramnath, Ameila Khan, Brianna Harricharan, Sainavi Kambalapalli
Each franchise will next add five overseas international players to reach the tournament’s 15-player squad limit for the 2026 season. In a notable rule change for this edition, all five signed overseas players will be eligible for selection in each match’s starting playing XI, giving team management far greater tactical flexibility throughout the tournament. The full list of signed international players is set to be announced in the coming weeks.
Beyond on-field roster changes, the 2026 WCPL has launched a refreshed brand identity centered on three core values: female empowerment, competitive ambition, and deep community connection. These values are brought to life through the league’s new creative platform, “She’s In”, which will be promoted via a targeted advertising campaign across women-focused social media channels throughout the Caribbean.
As the region’s premier professional women’s cricket competition, WCPL was reimagined for the 2026 season with a clear mission: to celebrate, empower, and elevate Caribbean women through sport, while providing a world-class stage for the region’s most talented female cricketers to showcase their skills. Beyond elite cricket action, the league integrates family-friendly matchday experiences, youth cricket development programs, public health and wellness initiatives, and business opportunities for female entrepreneurs across the region. The “She’s In” campaign specifically aims to inspire the next generation of Caribbean girls and young women, proving that there is a space for them at the highest levels of competitive sport.
The 2026 WCPL will be hosted as a centralized cricket festival across the first two weeks of September, with all matches taking place in Barbados. Looking forward, league leadership has laid out long-term ambitions for global expansion, with plans to eventually welcome teams from outside the Caribbean as it works to establish itself as a truly elite international women’s cricket competition.