England batter Sophia Dunkley and Australia captain Sophie Molineux are the most expensive players registered for the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2027 mini auction, with both setting their base price at INR 50 lakh.
A total of 146 players will compete for 27 available slots at the auction, scheduled to take place in Kochi on October 28. Dunkley and Molineux are the only players to have registered at the maximum permitted base price, making them two of the biggest names to watch when franchises begin bidding.
Four players have registered at the second-highest base price of INR 40 lakh: G Kamalini, Kiran Navgire, Heather Graham and Jess Jonassen. Kamalini was released by Mumbai Indians, while Navgire was released by UP Warriorz.
Another 30 players have registered at a base price of INR 30 lakh, including several established international cricketers.
Among them are Australia all-rounder Grace Harris, Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu, South Africa left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba and South African all-rounder Chloe Tryon.
Molineux was part of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s title-winning squad in 2024, taking 12 wickets in 10 matches at an economy rate of 7.31. RCB retained her for the 2025 season, but a knee injury ruled her out of the campaign.
Dunkley previously represented Gujarat Giants in the inaugural WPL season in 2023. She opted not to register for the 2024 auction and went unsold in 2025.
Both players will hope their experience and international performances attract strong interest from franchises looking to strengthen their squads. However, their final auction prices will depend on bidding, and their base prices do not guarantee the amounts they will receive.
The auction features 119 Indian players, including 22 capped and 97 uncapped cricketers. Franchises have 20 slots available for Indian players.
The overseas pool contains 27 players, comprising 14 capped and 13 uncapped cricketers. Six players represent Associate nations, with seven overseas slots available across the franchises.
UP Warriorz, who released nine players, will enter the auction with the largest available purse of INR 3.75 crore.
West Indies all-rounder Deandra Dottin, released by UP Warriorz, and Australia legspinner Alana King, released by Delhi Capitals, are among the notable absentees. Lizelle Lee, Delhi Capitals’ leading run-scorer last season, has also not registered after being released.
England have only two players on the auction list: Dunkley and Kira Chathli, whose base price is INR 10 lakh. Several other prominent English players, including Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Alice Capsey, Dani Gibson, Lauren Filer and Linsey Smith, have opted out.
England are reportedly likely to play three T20Is in Sri Lanka in early February, which would overlap with the final week of the WPL. International commitments and financial considerations may have influenced the decisions of players who chose not to register.
The WPL 2027 mini auction will give franchises a chance to add experienced international stars and emerging domestic talent before the new season.
