The Women’s Vitality Blast 2026 gets underway on Friday, 22 May 2026 in England and Wales. This is the second season of the professional Women’s T20 county competition, played in parallel with the men’s Vitality Blast and structured across League One (Tier 1). Below is a complete Vitality Blast Women’s preview covering the full schedule, all nine participating Tier 1 teams, squads, venue details, players to watch, and tournament favourites.
Vitality Blast Women’s 2026 Overview
| Detail | Information |
| Host Nation | England and Wales |
| Match Format | Twenty20 (T20) |
| Total Teams | 9 counties (League One) |
| League One Dates | 22 May to 17 July 2026 |
| League Two Dates | 22 May to 12 July 2026 |
| Finals Day | Friday, 17 July 2026 |
| Finals Venue | The Kia Oval, London |
The Vitality Blast Women’s League One features nine teams in 2026, expanded from eight last season following Yorkshire’s promotion from Tier 2. Each side will play 12 group-stage matches, with the top four progressing to Finals Day at The Kia Oval on Friday 17 July.
Vitality Blast Women’s Participating Teams
- Durham Women
- Essex Women
- Hampshire Hawks Women
- Lancashire Thunder Women
- Somerset Women
- Surrey Women
- The Blaze Women
- Warwickshire Bears Women
- Yorkshire Women
Vitality Blast Women’s Group Stage and Format
The competition features nine county teams in the group stage, with each side playing 12 matches in total (six home, six away). For scheduling balance, teams face four counties twice and four counties once. Points are awarded as 2 for a win, 1 for a tie or no-result, and 0 for a loss.
The top four teams at the end of the group stage advance to Finals Day. Semi-final 1 pits the first-placed team against the fourth, while Semi-final 2 sees second take on third. The winners of both semi-finals meet in the final, with all three knockout matches played at The Kia Oval in London.
| Element | Details |
| Teams | 9 county teams |
| Group Stage | 12 matches per team (6 home, 6 away) |
| Scheduling | Teams play four counties twice and four counties once |
| Points System | 2 for a win, 1 for a tie or no-result, 0 for a loss |
| Knockout Stage | Top 4 teams advance to Finals Day |
| Semi-final 1 | 1st vs 4th |
| Semi-final 2 | 2nd vs 3rd |
| Final | Winners of the two semi-finals |
| Venue | The Kia Oval, London |
Vitality Blast Women’s Tie-Breaker Rules
If scores are tied at the end of a knockout match or final:
- Super Over: Played (one over per side).
- Boundary Count: If the Super Over is also tied, the winner is the team that scored more combined boundaries (sixes and fours) in their original 20-over innings.
Participating Teams and Squads
Durham Women
Captain: Hollie Armitage
Head Coach: Danielle Hazell
Overseas Player: Heather Graham (Australia, full tournament)
| 2025 Season | Detail |
| Finish | 5th |
| Leading run-scorer | Suzie Bates (439) |
| Leading wicket-taker | Katie Levick (13) |
Core Squad
- Batters: Emma Marlow, Emily Windsor, Leah Dobson, Mia Rogers
- All-Rounders: Heather Graham, Mady Villiers, Katherine Fraser, Abigail Glen, Phoebe Turner
- Wicket-Keepers: Bess Heath
- Bowlers: Lauren Filer (England, WC unavailable), Katie Levick, Trudy Johnson, Lizzie Scott, Sophia Turner
Key Winter Moves
Australian all-rounder Heather Graham has been signed to replace veteran New Zealander Suzie Bates, who was unable to return to the North East because of ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 duty. Graham has spent the last two seasons as an overseas player with The Blaze. She was a Charlotte Edwards T20 Cup winner in 2024 and a Blast semi-finalist last summer.
Wildcard to Watch
Sophia Turner. Spinners Katie Levick (13 wickets) and Mady Villiers (11) led the way with the ball for Durham in last season’s Blast, but the skilful Sophia Turner, aged 23, was their most prolific seamer with 10. She struck in six of her last seven Blast games in 2025, the other being a no-result. She is used more in the later overs of an innings by Hollie Armitage.
Who’s Missing & Why
- Unavailable during the WC window: Lauren Filer (England).
- Suzie Bates is also unable to return to the county because of T20 World Cup duty with New Zealand.
- Depth covered by: full-tournament overseas Heather Graham, alongside domestic regulars Katie Levick and Mady Villiers.
The Big Question
Can Durham kick on from last year’s mid-table, group-stage finish? Only five wins from 14 matches last term left them well short of a Finals Day appearance. With two fewer games this season, they must target at least six wins to have a chance of a top-four finish for a 17 July trip to The Kia Oval.
Final Thought
Hollie Armitage and Bess Heath will be hoping they can transfer that winning feeling from last year’s Hundred with the Northern Superchargers through to their county. The knowledge they gained can only help the younger players in Durham’s squad. The loss of director of cricket Marcus North to England as the new men’s national selector within sight of the competition starting is not ideal, but the bulk of the preparation for this campaign will be done now.
Essex Women
Captain: Grace Scrivens
Head Coach: Stephen Parry
Overseas Player: None
| 2025 Season | Detail |
| Finish | 7th |
| Leading run-scorer | Lauren Winfield-Hill (334) |
| Leading wicket-taker | Esmae MacGregor (21) |
Core Squad
- Batters: Cordelia Griffith, Grace Scrivens (captain), Liberty Heap, Flo Miller
- All-Rounders: Jodi Grewcock (England, WC unavailable), Beth MacGregor, Jo Gardner, Sophia Smale
- Wicket-Keepers: Amara Carr, Ariana Dowse, Alice Macleod
- Bowlers/Spinners: Abtaha Maqsood (Scotland, WC unavailable), Esmae MacGregor, Eva Gray, Kate Coppack, Sophie Munro
- Loan Player: Lissy Macleod (split loan with Gloucestershire Women)
Key Winter Moves
Batter Liberty Heap has been signed from Lancashire, although she is yet to feature for Essex. Arguably the bigger issue is who they have lost rather than gained: 2025 leading run-scorer Lauren Winfield-Hill has returned to Yorkshire after her loan spell, and Australian all-rounder Maddie Penna (a close second in run-scoring last term) has moved to Lancashire.
Wildcard to Watch
Flo Miller has begun the 50-over tournament in good form, hitting unbeaten half-centuries against Somerset and Surrey, and her strike rate of almost 96 is the best among Essex’s recognised batters. The 22-year-old could come into her own as a T20 finisher, provided the top order give her a solid foundation to work with.
Who’s Missing & Why
- Unavailable for parts of the campaign: Jodi Grewcock (England) and Abtaha Maqsood (Scotland).
- Squad adjustments: coach Stephen Parry is rotating in younger academy prospects and using loans like Lissy Macleod to cover the international window.
The Big Question
It is not only how Essex replace Winfield-Hill and Penna, but how they go about putting runs on the board collectively. The team posted only two totals above 160 last year (one in a dead rubber against Durham), and the likes of Cordelia Griffith, Grace Scrivens and recent England ODI cap Jodi Grewcock need to find ways to improve that.
Final Thought
Essex may miss Abtaha Maqsood’s wicket-taking skills in the post-powerplay overs while the leg-spinner is on World Cup duty with Scotland, but they possess a good stock of seamers who can do some damage.
Esmae MacGregor’s return of 21 wickets was the second-best in last year’s Blast, while Eva Gray, Sophie Munro and Kate Coppack should all help to make Essex more competitive, as long as they have something substantial to bowl at.
Hampshire Hawks Women
Captain: Georgia Adams
Overseas Player: Amanda-Jade Wellington (Australia, full tournament)
| 2025 Season | Detail |
| Finish | 6th |
| Leading run-scorer | Ella McCaughan (327) |
| Leading wicket-taker | Bex Tyson (16) |
Core Squad
- Batters: Ella McCaughan, Georgia Adams (captain), Naomi Dattani
- All-Rounders: Amanda-Jade Wellington, Francesca Sweet
- Bowlers: Bex Tyson, Daisy Gibb, Poppy Tulloch
Key Winter Moves
Ellyse Perry may have brought star power last year, but her overseas replacement Amanda-Jade Wellington (signed from Somerset) offers almost guaranteed game-changing moments. Freya Davies retired and Mary Taylor decamped to Warwickshire, so there is more fast-bowling pressure on Daisy Gibb and Poppy Tulloch to step up.
Wildcard to Watch
Francesca Sweet. When she signed in the winter, the hope was that all-rounder Sweet would fill a hole in the depleted bowling ranks.
In the Metro Bank One-Day Cup, it has turned out that batting is her stronger suit. She has all the attributes to be a powerful finisher, which could turn matches in Hampshire’s favour and earn the attention of The Hundred recruiters.
The Big Question
Can Ella McCaughan restart from where she left off? The opening batter was on course for an all-timer campaign by beginning with three fifties in a row before striking the women’s competition’s maiden century. A season-ending injury stopped the run-fest in its tracks. A full campaign of that quality will only increase talk of higher honours.
Final Thought
This year’s Blast is a difficult one to predict, with it coinciding with the T20 World Cup. The Hawks’ non-internationals look in a far better position than a year ago to compete at this level, especially with Naomi Dattani now fit and youngsters becoming more consistent. Bettering their disappointing sixth-place finish should not be difficult, and they should be in the mix for a Finals Day place.
Lancashire Thunder Women
Captain: Ellie (Eleanor) Threlkeld
Overseas Player: Meg Lanning (Australia, full campaign)
| 2025 Season | Detail |
| Finish | 4th |
| Leading run-scorer | Emma Lamb (336) |
| Leading wicket-taker | Alana King and Tara Norris (16 each) |
Core Squad
- Batters: Fi Morris, Seren Smale, Alice Clarke, Meg Lanning, Maddie Penna
- All-Rounders: Emma Lamb (England, WC unavailable), Danielle Collins, Darcey Carter (Scotland, WC unavailable), Grace Johnson
- Wicket-Keepers: Ellie Threlkeld (captain), Ailsa Lister (Scotland, WC unavailable)
- Bowlers: Sophie Ecclestone (England, WC unavailable), Kate Cross, Mahika Gaur (England, WC unavailable), Tara Norris, Hannah Jones, Olivia Bell, Sophie Morris
Key Winter Moves
Talk about a statement signing. Lancashire’s capture of Australian batting legend Meg Lanning is not only a boost to the county’s hopes of Blast glory but also to the county game in general, the best players in the world want to come and play here. She replaces compatriot Alana King, the leg-spinner who was Thunder’s joint top wicket-taker last year. Australian all-rounder Maddie Penna has also joined from Essex.
Wildcard to Watch
Grace Johnson. Not an automatic pick in Thunder’s XI, but perhaps more likely given the impending absence of Scotland duo Ailsa Lister and Darcey Carter on T20 World Cup duty. An Academy graduate who bowls seam and bats in the middle order, the now 21-year-old captained Lancashire’s U18s to two national titles in 2024.
Who’s Missing & Why
- Unavailable during the WC window: Sophie Ecclestone, Mahika Gaur, Emma Lamb (England); Ailsa Lister, Darcey Carter (Scotland).
- Maddie Penna (Australia) may also miss games for national duty.
- Depth covered by: full-season overseas Meg Lanning, plus a strong domestic core of Fi Morris, Kate Cross, Ellie Threlkeld and Tara Norris.
The Big Question
Can Lancashire complete the set? Champions last year in both the Vitality County T20 Cup and the Metro Bank One-Day Cup, this is the missing trophy they would love to put into the Emirates Old Trafford cabinet. Falling short of a place at Finals Day last year really stung a side hungry for sustained success.
Final Thought
It has not been the start to the season Lancashire were wanting, with batting fragilities leaving them with an uphill task to defend their One-Day Cup title. They will be banking on Meg Lanning’s presence to give that area of their team some oomph in the Blast.
Friday 10 July looms as a historic day for the county as they host a televised T20 Roses double-header at Emirates Old Trafford, with the women opening a blockbuster day with an afternoon clash against Yorkshire.
