There has been little fanfare paid to the Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League. A sister tournament to the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL), the league struggled to gain a footing this year, with few fans in attendance at the games, all of which were held in Guyana.
Whilst their men languished at the bottom of the CPL table, the Barbados Royals Women completed a hat-trick of tournament wins, defeating the Guyana Amazon Warriors by three wickets in a closely contested final. Despite this achievement, public attention outside of those directly connected to the sport has been limited.
Announced in March 2022 by Cricket West Indies (CWI), the WCPL was designed to build on the success of the men’s CPL. The competition features three franchises — the Barbados Royals, Guyana Amazon Warriors, and Trinbago Knight Riders — all of which mirror teams on the men’s side of the draw.
The tournament was initiated to showcase the talent of international and regional female cricketers, including Hayley Matthews, Deandra Dottin, and Stafanie Taylor. It was also intended to inspire young girls interested in playing cricket. Whether the tournament is achieving these goals on a significant level remains a subject of ongoing evaluation.
The challenges faced by the WCPL reflect broader issues in women’s cricket and women’s sports globally. Women’s sports generally attract fewer sponsorships compared to their male counterparts, which can result in lower revenue and visibility. While recent data from SponsorUnited shows promising growth in women’s sports sponsorships, with a 12% year-over-year increase — nearly 50% faster than men’s leagues, the disparity in baseline investment and media coverage remains significant, especially in regions like the Caribbean where domestic women’s cricket structures are still developing.
In addition, region-specific challenges continue to affect the league. The Caribbean lacks a robust domestic women’s cricket structure, which often serves as a feeder competition for global T20 competitions. WCPL teams rely heavily on international stars, a dynamic that can overshadow regional talent and limit long-term growth. This year, an injury to Caribbean and regional standout Hayley Matthews further underscored this reality.
St. Lucia Times interviewed CPL and WCPL CEO Pete Russell at the conclusion of the men’s competition in Guyana to gain insights into the challenges and opportunities for the women’s series. Russell acknowledged that certain aspects of the tournament’s planning may not have met expectations but emphasized that fan support remains a key driver for the league’s future.
“I think we’ve got a few things wrong. I was sort of disappointed because I thought more fans would come and watch the WCPL matches here,” he noted. “I thought the way that we structured it and the scheduling, I thought we would get more fans to come and watch. I think whether it’s a cultural thing or just something we have to keep pushing in marketing better, it’s good cricket. If you watch the games, they’re all competitive. The women give 100 per cent whenever they turn up.”
“It’s our job to take that to the next level. We’re certainly never going to give up on it. I mean, it’s something that we absolutely believe in, and we want to evolve. It is for the fans to get behind it as well, because I think the women deserve it, actually. And I think next year again we’ll give it another go and make sure that we change things up.”
Russell also discussed the possibility of introducing an additional team to increase the league’s marketing potential. He suggested that this team could come from outside the Caribbean, referencing the growth of women’s cricket in the United States. A fourth team, he indicated, might help expand the league’s reach and commercial appeal.
“I think it almost justifies it because I think if the three-team format isn’t necessarily working, you’ve got to look at a fourth team and then decide where that fourth team comes from. You might actually go outside of the Caribbean for a fourth team just to bring a bit more, sort of, eyeballs and commercial value to the league. We’re looking at all sorts of different options. But for me, it’s definitely something that we need to really think about in the offseason.”
St. Lucia Times also spoke to Sherneil Charlery, president of Supporting Girls In Sports, for her perspective on what is needed to elevate the WCPL. At a launch event spearheaded by Massy in Guyana, the title sponsor offered ticket bundle deals allowing patrons to attend both women’s and men’s matches for the price of one. Despite this initiative, attendance at the women’s games remained limited.
Charlery acknowledged the CPL’s efforts to initiate the tournament and the sponsors’ support but highlighted areas for improvement in promotion and regional engagement.
“I commend the CPL for launching the WCPL and the sponsors for supporting the vision. I also liked that this year’s edition ran alongside the men’s fixtures with doubleheaders at the same venue,” she said.
“I think it gets limited support because most people don’t support women’s sports. One example is the Saint Lucia Kings vs Guyana Amazon Warriors game, which was played in the morning, followed by the Trinbago Knight Riders and Guyana Amazon Warriors women’s game. The games were held a few hours apart at the same venue, but the huge difference in attendance was clear, though one of the featured teams was the home team.”
“On the other hand, I also think it lacked proper promotion this year, at least outside of the host country. I don’t think promotion should be limited to the three participating countries because the players come from across the region. Proper activations need to be put in place across all territories, especially those with businesses that belong to the title sponsor. We must ensure that the resources put into the development of our women’s game are used effectively and efficiently.”
