The Women’s Caribbean Premier League enters a new chapter on September 5 as the tournament expands to four teams for the first time, with Jamaica Empress joining the established trio of Barbados Tridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors and Trinbago Knight Riders in what promises to be the most competitive edition yet.
The fifth edition of the WCPL gets underway in Bridgetown with defending champions Barbados Tridents taking on Trinbago Knight Riders in the opening fixture. With all eight matches scheduled to be played in Bridgetown, the tournament will unfold at a brisk pace before the champion is crowned on September 17. The biggest change is the arrival of the Jamaica Empress. The new franchise adds another Caribbean identity to a competition that has previously operated with only three teams, while also bringing one of the most recognisable names in women’s cricket into the tournament.
Former Australia captain Meg Lanning headlines the Jamaica squad, alongside experienced West Indies stars Stefanie Taylor and Aaliyah Alleyne. New Zealand international Rosemary Mair and South Africa’s Nonkululeko Mlaba further strengthen the bowling department, giving Jamaica a squad with a blend of international experience and Caribbean familiarity. The newcomers, however, face an immediate test against a side that has set the standard in the competition.
Barbados, renamed from Barbados Royals ahead of the 2026 season, have won three of the four previous editions and remain the team to beat. Their squad contains considerable international firepower, with Suzie Bates, Maddy Green, Kiran Navgire and Pooja Vastrakar joining West Indies stars Hayley Matthews, Afy Fletcher and Qiana Joseph. Matthews, in particular, will be one of the central figures of the tournament. The Barbados all-rounder has been one of the leading players in the global women’s T20 game and gives the Tridents both match-winning batting ability and a proven option with the ball.
Their opening opponents, Trinbago Knight Riders, are equally well equipped. Marizanne Kapp, Deandra Dottin and Shikha Pandey headline a squad packed with experience, while India wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia adds another international dimension. Guyana Amazon Warriors will also enter the competition with serious ambitions. Their squad includes Tazmin Brits, Erin Burns, Nadine de Klerk, Chloe Tryon and former Pakistan pace spearhead Shabnim Ismail. The combination gives Guyana a powerful mix of aggressive batting, all-round options and high-quality pace.
The format means there will be little room for slow starts. Each team will play three round-robin matches. The side finishing first will progress directly to the final, while the second- and third-placed teams will meet in the playoff for the remaining place in the title decider. That structure makes every league match significant. With only six round-robin fixtures, teams cannot afford a prolonged adjustment period, particularly Jamaica, who will be experiencing the tournament for the first time.
The schedule also creates an unusual rhythm. Four matches, including the playoff, are scheduled for 10am local time, while two begin at 3pm and the remaining two, including the final, start at 2pm. The concentrated schedule means recovery and squad rotation could become as important as individual performances. For Indian viewers, the timings offer a mixture of evening and late-night cricket. The opening match on September 5 begins at 3pm local time, which translates to 12:30am IST on September 6, while the September 6 fixture starts at 7:30pm IST.
The tournament then builds towards the September 16 playoff and the September 17 final, both in Bridgetown. The arrival of the Jamaica Empress could be the development that finally pushes the WCPL beyond being a three-team contest. Barbados have dominated the competition so far, but a fourth franchise creates greater tactical variety and reduces the margin for error.
The key question is whether Jamaica can immediately challenge the established order. With Lanning, Taylor, Mlaba and Mair in their ranks, they have the personnel to make an impact. If they do, the WCPL could emerge from its fifth edition with not just a new champion, but a genuinely deeper women’s Caribbean league.
WCPL 2026 Squads:
Barbados Tridents Women
Maddy Green, Mandy Mangru, Kiran Navgire, Suzie Bates, Asabi Callender, Naijanni Cumberbatch, Cherry-Ann Fraser, Shawnisha Hector, Qiana Joseph, Hayley Matthews, Afy Fletcher, Shabika Gajnabi, Pooja Vastrakar, Amrita Ramtahal
Guyana Amazon Warriors Women
Eboni Brathwaite, Tazmin Brits, Shemaine Campbelle, Chedean Nation, Erin Burns, Nadine de Klerk, Realeanna Grimmond, Ashmini Munisar, Chloe Tryon, Shamilia Connell, Sheneta Grimmond, Shabnim Ismail, Reniece Boyce, Tilleya Madramootoo
Trinbago Knight Riders Women
Amelia Khan, Yastika Bhatia, Earnisha Fontaine, Laura Harris, Jahzara Claxton, Deandra Dottin, Marizanne Kapp, Shikha Pandey, Samara Ramnath, Jannillea Glasgow, Madeline Penna, Karishma Ramharack, Brianna Harricharan, Sainavi Kambalapalli, Steffie Soogrim
Jamaica Empress Women
Meg Lanning, Stefanie Taylor, Rashada Williams, Chinnelle Henry, Djenaba Joseph, Syeda Aroob Shah, Zaida James, Aaliyah Alleyne, Rosemary Mair, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Shriya Jairam, Kate Wilmott, Amy Hunter, Abigail Bryce, Celina Whyte