Somerset Women
Captain: Sophie Luff
Overseas Player: Anika Learoyd (Australia, full tournament through Finals Day on 17 July)
| 2025 Season | Detail |
| Finish | 8th |
| Leading run-scorer | Amanda-Jade Wellington (254) |
| Leading wicket-taker | Mollie Robbins (15) |
Core Squad
- Batters: Ruby Davis, Niamh Holland, Heather Knight (England, WC unavailable), Bex Odgers
- All-Rounders: Anika Learoyd, Dani Gibson (England, WC unavailable)
- Wicket-Keepers: Sophie Luff (captain)
- Bowlers/Spinners: Charlie Dean (England, WC unavailable), Bea Willis (U19 pro), Lola Harris (leg-spin pro), Chloe Skelton, Alex Griffiths, Emily Arlott, Lauren Filer
Key Winter Moves
Australia A international Anika Learoyd will fill the overseas vacancy created by Amanda-Jade Wellington’s switch to Hampshire, while England pair Dani Gibson and Charlie Dean have signed one and two-year contract extensions respectively. England Under-19 seamer Bea Willis, batter Ruby Davis and leg-spinner Lola Harris have all agreed their first professional deals.
Opener Amelie Munday and seamer Laura Jackson were released in the winter, batter Fran Wilson took up a coaching role at Gloucestershire, and Somerset have also lost new-ball bowler Mollie Robbins and batter Emma Corney.
Wildcard to Watch
Lola Harris. Playing her first season at this level and still something of an unknown quantity on the county circuit, the highly rated teenage leg-spinner has already made an impact in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup. She has a great repeatable action and, provided she can maintain her composure under pressure, the England Under-19 international possesses the variation required to cause problems for batters.
Who’s Missing & Why
- Unavailable during the WC window: Heather Knight, Charlie Dean and Dani Gibson (all England).
- Squad adjustments: Somerset have signed several younger domestic pros ahead of the season to cover the gaps. Expect Bea Willis, Ruby Davis and Lola Harris to get more game time during the international period.
The Big Question
Can a relatively inexperienced squad find a way to win matches without their senior England players? In the anticipated absence of Heather Knight, Dani Gibson and Charlie Dean, it will be incumbent upon those with less experience to prove they can muster the consistency needed to translate last year’s near-misses into victories in 2026.
Final Thought
Although weakened by the loss of new-ball bowler Mollie Robbins and batter Emma Corney, Somerset should still have sufficient resource to better last season’s disappointing return of one win from 14 games. If Anika Learoyd, Bex Odgers, Sophie Luff and Niamh Holland can score runs consistently, Chloe Skelton and Alex Griffiths possess the bowling know-how to restrict the opposition. Somerset kick off their League One campaign on 22 May against Hampshire at Taunton.
Surrey Women
Captain: Bryony Smith
Overseas Player: Laura Harris (Australia, full tournament)
| 2025 Season | Detail |
| Finish | Winners |
| Leading run-scorer | Danni Wyatt-Hodge (377) |
| Leading wicket-taker | Ryana MacDonald-Gay (15) |
Core Squad
- Batters: Sophia Dunkley (England, WC unavailable), Danni Wyatt-Hodge (England, WC unavailable), Jemima Spence, Kira Chathli, Laura Harris
- All-Rounders: Bryony Smith (captain), Alice Capsey (England, WC unavailable), Priyanaz Chatterji (Scotland, WC unavailable), Danielle Gregory, Paige Scholfield, Aylish Cranstone, Alice Davidson-Richards, Alice Monaghan, Charlotte Lambert, Bethan Miles
- Bowlers: Tilly Corteen-Coleman (England, WC unavailable), Ryana MacDonald-Gay, Kalea Moore, Phoebe Franklin, Rachel King (academy promotion), Emily Burke (academy promotion)
Key Winter Moves
- In: Laura Harris, Rachel King, Emily Burke
- Out: Emma Jones (to The Blaze), Alexa Stonehouse (loan to Warwickshire), Tash Farrant (retired February 2026)
Wildcard to Watch
Alice Monaghan. The all-rounder was just finding her way into the team during last season’s tournament but appears much more of a fixture now. A more than useful seamer, Monaghan will also be needed to fill one of the voids in the top order, and she has shown herself to be one of the team’s top fielders.
Who’s Missing & Why
- Unavailable during the WC window: Sophia Dunkley, Alice Capsey, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Tilly Corteen-Coleman (England); Priyanaz Chatterji (Scotland). Surrey lose four players to England, more than any other county.
