Sydney Sixers look best placed, with Perth Scorchers and Melbourne Stars next in line behind them. Hobart Hurricanes won their first crown in December, and Perth were beaten in the decider, with Hobart winning by eight wickets. Since then they have lost a captain and key overseas talent, and the gap to their rivals has narrowed. The new season begins on Thursday 29 October, and the ranking below weighs rivals on squads, signings and the changes inside the champions’ own camp.
The Champions Face a Rebuild
Hobart topped the ladder in WBBL 11 with seven wins from ten matches, collecting 15 points, then lifted the trophy in the final. Danni Wyatt-Hodge made 432 runs, averaging 48, while Heather Graham took 16 wickets and Linsey Smith 15. That core remains, and a side balanced between bat and ball rarely falls apart over one winter, which is why the Hurricanes are still dangerous.
The departures are heavier than the arrivals. Captain Elyse Villani has retired, Natalie Sciver-Brunt is not returning, and Kathryn Bryce has left. Chinelle Henry and Ella Hayward come in, but nobody had been announced as the new captain by 23 October, and in a competition this tight an open captaincy matters.
WBBL 12 title favourites Hobart Hurricanes
Hobart remain a contender, though the ranking here has Sydney Sixers on top, Perth Scorchers behind them and Melbourne Stars completing the podium. The Hurricanes’ own supporting cast narrows the gap, but the additions elsewhere have been bigger than theirs, and that decides the order.
On 29 October Hobart play the Stars at Junction Oval, with a 7:10 pm AEDT start, the first T20 under lights at that ground. Their one confirmed home fixture so far is at Ninja Stadium on 4 November against Melbourne Renegades, and the trip to Perth’s WACA comes on 27 November. An early look at the Stars and Perth will show quickly how much the champions have lost.
Squads and Signings That Shift the Balance
Sarah Coyte, Alice Capsey and Maddy Darke arrive at Sydney, while Perry, Kerr and Dunkley stay. Perry’s tally was 412 runs, averaging 51.5, and captain Ashleigh Gardner claimed 19 wickets while rating the group as the strongest in years. Against that, Mady Villiers has gone, and Alyssa Healy has retired.
Those numbers show the quality of the core, and the signings add depth where Healy and Villiers leave gaps. That balance of experience and fresh arrivals is why the Sixers lead this ranking, with the table below setting out the main movement across the league and the clubs that have lost most.
Team | Main Additions | Main Departures |
|---|---|---|
Sydney Sixers | Alice Capsey, Maddy Darke, Sarah Coyte | Alyssa Healy, Mady Villiers |
Perth Scorchers | Sophie Devine re-signed | Maddy Darke |
Melbourne Stars | Charlie Dean | Marizanne Kapp |
Hobart Hurricanes | Chinelle Henry, Ella Hayward | Elyse Villani, Natalie Sciver-Brunt, Kathryn Bryce |
Adelaide Strikers | Maia Bouchier | None reported |
Brisbane Heat | None reported | Chinelle Henry |
Perth and the Chasing Pack
Perth keep Beth Mooney, last season’s leading run-scorer with 549, along with Sophie Devine, who has signed again for a year, and Freya Kemp. Darke’s move to the Sixers is the notable loss. The Stars have Meg Lanning, a 479-run scorer last season, as captain, and Charlie Dean replaces Marizanne Kapp.
Adelaide have signed Maia Bouchier to sit alongside Laura Wolvaardt and Sophie Ecclestone, which gives their batting order real quality. Brisbane failed to win a single game in ten last season and have since lost Henry to Hobart, so they look the furthest from a challenge.
A Season With Room for Surprises
Three different sides have lifted the trophy in the last three seasons: Adelaide Strikers, Melbourne Renegades and then Hobart. Before winning, Hobart had ended sixth and then fourth, and last season only two points separated them from the second-placed Sixers. Hobart and Brisbane are among the clubs still without a settled captain, so uncertainty runs through the whole field.
A 43-game season culminates in a 5 December final, and the finalist that finishes higher on the ladder gets to host it. That reward makes a strong league campaign valuable, and the WBBL 12 title favourites Hobart Hurricanes debate will be settled by who finds consistency first. Teams that start fast will be the ones hosting in December.
Which side do you back to stop Hobart from repeating, the Sixers or someone else? Tell us in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which team won the previous WBBL season?
Hobart Hurricanes took the crown for the first time. Perth Scorchers lost the 13 December 2025 final by eight wickets, after Hobart had topped the ladder with 15 points.
When is the opening day of WBBL 12?
It starts on Thursday 29 October with two matches at Junction Oval. Renegades meet Thunder first, and then the Stars play the Hurricanes in the second game of the night.
Which side has the strongest squad this season?
Sydney Sixers look strongest on signings and returning stars. That is my reading rather than an official table, built on the additions of Capsey, Darke and Coyte and the retention of Perry, Kerr and Dunkley.
How can fans watch WBBL matches live?
Every match is available on Kayo Sports and Foxtel in Australia. Free-to-air coverage on Seven and 7plus covers 20 league games plus all of the finals, so casual viewers are covered too.
How many sides take part in the WBBL?
There are currently eight teams in the competition. They are Adelaide Strikers, Brisbane Heat, Hobart Hurricanes, Melbourne Renegades, Melbourne Stars, Perth Scorchers, Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder.