2023-24 Women's Playing Squad Confirmed

Chloe Ainsworth has been rewarded for her outstanding form across the Alcohol. Think Again Female Premier Cricket and the Under 19s National Championships to receive her first full state contract at the age of 17.

The talented teenager showed her capabilities with bat and ball throughout, scoring 175 runs at 35 and claiming 10 wickets at 15.1 with a best of 3-12 in a tournament-opening win against Tasmania.

Ainsworth made her Women’s National Cricket League debut against the Queensland Fire at the WACA Ground in December, bowling four tidy overs as the home side went on to record a dominant 10-wicket win.

WA have also secured four experienced players on two-year contract extensions, giving the squad added stability.

Reigning Zoë Goss Medallist Chloe Piparo has been rewarded for her brilliant form last summer, with the 30-year-old signing an extension to the end of 2024-25.

Piparo had a standout season with the bat in the WNCL in 2022-23 which saw her finish in the top five run scorers in the competition (513 runs at 51.3) and receive the WNCL Player of the Year Award at last month’s WA Cricket Awards.

Reliable off-spinner Lilly Mills has also pledged her future to WA Cricket off the back of a career-best campaign, finishing fifth on the competition’s leading wicket-takers list with 20 scalps at 24.90 in 14 matches.

Piepa Cleary and Lisa Griffith have also signed for the next two seasons, with the signatures of the experienced pair vital for a young and developing group.

Griffith, who crossed over from New South Wales at the start of the 2021-22 season, made her state debut alongside Ainsworth against Queensland last summer and finished the season playing the final eight WNCL matches, while Cleary continues to be the leader of the bowling attack.

Alana King and Beth Mooney also feature in the squad after being contracted by Cricket Australia, allowing WA to select a 16-player squad for the second straight summer.

Sheldyn Cooper is the only omission from the 2022-23 list after her contract was not renewed.

WA Cricket General Manager – High Performance Kade Harvey was excited by the depth of the list heading into the 2023-24 season.

“We are proud of the list that we have assembled, and we are excited to welcome back almost the entire playing squad from last season.

“Chloe Ainsworth receives her first state contract after dominating Premier Cricket for Melville, we are excited to see how she performs.

“Signing our core senior players on multi-year extensions is fantastic, with their experience proving invaluable to a young and developing group.

“Having Moons and Kingy contracted by Cricket Australia allowed us the opportunity to add some more depth to the playing squad, which will provide much needed flexibility throughout the summer.”

WA Women’s Head Coach Becky Grundy said:

“As a Coach, it’s pleasing to keep a consistent playing squad together.

“The group were able to challenge each other and improve immensely last summer, I am excited to see how this young group can perform next season.

“We know that our best cricket can challenge the top sides in the competition, and we will continue to strive for the consistency that will lead us to success.”