- Depth covered by: full-tournament overseas Laura Harris, plus academy promotions Rachel King and Emily Burke stepping up.
The Big Question
Surrey are victims of their own success in many ways, with four players named in the England squad for the T20 World Cup (more than any other county) and Priyanaz Chatterji called up for Scotland. How will they compensate for the loss of three of their top six and the spin wizardry of Tilly Corteen-Coleman? Opportunity certainly knocks for others.
Final Thought
Surrey carried an aura of invincibility in last year’s tournament but look more vulnerable now. Laura Harris does not have the all-round versatility of sister Grace, but boasted a strike-rate of 207 last year. Two players conspicuous by their absence so far this season may be crucial to hopes of repeat success.
The Blaze Women
Captain: Kirstie Gordon (Scotland, WC unavailable). Marie Kelly to lead during the WC window.
Overseas Player: Charli Knott (Australia A, full tournament)
| 2025 Season | Detail |
| Finish | Semi-finalists |
| Leading run-scorer | Georgia Elwiss (412) |
| Leading wicket-taker | Kathryn Bryce (17) |
Core Squad
- Batters: Tammy Beaumont (England), Marie Kelly, Ella Claridge (USA), Emma Jones, Maddy Green (New Zealand, WC unavailable)
- All-Rounders: Nat Sciver-Brunt (England, WC unavailable), Kathryn Bryce (Scotland, WC unavailable), Georgia Elwiss, Charli Knott, Orla Prendergast (Ireland, WC unavailable), Lucy Higham
- Wicket-Keepers: Amy Jones (England, WC unavailable), Sarah Bryce (Scotland, WC unavailable)
- Bowlers: Charley Phillips, Grace Ballinger, Josie Groves, Cassidy McCarthy, Kirstie Gordon (captain)
Key Winter Moves
The Blaze have signed talented Australia A all-rounder Charli Knott, who brings experience of the Women’s Premier League in India, the Women’s Big Bash and The Hundred, and who hit five white-ball half-centuries for Hampshire Women last summer. Emma Jones, formerly with Surrey, can provide useful runs in the middle order.
Wildcard to Watch
United States international Ella Claridge, whose country missed out on qualification for the T20 World Cup, has a chance to make her presence felt in the Vitality Blast. The 24-year-old wicketkeeper-batter will carry significant responsibility in the absence of Scotland’s Sarah Bryce and England’s Amy Jones, but has proved before that she can rise to the challenge under pressure.
Who’s Missing & Why
- Unavailable during the WC window: Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amy Jones (England); Kathryn Bryce, Sarah Bryce, Kirstie Gordon (Scotland); Orla Prendergast (Ireland); Maddy Green (New Zealand).
- The unavailability of the three Scots, Kathryn and Sarah Bryce plus skipper Kirstie Gordon, is expected to be the most keenly felt.
- Depth covered by: Tammy Beaumont, Georgia Elwiss, Lucy Higham, plus overseas Charli Knott.
The Big Question
The Blaze, like others, will be depleted because of the clash with the Women’s T20 World Cup. Can those left step up a level?
Final Thought
Even stripped of six internationals, The Blaze still have the capacity to mount a challenge for silverware. Marie Kelly, a very capable top-order batter and excellent fielder, will captain the side during the WC window, with experienced England batter Tammy Beaumont as a sounding board as well as a key source of runs. Charley Phillips, Grace Ballinger and Cassidy McCarthy are three top-notch seamers, while former England all-rounder Georgia Elwiss has enjoyed a couple of outstanding seasons with bat and ball.
Warwickshire Bears Women
Captain: Georgia Davis
Overseas Player: Georgia Redmayne (Australia, full tournament)
| 2025 Season | Detail |
| Finish | Finalists (runners-up) |
| Leading run-scorer | Davina Perrin (385) |
| Leading wicket-taker | Millie Taylor (22) |
Core Squad
- Batters: Davina Perrin (injured, early-season absentee), Sterre Kalis, Meg Austin, Chloe Brewer, Georgia Redmayne
- All-Rounders: Em Arlott (England, WC unavailable), Charis Pavely (England call-up, WC unavailable), Bethan Ellis, Amuruthaa Surenkumar, Georgia Davis (captain)
- Wicket-Keepers: Abbey Freeborn, Natasha Wraith, Georgia Redmayne
- Bowlers: Issy Wong (England, WC unavailable), Hannah Baker, Katie George (injured, early-season absentee), Millie Taylor, Hannah Hardwick, Mary Taylor (signed from Hampshire), Alexa Stonehouse (loan from Surrey)
Key Winter Moves
Australia wicketkeeper-batter Georgia Redmayne has been signed and will bring valuable experience and nous to a squad which is highly talented but still relatively young and inexperienced.
