Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 mega auction unfolded dramatically in New Delhi on November 27, 2025, drawing global attention to 277 players vying for 73 slots across five franchises. Teams entered with varied purses—UP Warriorz boasting the largest at ₹14.5 crore and four Right to Match (RTM) cards—setting the stage for intense bidding wars on marquee talents like Deepti Sharma and Sophie Ecclestone. This first mega auction since the league’s inception promised squad overhauls, with only 17 players retained beforehand, amplifying the stakes for emerging stars and veterans alike.​

Alyssa Healy’s shocking unsold status sparks outrage

Australia captain Alyssa Healythe marquee set’s opening name with a ₹50 lakh base price, stunned the cricket world by going unsold in the first round, leaving fans in disbelief across social media. Previously UP Warriorz’s designated leader, Healy’s absence from the 2025 season due to a foot injury, coupled with recent calf concerns during the Women’s World Cup, appeared to deter franchises amid fitness uncertainties.

Despite her impressive WPL record of 428 runs in 17 matches at a 130.49 strike rate and leadership pedigree as a six-time World Cup winner, no bids materialized, prompting widespread reactions labeling it a “massive oversight” and speculation on her accelerated auction return.​

Here’s how fans reacted:

UP Warriorz splurge on Deepti Sharma’s RTM return

In stark contrast, UP Warriorz decisively exercised their first RTM card to reclaim Indian all-rounder Deepti for a staggering ₹3.2 crore after Delhi Capitals drove the bidding from her ₹50 lakh base to that peak. The World Cup 2025 Player of the Tournament, fresh off 215 runs and 22 wickets internationally, marks the second-highest WPL auction price ever, underscoring her value as a local hero from Uttar Pradesh entering her fourth season with the franchise. This move bolsters UPW’s squad alongside retained Shweta Sehrawatsignaling aggressive rebuilding with three RTMs remaining and ample purse left.​

Healy’s snub highlights franchises’ risk-averse strategies favoring form and fitness, while Deepti’s windfall reflects the premium on versatile Indian performers amid WPL’s rising competitiveness. As the auction progresses, eyes remain on whether Healy finds a suitor and how these early shocks reshape title contenders.​

This article was first published at WomenCricket.coma Read company.