Wildcard to Watch
Meg Austin. An aggressive top-order batter who scores quickly with a range of strokes, the 21-year-old from Staffordshire is a proper batter who can also improvise. Quick between the wickets, she is capable of delivering exciting, match-turning innings.
Who’s Missing & Why
- Unavailable during the WC window: Em Arlott and Issy Wong (England). Charis Pavely has also been called into the England setup.
- Early-season injury absences: Katie George (abductor) and Davina Perrin (hamstring), two integral members of the first-choice top order, will miss at least the early group games.
- Squad depth will be tested. The Bears will rely on domestic pros like Sterre Kalis, Abbey Freeborn, Millie Taylor and the returning Alexa Stonehouse to carry them through the international period.
The Big Question
Can Warwickshire’s squad cope with injuries to key personnel which will affect them in the group stage? With Katie George and Davina Perrin both ruled out of the early games and Issy Wong and Em Arlott away on England duty, the Bears’ squad depth will be tested.
Final Thought
The Bears did brilliantly to finish as runners-up in the Blast last year. They finished third in the group stage to reach Finals Day, where they beat much-fancied Blaze in the semi-final before losing to Surrey in the final. To have done all that has raised expectations among their supporters this time round. Can the Bears rise to the challenge of higher expectations, as successful teams must do?
Yorkshire Women
Captain: Lauren Winfield-Hill
Head Coach: Rich Pyrah
Status: Newly promoted to Tier 1 after reaching the 2025 Tier 2 Blast final (beaten by Middlesex) and winning nine of ten matches in that competition.
Overseas Player: Jess Jonassen (Australia, subject to T20 World Cup duties)
| 2025 Season | Detail |
| Finish | Finalists, Tier 2 |
| Leading run-scorer | Georgie Boyce (288) |
| Leading wicket-taker | Ria Fackrell (16) |
Senior Squad Roster
- Captain and Wicket-Keeper: Lauren Winfield-Hill
- Batters: Ines Blackwell, Georgie Boyce, Ami Campbell, Claudie Cooper, Rebecca Duckworth, Grace Hall, Sterre Kalis (Netherlands, WC unavailable), Maddie Ward (WK), Jessica Woolston
- All-Rounders: Sarah Glenn (England, WC unavailable, signed from The Blaze), Lucy Higham, Jess Jonassen, Erin Thomas
- Bowlers: Beth Langston, Hannah Rainey, Rachel Slater (Scotland, WC unavailable), Ria Fackrell
Key Winter Moves
Yorkshire have signed two international spin-bowling all-rounders in England’s Sarah Glenn and Australia’s Jess Jonassen. Both add quality and know-how to a largely inexperienced squad looking to make the step up to Tier 1 having impressed in last year’s Tier 2 Blast, where they were beaten finalists against Middlesex. In all, they won nine of ten matches in that competition.
Wildcard to Watch
Ines Blackwell. Yorkshire’s Academy all-rounder turns 17 on 30 May. She is very highly rated by the White Rose hierarchy, as indicated by her being a regular fixture in the team through the early-season One-Day Cup block. A middle-order batter and a medium-pace, in-swing bowler, she is an old head on young shoulders. In a One-Day Cup tie against Durham, she even pulled Lauren Filer for six.
Who’s Missing & Why
- Unavailable during the WC window: Sarah Glenn (England), Jess Jonassen (Australia), Sterre Kalis (Netherlands), Rachel Slater (Scotland).
- It is far from ideal for coach Rich Pyrah, who is not blessed with a deep squad.
- Depth covered by: the Academy and Emerging Player Programme, with names like Alice Acklam and Amelia Kemp expected to step in.
The Big Question
Can Yorkshire absorb absences through the middle phase of the season because of the T20 World Cup being played in England? Sterre Kalis and Rachel Slater will be missing a good chunk of matches due to Netherlands and Scotland duty.
Final Thought
Yorkshire’s start to life in Tier 1 has been a real mixed bag. They have played some brilliant cricket and even beat defending One-Day Cup champions Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford, but they have also let some victories slip through their grasp. They won two of their first four matches and arguably should have won all four. Countless run-outs and a lack of tail-end runs have hurt them. If they are going to progress quickly, they need to wise up.
Vitality Blast Women's 2026 Venues
The nine Tier 1 counties play their 12 group games at the following home grounds:
- The Kia Oval (Surrey)
- Edgbaston (Warwickshire Bears)
- Trent Bridge (The Blaze)
- Headingley (Yorkshire)
- Utilita Bowl (Hampshire Hawks)
- Emirates Old Trafford (Lancashire Thunder)
- Cooper Associates County Ground (Somerset)
- Seat Unique Stadium (Gloucestershire, used for cross-group matches)
- Banks Homes Riverside (Durham)
- Ambassador Cruise Line Ground (Essex)
Finals Day for Tier 1 is held at The Kia Oval on Friday 17 July 2026. Tier 2 Finals are at Sophia Gardens.
Conditions
Flat, hard T20 pitches with no heavy rollers over 254 kg, built for aggressive batting. Early May brings seam and swing in overcast weather; by July pitches dry out and spin grips. Matches are 20 overs per side, with no on-field drinks breaks and strict over-rate penalties. A minimum of five overs per side is required for a completed match, with DLS applied to rain-affected games.
Key Players to Watch, Women’s Vitality Blast 2026
International Signings
- Meg Lanning (Lancashire Thunder): Former Australia captain. World-class top-order batter who brings leadership and stability ahead of her Hundred stint.
- Georgia Redmayne (Warwickshire Bears): Australia wicketkeeper-batter signed for the full tournament. Brings experience and nous to a young, talented Bears squad.
- Heather Graham (Durham): Australian all-rounder; spent the last two seasons with The Blaze (Charlotte Edwards Cup winner 2024, Blast semi-finalist 2025). Replaces Suzie Bates as Durham’s overseas anchor.
- Amanda-Jade Wellington (Hampshire Hawks): Australian leg-spinning all-rounder. Replaces Ellyse Perry and offers almost guaranteed game-changing moments.
- Charli Knott (The Blaze): Australia A all-rounder with WPL, WBBL and Hundred experience. Hit five white-ball half-centuries for Hampshire last summer.
- Jess Jonassen (Yorkshire): Veteran Australia left-arm spinner. Adds quality and know-how to a Yorkshire squad stepping up to Tier 1.
England and Domestic Stalwarts
- Danni Wyatt-Hodge (Surrey): Explosive opener and Surrey’s 2025 leading run-scorer with 377. Will miss the WC window on England duty.
- Davina Perrin (Warwickshire): Bears’ 2025 leading run-scorer (385). Returning from a hamstring injury that will keep her out of the early group games.
- Millie Taylor (Warwickshire): Slow left-arm spinner and the Blast’s leading wicket-taker last season with 22. Controls the middle overs and stifles acceleration.
- Georgia Elwiss (The Blaze): Former England all-rounder. The Blaze’s 2025 leading run-scorer with 412 and a key source of runs through the WC window.
- Lauren Winfield-Hill (Yorkshire): Wicketkeeper-batter and captain. Returns to Yorkshire after a loan spell at Essex, where she topped the run charts with 334.
- Ella McCaughan (Hampshire Hawks): Opening batter whose 2025 campaign was cut short by injury after three fifties and the women’s competition’s maiden century. A full season of that form would push her into the higher-honours conversation.
Wildcards and Rising Stars
- Sophia Turner (Durham): Durham’s most prolific seamer last season (10 wickets) at age 23. Struck in six of her last seven Blast games in 2025.
- Flo Miller (Essex): 22-year-old finisher with a strike rate of almost 96 in 50-over cricket this season.
- Francesca Sweet (Hampshire Hawks): Signed as a bowling all-rounder but has emerged as a powerful finisher with the bat in the One-Day Cup.
- Grace Johnson (Lancashire): 21-year-old Academy graduate, seam-bowling middle-order batter. Captained the U18s to two national titles in 2024.
- Lola Harris (Somerset): Highly-rated teenage leg-spinner and England U19 international playing her first season at this level.
- Alice Monaghan (Surrey): All-rounder who has gone from finding her way in to a fixture in the XI. Useful seamer and one of the team’s top fielders.
- Ella Claridge (The Blaze): USA international wicketkeeper-batter, 24. Will carry responsibility behind the stumps during the WC window.
- Meg Austin (Warwickshire): Aggressive 21-year-old top-order batter capable of match-turning innings.
- Ines Blackwell (Yorkshire): Academy all-rounder turning 17 on 30 May. Middle-order batter and in-swing medium-pacer; an old head on young shoulders.
Vitality Blast Women’s 2025 Season Recap
| Position | Team |
| 1st (Champions) | Surrey |
| 2nd (Finalists) | Warwickshire Bears |
| Semi-finalists | The Blaze |
| 4th | Lancashire Thunder |
| 5th | Durham |
| 6th | Hampshire Hawks |
| 7th | Essex |
| 8th | Somerset |
| Promoted from Tier 2 | Yorkshire (beaten finalists vs Middlesex) |
Vitality Blast Women 2026: Tournament Favourites
Defending champions Surrey enter the 2026 Women’s Vitality Blast as outright favourites, but with four England players unavailable through the WC window (more than any other county), the field looks more open than it did 12 months ago.
Title Favourites
- Surrey: Inaugural champions, but the loss of four England players plus Priyanaz Chatterji (Scotland) leaves them more vulnerable than a year ago. Laura Harris and academy promotions key.
- Lancashire Thunder: Champions of the 2025 Vitality County T20 Cup and Metro Bank One-Day Cup. The Meg Lanning signing is a statement and they want the missing trophy.
- Warwickshire Bears: Reigning runners-up. Squad depth tested by early-season injuries to Perrin and George plus England absences, but Millie Taylor’s spin and Redmayne’s experience keep them in the conversation.
- The Blaze: 2025 semi-finalists. Stripped of six internationals through the WC window, but still capable of mounting a challenge with Beaumont, Elwiss, Kelly and Knott.
Key Teams to Watch
- Hampshire Hawks: Non-internationals look in a far better position than a year ago. With Wellington as overseas and McCaughan fit, a Finals Day push is realistic.
- Yorkshire: Newly promoted and highly motivated. Won nine of ten in Tier 2 last year and have added Sarah Glenn and Jess Jonassen. Squad depth is the question.
- Durham: Need at least six wins from 12 matches to push for a top-four finish. Will lean on Heather Graham as the overseas anchor.
- Essex: Replacing Winfield-Hill and Penna is the central challenge. Seam attack led by Esmae MacGregor (21 wickets in 2025) remains a strength.
- Somerset: Bottom in 2025 with one win from 14. Bea Willis, Lola Harris and Ruby Davis on first pro deals point to a longer-term build.
FAQ's, Women’s Vitality Blast 2026
What is the tournament format of Vitality Blast Women’s?
There are two divisions: League One (Tier 1) and League Two (Tier 2). League One features nine counties playing 12 group-stage matches each (six home and six away), with the top four progressing to Finals Day.
How many teams are participating in the Vitality Blast Women League One?
Nine teams in 2026, expanded from eight in 2025 following Yorkshire’s promotion from Tier 2.
How do teams qualify for the knockouts in Vitality Blast Women T20?
The top four teams after the group stage advance to Finals Day, where two semi-finals and the Championship Final are played on the same day.
Where and when is Finals Day of Vitality Blast Women T20 2026?
Finals Day is at The Kia Oval, London on Friday 17 July 2026.
Where can I watch the matches live of Vitality Blast Women T20 2026?
Non-televised games and Tier 1 women’s county matches stream live on the ECB official website and via the England Cricket app. The Friday 10 July Roses T20 double-header at Emirates Old Trafford is a televised highlight.
Where can I buy tickets for Vitality Blast Women 2026?
Tickets and hospitality packages are on sale for all participating grounds. Check fixtures and secure seats through the Vitality Blast ECB Hub